Chris your being a bit snobby this subject are you not - remember if no one buys a bike new - then you would never get your cheap second hand bike. Also they are not always loss makers just because you buy new, keep them long enough you get to ride them for many years then sell them for more than they originally cost. To name a few ( Ducati 900ss bought new 1976 £1800 sold in 1983 £3000 - if i had kept it it would be £15000 now, Laverda Monty bought for £1000 sold for £3000 (about £8000 now), laverda jota bought for £1800 sold for £6000 ( these can bring about £8000 now), 80 gs bought for £2000 sold after 110,000miles and a big restore for £7000 (actually just broke even on that one though - spent to much on the restore as i intended keeping it but sold when I thought I wouldnt ride again). KTM 950 bought new for £6500 had loads of fun for three years and sold it for £3 -£3500 but they are now around £4 to 5000 and rising).

As for the CCM engine debate - point I brought it up is simple - almost every bike I have owned has ended when the engine parts not being available / or getting too expensive etc, I know you buy rats and would throw away and start again but I would prefer to keep the thing going and have owned some of my bikes well over 20 years before they became difficult and simply very very expensive or no longer economic to repair - the chassis suspension etc all last for ever and are easy repaired, so If I am going to spend eight grand on a bike that will see me to the end of my bike riding days - i wanted to know if rather than rebuilding the thing ( ie like my last 80gs ) if it would be more economic to simply slot a new unit in. CCM agreed and have put forward the proposal and costing of replacement engine. So in years to come my one wont be on the market for you to buy for next to nowt to ride down to Africa or where ever and drink your at my expense. . jake.