Topic: To rebuild or not

[endobendo]

The timeless question, but I just want some of your opinions.  I've got 18,000 miles on my F1.  It still runs strong and has good compression, but has had a leaky head gasket for a while.  I'm really getting into restoring it with modern upgrades where appropriate.

My desires are to put in the wiseco 836 kit, cam, and port and polish the head.  I suppose the timing chain and secondary chain should be replaced at the same time.  Is it worth it to do this or should I just keep putting the miles on?  Can anyone offer a ballpark cost for all this?  600$? 800$?  Are there any problems people have noticed from doing these mods?

[comcrx]

cyclexchange.net
port/polish heads            300
bore cylinders for 836 kit  200
I think I've seen the 836 piston sets for around 340

[eldar]

cost depends on what you do. If you do basic stuff, you wont get much out of it but it will only be about 600. If you rework the head a little and put in a hotter cam. then about 1000. You may as well spring for new chains so you do not have to pull the engine again for awhile. About 120 more for that.

So if you wanted a fair performance boost and to minimize future problems, about $1000-1200.

[ProTeal55]

Ride it !
If you want to build, get a basket case and put around with that...

[Lumbee]

...do you have a 2nd bike?  If this is the only bike you have it sucks not being able to ride when your bike is torn apart.  It also tends to make you speed up a job when the only bike you have is torn apart.  If you have a second bike to ride you don't feel as bad about not riding and you can take your time on the rebuild.

...I'm slowly collecting parts for an 836 kit...I'v got a set of jugs and pistons.  I'm gonna slowly collect all the parts I need through trading or buying on the cheap.  Once I have all the peices for the top end, then I'll find a solid bottom end to put it on.  Then I'll just need a bike to drop the motor in.  May take me a few years, but alot cheaper, and no riding down time.   

[endobendo]

Thanks for the suggestions and estimates.  I think I will hold off for several reasons (not necessarilly in order of importance):   

It aint broke.
I need to save my $$ so I can buy a house with a garage.
Rebuilding an engine in my laundry room would definitely be half-assed.
I want to take my time and do it right.
My brakes should be fixed first.
I need to ride now.

[ofreen]

18,000 miles ain't much.  If the bike is in otherwise good condition and is runnig strong, it seems a waste to discard perfectly good pistons and rings and such.  I have a '75 750F that has over a 100,000 miles on it. In 1996 at 53,000 miles, the engine began weeping at the head gasket and base gasket.  I pulled the engine out of the frame and retorqued the head.  That put a stop to the weeping at both spots.  In 2002 at 82,000 miles, the engine began leaking badly from the seals beneath the cam towers.  I pulled the engine again and replaced the seals.  I took advantage of the opportunity and retorqued the head even though there was no leaking in that area.  That is as far as I have ever had to go into that engine.

Unless you really want to go to the expense to build that motor, I'd suggest retorquing the head and see if that stops the weeping.

[DammitDan]

Booyah...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979-HONDA-CB650-PROJECT-BIKE-CB-650_W0QQitemZ4625231884QQcategoryZ35599QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I wonder how a '79 CB650 would do as a cafe.  It's got all the right looks, and the right mix of power from the 750 side and agility from the 550 side...