Playing Chicken & the Escallating Cost of Hen's Teeth

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FalcoJock · #1 Post by **FalcoJock** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 6:48 pm

A couple of weeks ago I won my first "sought after" item off fleebay (not bike related) using the technique of playing chicken and waiting for the last possible second before showing my hand. So buoyed with this success I went after a (hen's teeth) rear shock upgrade for my Falco with the certain knowledge that I'd got it cracked and would soon be riding a transformed machine.

I was missing out before at just over £40 pounds a couple of months ago, so now thought "it's only money" so bid very late and (I thought) very high. But today I missed out at over £80 for a similar item - that's serious inflation. And I'm clearly still a bit chicken since I held highest bit for a way toooo long 10 seconds.

So if one of you got it - well done and happy riding - I'm not bitter (ya bar steward!)

Perhaps I should look for rocking horse poo instead.

paddyz1 · #2 Post by **paddyz1** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:57 pm

Ahh young pad-a-wan. Only time and experiance shall give you the ultimate last second to bid. (and the speed of your broadband connection)

D-Rider · #3 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:45 pm

You don't have to be the last to bid - just as long as you don't give the others a chance to react to your bid and bid again.
It then comes down to who is prepared to pay the most - ie who bids most.

That's the hard part - deciding how much you want it .... and invariably when you loose, you find you want it more than you thought ..... like those RS250 callipers I missed out on a few weeks back .....

That said, winning the auction but paying more than you wanted to is not really "winning" either.

Aladinsaneuk · #4 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:37 pm

which shock were you going for?

to be honest, unless you are that good, i reckon a serviced white spring mille shock would suit most - yes, the ohlins is better, but ..... worth the kind of premium??

when we got hanna's white spring we paid 50 quid - and i dremelled the protuding part down - BUT we had budgeted for a rebuild at revs for around 70 quid - so maybe 120 is not to bad overall??

just something to consider.....

Samray · #5 Post by **Samray** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:24 pm

Freebee auction snipers are pretty good but won't win against the paid for ones. Either are doubtless more accurate than your pooters clock tho.

FalcoJock · #6 Post by **FalcoJock** » Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:32 pm

It was a white spring early mille shock I've been looking for. Today I managed to bag one, however still for almost twice what they were going for a couple of months back. It sat at £30 and 0 dids until a couple of hours before the end then suddenly went to £69, so I knew it was going to hit £80, and it did.

Is it the time of year I wonder, when folks are doing those little upgrade projects?

In the photo it looks in good nick but I'll see when I get it. This had better be good!

D-Rider · #7 Post by **D-Rider** » Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:53 pm

Doh I could have let you have a sought-after blue one for £75

Crispy · #8 Post by **Crispy** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 8:33 pm

Will the blue spring mille shock bolt on to a Falco with the standard swinging arm - and is it much better than the standard blue spring Falco shock?

#9 Post by **mangocrazy** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 9:00 pm

Crispy wrote:Will the blue spring mille shock bolt on to a Falco with the standard swinging arm - and is it much better than the standard blue spring Falco shock?

Take no notice, Crispy - Andy (D-Rider) is gently pulling your plonker... He is in fact referring to the original (and widely reviled) blue-spring Sachs Falco shock that he is trying to sell you for a usurious £75...

Paulm · #10 Post by **Paulm** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 10:44 pm

Im selling a pair of sought-after tatty standard cans for £250 if anyones interested!

D-Rider · #11 Post by **D-Rider** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:06 pm

Paulm wrote:Im selling a pair of sought-after tatty standard cans for £250 if anyones interested!

I can do a set of them for just £245 - delivered within UK

HowardQ · #12 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 12:46 pm

Go on then, I'll do a set of almost new, unmarked standard cans for £200

Or some others in good nick, with a few minor scratches but no dents for

Let's say £150.

D-Rider · #13 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 1:03 pm

Oh no .... at that price they must be foreign imports !

No, hang on, they're all imported from Italy

At this rate, someone will be posting up a link to where they've seen them in the 99p shop!

HowardQ · #14 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 1:14 pm

Really scary thing is the price from Aprilia of almost a grand!

Crispy · #15 Post by **Crispy** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:31 pm

Well seeing the way this topic is going - I have a standard Falco sidestand for sale - I bet none of you have one of these fitted so it's an opportunity to make your bike unique! (if a little bent)