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

[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/moto...-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 ...