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

**Dave.B** · 24th August 2011, 06:15

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** · 24th August 2011, 06:38

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

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** · 24th August 2011, 06:41

Originally Posted by Mom

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

figured as much, live and learn I guess.

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 24th August 2011, 07:33

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** · 24th August 2011, 07:51

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

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** · 24th August 2011, 10:16

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** · 24th August 2011, 10:25

Originally Posted by 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

Jeeeeesus fucking christ! That's one hell of a repair bill!
I feel for you! And your wallet, and your bank..

**bogan** · 24th August 2011, 10:39

2000kms is a while, the CGA bit is here 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** · 24th August 2011, 10:44

Originally Posted by mikemike104

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** · 24th August 2011, 10:48

Originally Posted by avgas

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** · 24th August 2011, 16:34

Originally Posted by bogan

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** · 24th August 2011, 16:53

Originally Posted by mikemike104

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?

**Dave.B** · 24th August 2011, 18:12

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.