Bought first road bike. 2,000km later engine needs full rebuild

[Dave.B]

Hi,

I have recently purchased my first road bike off somebody who works at a bike parts shop in Auckland (wont name him..yet) have done less than 2000km's, and the engine is fu**ed. Compression test came back at 30/150 whatever that means.

My question is, would he have known this was going to happen? It has run pretty average from the start, but I was told it was just plugs/battery that was the problem, nothing major.

Pretty dissapointed as the few K's I did manage to do, I loved it.

Not sure where to go from here, or if I have any right to go back to the guy.

Cheers.

Dave.

[Mom]

How old is this bike?

Honestly, if it was running, albeit "average" when you bought it, it was fit for purpose. No one can predict just when a tired engine will give up the ghost, though it can be hastened by poor maintenance and bad treatment.

Sucks to be you really, bummer that your engine needs some work.

You might be lucky, I once sold a heap of shit car to a friend for $1000, less than a week later it developed a terminal oil leak :pinch: She took it to the wreckers for repair (as you do) I went up there and paid her bill upfront ($400). She got her heap of shit car back on the road, and I netted $600 from the sale.

As for this comment...


somebody who works at a bike parts shop in Auckland (wont name him..yet)


Name him for why? You bought an old shitter? Shame on you!

[Dave.B]

Name him for why? You bought an old shitter? Shame on you!

figured as much, live and learn I guess.

[NighthawkNZ]

how many k's has the bike overall done...? how old is bike? did it look like it was maintained etc? is it a shitter or just bad luck bike running ok when you bought it and then bang? (it happens a lot and then people blame the previous owner because the think the bought a lemon)

At the end of the day it can happen to any vehicle, brand new, or older. and 2000km's is better than getting 2km down the road...

[Maha]

I guess it buyer beware..sold 'as is' etc?
I once paid $1000 for a bike, spent a bit on it over the time we had...
It was a $1000 motorbike:corn:

I recently (6 months ago or so) sold it for $1000...
Well I thought I did, we (buyer and seller) entered into gentlemans agreement that he/they would pay it off...all good with because I know the person/s.
Turns out the bike was only worth $200 because thats all I have got from them. They have since moved house also...
Repeated texts go unreplied.
On this occassion its...seller beware!

[mikemike104]

The best tip I could give you, would be if you are unsure just how much its going to cost you to fix, GIVE UP & MOVE ON with a leason learnt.

I know this from experiance, In March 2010 I bought a 1989 GPX250 (my first road bike) for $2800, the engine failed 8 months later and to date I have spent over $8000.

Sell it, save up to buy a better one and be more carful next time.

Mike

[maggot]

The best tip I could give you, would be if you are unsure just how much its going to cost you to fix, GIVE UP & MOVE ON with a leason learnt.

I know this from experiance, In March 2010 I bought a 1989 GPX250 (my first road bike) for $2800, the engine failed 8 months later and to date I have spent over $8000.

Sell it, save up to buy a better one and be more carful next time.

Mike

Jeeeeesus fucking christ! That's one hell of a repair bill!
I feel for you! And your wallet, and your bank.. :no:

[bogan]

2000kms is a while, the CGA bit is here (http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/for-consumers/motor-vehicles/got-a-problem/faulty-or-defective-vehicles) but it sounds like they had way of knowing this would happen when they sold it, so you're shit out of luck there.

What bike is it anyway, and what is it worth?

[avgas]

I know this from experiance, In March 2010 I bought a 1989 GPX250 (my first road bike) for $2800, the engine failed 8 months later and to date I have spent over $8000.
Are you insane?????

Never spend more than 40% of the bike cost in fixing it. NEVER.

[bogan]

Are you insane?????

Never spend more than 40% of the bike cost in fixing it. NEVER.

What if you spend 40% multiple times, on different jobs, every few months, expecting them to be the last? (which I'm fairly sure is the only way anyone would rack up a 8k repair bill on a gpx) Or buy it for a dollar knowing you have to spend a bit, but it will be worth more? Or never plan on selling it at all?

[mikemike104]

What if you spend 40% multiple times, on different jobs, every few months, expecting them to be the last? (which I'm fairly sure is the only way anyone would rack up a 8k repair bill on a gpx), Or never plan on selling it at all?

This post pretty much sums it up.

I'll never sell it, wifes learning to ride it now, and to be fair its a mean little bike (now).

[Maha]

I'll never sell it, wifes learning to ride it now, and to be fair its a mean little bike (now).

You have more than one?:confused:

[Dave.B]

Yeah I have pretty much settled on it was my fault for buying the bike etc just a bit gutted (as most people would be) as it's my first bike and I bought it off somebody who works in the bike industry and told me it is mechanically good. (My fault for believing him I guess..)

Just an 88 CBR400RR that I paid $2700 for, done 50000km's when bought, now just under 52.

Cheers for replys.

[nzspokes]

If its done 50ks they it was probably due for a tidy up. Just imagine how well it will go once its fixed up.

[mikemike104]

You have more than one?:confused:

Oh, I see what you mean, I just have the one.

[NinjaNanna]

52000kms isn't that much, how do you know it needs a full rebuild?

Perhaps it only needs a new headgasket? Still not cheap (my guess would be 500-1000) but that's a lot cheaper than a full rebuild.

[Dave.B]

In March 2010 I bought a 1989 GPX250 (my first road bike) for $2800, the engine failed 8 months later and to date I have spent over $8000.


This is either not true or you are truley insane mate.

But I guess people would call me insane for buying a 23 year old Honda.

[Dave.B]

how do you know it needs a full rebuild?


Dropped it into shop on Friday as I couldn't work out ignition fault, they did compression test and cylinder #1 reading 30psi.. other 3 are at 130.

Could possibly not be full rebuild, but if the head comes off, in my experience with cars, it's generally time to replace everything or have more issues not too far down the track.

Don't think it is worth doing taking the age of the bike into consideration.

[sinned]

Not worth fixing? Put it on trademe and be honest about its condition; someone will still pay you more than it is worth.

[Katman]

Dropped it into shop on Friday as I couldn't work out ignition fault, they did compression test and cylinder #1 reading 30psi.. other 3 are at 130.

Could possibly not be full rebuild, but if the head comes off, in my experience with cars, it's generally time to replace everything or have more issues not too far down the track.

Don't think it is worth doing taking the age of the bike into consideration.

It may be just a burnt valve.

Get the shop to do a cylinder leak-down test so you know what you're dealing with.

[mikemike104]

This is either not true or you are truley insane mate.

But I guess people would call me insane for buying a 23 year old Honda.

I have every reciept haha.

[gwigs]

+1 on what Katman said....
If your,e any good on the spanners you could just pick up an exchange engine on trade me if yours is toast,there,s a wreckers in Hamilton that does exchanges.

[dogsnbikes]

These guys http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/parts-for-sale/complete-engines/auction-401584816.htm

you do have options

1- Live and learn and get it cheak over properly (+1 on what katman said)

2-strip it and sell as parts

3-list it on trademe for bugger all and I will give you bugger all for it

4-rebuild or replace engine

I'm rebuilding a CBR400 so have a parts manual that cover's rg-rr

[GrayWolf]

Yeah I have pretty much settled on it was my fault for buying the bike etc just a bit gutted (as most people would be) as it's my first bike and I bought it off somebody who works in the bike industry and told me it is mechanically good. (My fault for believing him I guess..)

Just an 88 CBR400RR that I paid $2700 for, done 50000km's when bought, now just under 52.

Cheers for replys.

Dave 50,000k's on a small high revving motor is quite 'high' really. If the motor has been abused by previous owners? It's about what I would expect could happen. This owner may have looked after it, but who knows the past? Its a small cc bike and the likelyhood is it will have been given a hard life at sometime.
Maybe it's worth contacting a few breakers, you just never know when a low k's motor is lurking somewhere deep in the bowel's of a wreckers.
As an addendum, I have also seen 1000cc bikes suffer at the hands of Earnest Thrasher over the years and also recieve 'early retirement'.

[Mom]

Are you insane?????

Never spend more than 40% of the bike cost in fixing it. NEVER.

Yer, but, NO, but, Yer, but No...

My last bike cost $1K, thanks to friends and some DIY it cost very little to "repair", but certainly more than 40% of its purchase price. I guess what I am saying is it is a relative thing. The costs of keeping it roadworthy were horrendous!

40% of the purchase price of Mille is actually a lot of money so I can see the reasoning behind your maths, and the ongoing expense of keeping her roadworthy and legal will be much more than previously (bigger engine, bigger mileage).

So I still go with a heart/head thought process over this sort of thing, using your available funds/budget as a benchmark for your head.

[FJRider]

Not sure where to go from here, or if I have any right to go back to the guy.

Cheers.

Dave.

I personally ... would go back to the person/people ... you asked/paid ... to pre-check the bike BEFORE you handed over the dosh ...