Author Topic: Help! I can't save them all!  (Read 1462 times)

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Offline Raul CB750K1

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Help! I can't save them all!
« on: November 28, 2005, 12:48:43 AM »
I'm having a problem lately. I find myself browsing the motorcycle ads, looking for cheap bikes that are broken with the intention of buying and fixing them. I still have room for three or more bikes, and though I don't have much time to ride and try to convince myself that I can't save all the bikes nobody wants, I still can't help it. For example, I'm looking lately for the Kawa GPZ400 or the Honda CB450DX, both of them a little ugly with those square headlights. For that reason people just ignore them, but I feel like saving them. Am I the only one? My wife doesn't understand me anymore....


Raul

Offline Harry

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Re: Help! I can't save them all!
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2005, 01:19:43 AM »
Raul - youre not alone, MY wife doesn't understand you either  ;D
Harry Teicher, member #3,  Denmark....no, NOT the capital of Sweden.

Offline mcpuffett

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Re: Help! I can't save them all!
« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2005, 09:18:18 AM »
nor mine ;) if you like them raul you go ahead and save them  :)  mick.
Honda CB750 KO 1970,   Honda VTX 1300 2006, Lancaster England.

Jim Shea

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Re: Help! I can't save them all!
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2005, 09:33:12 AM »
Never mind the wives not understanding you, I don't understand you.  ;)
I don't want to save broken bikes, I just want one of verything that I see.
I wonder who has the most bikes on the forum?
I know a chap in the UK who has 38 bikes, 30+ are running and insured for the road!

Offline Raul CB750K1

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Re: Help! I can't save them all!
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2005, 12:15:21 PM »
I just saw an ad for a modern Suzuki GZ250 (a small commuter cruiser-like bike) like the one I have but in black. It belongs to a young girl who forgot to check the oil level and the engine seized. She asks 750 euro for it. New ones are about 3.000 euro, and used ones about 2.000. I'm thinking about trying to get it for 600 euro and fixing it (it's a thumper). Even when original Suzuki parts are expensive, a new piston, rings, cylinder honing and head refacing would be around 300-400 euro. The rest of the bike (as per the phone call) is inmaculate. I guess I will buy another bike soon if nobody is quicker than me...

Raul

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Help! I can't save them all!
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2005, 04:24:03 PM »
I'm not sure where my wife is, I think she's over at Jimmy Shea's place in England? Ah well, good on her, she deserves a vacation.

If she's coming home soon maybe she can swing by your "hacienda" Raul, and pick up that cylinder, that way I can bore it out for you on my boring bar mate? Cheers, Terry. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

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Offline TwoTired

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Re: Help! I can't save them all!
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2005, 04:28:51 PM »
I know a chap in the UK who has 38 bikes, 30+ are running and insured for the road!

If I had 38 bikes, I'd be chapped, too. :-X
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
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Offline Jonesy

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Re: Help! I can't save them all!
« Reply #7 on: November 28, 2005, 04:33:03 PM »
Don't worry, Raul... My wife understands you! (She has an old bike she rides. She's bummed it's missing two cylinders so she can't post here)

I'm the same way, only I try to save ANY forlorn mechanical contraption. So, I guess if she understands me, she ought to understand you too! :D
"Every time I start thinking the world is all bad, then I start seeing people out there having a good time on motorcycles; it makes me take another look." -Steve McQueen

Offline Raul CB750K1

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Re: Help! I can't save them all!
« Reply #8 on: November 29, 2005, 02:52:55 PM »
Went today and saw the bike. The engine was not seized. One of the exhaust valves broke and it fell inside the cylinder. You can imagine how the piston and head looked like... Camshaft and rocker shot too. Checked prices for the parts -without counting gaskets, circlips etc, and thinking about reusing the remaining three valves. The girl asks 700 euro for the bike, and the parts are about 600 euro!!!! Guess she will have a nice looking bike in her living room.... But if she is willing to part with it for 300 euro then it will be mine.


Raul