to piggyback on the last topic, but to keep each thread distinct and seperate, what things would you look for if buying a used 800cc-1100cc buggy. Seems to be a lot of good bargains out there in the used market, but I dont want to end up with a piece of junk. I know people buy these things to drive them hard. So what parts and pieces need to be scrutnized to know im buying a solid buggy.

Thanks for any help

Cory
Buggy Newbie

On an intial inspection, I would check out all the suspension componets. Look for any thing loose or worn.

Next check drive components. Most machines that size will have independent suspension and shaft drive. Check the CV joints for slack.

Check the oil. That is a good indicator if the machine has been properly cared for.

See how it starts. Should not be hard to start. Most fire right up with the touch of the key.

Wriggle the machine side to side at the wheels. Check for any slack in the wheel bearings.

Though you might get a "good deal" buying used..... if the machine is wore out by previous owner, it will be a headache to rebuild into a reliable machine. Even then you may never reach that level.

Glade

I agree with Glade 100%. However the other side of the coin is, many people, at least here in AZ, buy these buggies with the intention of going out and driving them to death. But in reality many of them sit in a garage until the owner realizes he doesnt have the time to use them and is tired of climbing over them to get to the lawn mower. Keep in mind, that axles cv joints, and ball joints are a weak point on these buggies, and even if you buy new, depending on what you get you may have to upgrade all of those points anyway. With what you can save by buying a used one, if you are handy you may be way ahead finding a nice used one and fixing it up. The other nice thing about buying used is that if they have driven the buggy much. The above mentioned upgrades along with many others may already be done. I have three large size buggies. One 650cc and 2 1000cc. I bought 1 of the 1000cc new and it was a horrable experience that wound up costing me several 1000 dollars to correct and upgrade to get the buggy usable. The 650 I bought used had been driven some, but it also had 3000 dollars worth of upgrades including a turbo charger. It is a great buggy and was less than half of what a new one would have cost. The other 1000 I bought had sat and hardly been driven. I think there were less than 40 miles on it when I got it. It sells new for 6000.00 from Scooter Depot(never buy from them). I traded a 900.00 dollar jet ski for it. On both used buggies all I have had to do for over two years to any of them is maintaince. Hope this helps. Good luck finding the right buggy. Van

Yeah, there are a lot of used buggies for sale with less than 10 hours on them. And typically they sell for less than 1/2 of the new price.

From what I have read, I am leaning Joyner more and more. Are there any bad year groups that have had more problems than others? Also there have been some recent posts about transimission problems. Are these on the new ones or older ones, or both?

Thanks for the help, Im learning alot. Fill in any other info on questions that I should be asking. Thanks again.

Cory

Older Joyners were geared too high, made them sluggish. Newer Joyners don't have that problem. That was a problem with ALL brands really. Some of the older 800s and 1100s of all models, including Joyner, had problems with output(?) shafts shearing as well. As far as transmission problems now...I haven't heard of any trend. Of course, components will fail and there was at least one guy here who had tranny problems. I would consider it an isolated event, tho. You really can't go wrong with a larger Joyner.

What year groups were geared to high, and at what year group did the gearing problem get fixed?

Cory

Stick with 08s or 09s.....

Glade

The axle problems where in 2005 mostly with a few hold overs into 2006. I have a 2005 1000 and a 2006 1000 and have never had an axle problem with either one. As far as being geared too high, that is more a matter of personal preferance and how and where you ride. The highest geared buggy I have is my 2005 650 which is one of the ones others complained about. If I were riding around on tight trails at 10 to 15 mph all the time I might want it geared lower but out here in AZ we have alot of wide open space. Even our trails seem to be wider than back east. So for me the gearing is perfect. Especially with the turbo, remember gearing is only too high if you dont have the power to push it. I have had several people tell me that 4th gear is useless on there 650, but on mine it is perfect once I pass 60 mph and am just cruising. It is like an overdrive on a car. I can cruise along at 60 plus with the engine hardly working and really cover some ground to get some where. The only time I have found the high gears to be much of a problem, is starting from a standing stop at the bottom of a really steap hill. The the buggy tends to break the tires loose and dig in rather than slowly climb up the hill. So I tend to get a running start if i have a very steap hill to climb. I actually purchased a lower geared tranny that I was going to swap in, but after driving awhile I decided I liked what i had, so if you get a buggy that is geared to high Ive got a tranny for sale.

Vanet, if he's not interested in the tranny I might be.

Steve