Author Topic: Outdoor storage bikes edit, meaning "left to rot" bikes. (Read 2071 times)

Don R · « **on:** August 26, 2021, 12:17:53 PM »

I was feeling bad about parting out a no title, junkyard find, 750. I saved the engine cradle to make a stand out of. When I flipped it over, a half pound of rust dropped out of it, some pretty big chunks too, I feel better about not trying to save it now.
Honestly, the parts saved weren't worth the labor to save them. Same with the 750A, it's just too far gone, the motor did yield some useful items though. The gas tank has some of the best patina in a long time, it even has kiss lip decals under the paint. Sticker says "Too Ho" I think it lost it's t's.

Kelly E · « **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2021, 03:13:53 PM »

The 75' Kawasaki Z1-B that we got was stored outdoors. That's why we sold it on, it's a huge amount of work and money to resurrect one that was outdoors. We sold it to a collector with the resources to bring it back.

rb550four · « **Reply #2 on:** August 27, 2021, 06:57:56 PM »

Outside storage bikes? Is there really such a thing? Is this an oxymoron that I'm not aware of. They aren't really stored for future use...just a long rusty death outside. I see people that have pulled up to the end of their drive way, put the sidestand down and left it in that exact position for years . Some think that they are doing a machine a great service by putting a tarp over it , Ground moisture gets under the tarp and works it's magic on all the metal beneath the tarp. They leave the same tarp on for years and never replace it , the less tarp that is left seems to be just less to worry about to them. I could never understand it. But when you go to make an offer and possibly save the poor machine, the owner always tells you how much work they did to it and what great machine it is ...like he just parked it yesterday, and wants a $hit ton of money for this wasted machine, all anyone can do is shake their and walk away, and it'll sit under the all next snowfalls for years to come. It just amazes me. I'd rather pick them from the junkyard when someone makes room in their garage....at least they were in a garage.

Don R · « **Reply #3 on:** August 27, 2021, 08:19:52 PM »

That's what I said.

rb550four · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2021, 10:14:43 AM »

Oh.
Just checking.
Thanks for the clarification, I didn't know it was a thing.

dave500 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 28, 2021, 09:35:06 PM »

i dont know whats worse"ran when parked" or "used to be brand new once"?

Don R · « **Reply #6 on:** August 29, 2021, 12:21:13 PM »

L0L! Just teasing RB. It's a sad state for any bike left outside.
My first "ran when parked" bike was inside but had stuck valves, a plugged exhaust and more carbon inside than a coal steam locomotive. I swapped in an engine that was outdoors so long it had moss on the rocker cover. It had been sealed with plastic bags in the intakes and the carbs were dry indoors. Later I bored it, ported and cammed it, and it's still my go to bike when I'm not on the gl1000.

Don R · « **Reply #7 on:** August 29, 2021, 12:23:25 PM »

I was shocked how water will melt clutch discs when they sit in oil most of their lives. Junkyard F2 complete with interior rinse.

rb550four · « **Reply #8 on:** August 29, 2021, 01:28:23 PM »

Not just the clutches , I have a 500 engine that was outdoor kept that is totally full of white fuzz in the lower end when I opened it....total oxidation. Looked at it for a while , thought I might be able to get some gears out of it if I had to , and zipped it back up and set it on a shelf. It's still there just in case.
Most times I find that oil can save a better part of the lower end with the exception of shift forks, they are usually rusted fast as they are too high in the case to enjoy the benefit of being submerged in oil. That is usually the first thing I check and repair when I split the cases so I don't end up putting the engine back together and realize that is a problem. Easy lesson learned the hard way. It's all fun and games ya know.

ekpent · « **Reply #9 on:** August 29, 2021, 06:16:19 PM »

Like this little Suzie 185 right now on Marketplace around me for the princely sum of 200 bucks. Might be kind of fun posting and sharing some of these heaps when they pop up.

rb550four · « **Reply #10 on:** August 29, 2021, 06:29:43 PM »

I was just thinking about this thread , I went shopping today and saw 2 bikes , not a half mile away from each other that have been sitting in the great outdoors for the last 2 years , and thought I wonder if Don would like photos of these gems on his thread? Could make for an interesting thread to see what others bump into in their travels.... thought I might shoot a couple of pics of some local uncovered machines for fun, ekpent had the same idea first.
it still sounds like fun to me ,next time I go shopping I'll bring a camera.
That poor suzuki ,it's so rusted that even the seat looks rusty. But it only needs a chain ,owner didn't need it anymore since he bought a bigger bike.....
20 years ago, with a little fresh gas it should start right up.

Don R · « **Reply #11 on:** August 30, 2021, 04:06:22 PM »

Heck yes, I remember one sticking to a tree, that would have made a cool pic. I got a cb750F0 that I was 3 feet from and couldn't see. It had fallen over onto a tarp and then covered with floor mats and a live bush.
I began to restore it before I realized it was wrecked. It had about a 10* twist from the seat back.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2021, 02:03:50 PM »

We have a local place (Cycle Salvage, Peterborough Ontario) that does a good business on used motorcycle parts. They do sleds too, been open for decades. They usually remove decent pipes, bodywork, tanks, seats etc, then roll them into neat rows, outside, in a huge yard, out back. It’s reasonably tidy, and customers can walk up and down the aisles. Must have been 4-500 bikes. Some were literally “melting” away. A few years ago, they did a massive clean up. Next time I visits, will take pictures. Neat place.

WhyNot2 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 02, 2021, 07:49:36 PM »

Here is one leaned on a pine tree..........

britman · « **Reply #14 on:** September 05, 2021, 03:36:39 PM »

Sometimes you just see one you know should come back. This one, a CB450 was in the woods behind a shed and had been for years. No title, abandoned by the PO and just pushed outside by the garage owner to make room. Spotted it while make a delivery when when I was working part time a few years back dropping automotive paint. For 50 bucks it was mine, it came back but there were times I thought I had bitten off much more than I could chew. Got a title through the abandoned vehicle process in my State and rode it for quite awhile since I had put so much work in it. Finally let it go.........

ekpent · « **Reply #15 on:** September 05, 2021, 04:02:28 PM »

Good save !

Old Moe Toe · « **Reply #16 on:** September 06, 2021, 12:57:01 AM »

Running when parked.
Parked on a beach.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #17 on:** September 06, 2021, 11:37:02 AM »

Quote from: Old Moe Toe on September 06, 2021, 12:57:01 AM

Running when parked.
Parked on a beach.

Parked on a beach after they stole it and were done with their joyride...

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #18 on:** September 06, 2021, 04:04:03 PM »

Waiting for Forum Member “LASH” to post here.A few years ago I made him take a K2 with some other stuff he wanted. It was in my barn, forced on me the same way...... It had been left outside for ages. The rear wheel was actually a front rim, held in place by a piece of threaded rod. It was UGLY! He tore In to it and built a beautiful bike....... pictures???

Don R · « **Reply #19 on:** September 14, 2021, 04:15:08 PM »

I sold such a bike today, 83 KZ1100 for $200. missing parts and no title.

lash · « **Reply #20 on:** September 15, 2021, 06:55:30 PM »

Quote from: BenelliSEI on September 06, 2021, 04:04:03 PM

Waiting for Forum Member “LASH” to post here.A few years ago I made him take a K2 with some other stuff he wanted. It was in my barn, forced on me the same way...... It had been left outside for ages. The rear wheel was actually a front rim, held in place by a piece of threaded rod. It was UGLY! He tore In to it and built a beautiful bike....... pictures???

Just saw this thread. Actually it was two K2’s and both were “interesting” First one I am riding and the second one is being worked on.
I look at them not so much as barn bikes but more like ‘rescue’ bikes..

Don R · « **Reply #21 on:** November 13, 2021, 10:05:30 AM »

I bought three bikes this week from a barn. One had no tires, wheels, title or motor, it was sitting in the dirt and badly rusted. The passenger pegs were crudely cut off and welded back onto a race frame. When I cut it up, a part fell on the driveway and at least a cup of rust fell out. W0W! I'm glad no one tried to build that one.
The other two were sitting on metal siding and covered and faired pretty well. They were next to plow oil storage and were pretty oiled up. Messy to clean but nice underneath.

Edit, mice got into the two 836 motors. The PO left the carbs off of both and one also with no header pipe.

markmyodb · « **Reply #22 on:** November 13, 2021, 10:37:24 AM »

Took 5 years to turn this parked under a lean too...To what you see. 3 1/2 searching for parts to restore, 1 1/2 to cafe' it as shown.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #23 on:** November 13, 2021, 11:53:45 AM »

Quite the transformation Mark. Very nice.

Don R · « **Reply #24 on:** November 14, 2021, 08:41:25 AM »

836 turbo motor, the liquid is penetrating oil I put in it. An hour of heating did nothing to break it free. That's a sad end to a set of RC pistons.

Remcod · « **Reply #25 on:** November 14, 2021, 09:14:14 AM »

Didn't hondaman say put it on fire

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A415F met Tapatalk

Don R · « **Reply #26 on:** November 14, 2021, 10:04:54 AM »

Quote from: Remcod on November 14, 2021, 09:14:14 AM

Didn't hondaman say put it on fire

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A415F met Tapatalk

I did that too! I burned all 4 cylinders at once, heated with a torch and a hot air gun. It appears I'll need to split the cases and take the cylinder off with the rods hanging.

CycleRanger · « **Reply #27 on:** November 14, 2021, 10:46:09 AM »

Quote from: ekpent on August 29, 2021, 06:16:19 PM

Like this little Suzie 185 right now on Marketplace around me for the princely sum of 200 bucks. Might be kind of fun posting and sharing some of these heaps when they pop up.

Dirt bikes are the most expensive to restore, at least compared to many other street bikes.

Don R · « **Reply #28 on:** November 14, 2021, 09:56:59 PM »

A guy gave me a 100 Suzuki, it had been left in a shed full of chloride for concrete. Between the rust and concrete dust it was a goner.

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Author Topic: Outdoor storage bikes edit, meaning "left to rot" bikes. (Read 2071 times)