G
Guest
·I'm looking at a 1997 M900 with 600, yes 600 miles on the odometer. It's been sitting for years, the battery is dead. What should I look out for?
What happens to a bike left sitting for 6 years?
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
Re: What happens to a bike left sitting for 6 year
seals that stay dry deteriate and leak, tires are toast, dry internal parts will corrode, carbs will be gummed up, brake fluid absorbs moisture even when bike is not in use, and that is just for starters.
seals that stay dry deteriate and leak, tires are toast, dry internal parts will corrode, carbs will be gummed up, brake fluid absorbs moisture even when bike is not in use, and that is just for starters.
G
Guest
·Re: What happens to a bike left sitting for 6 year
Thanks, I'm going to find out more about this bike and post back. It sounds like it won't be worth the aggravation to get it checked out and running., I'd rather buy a new one with a warranty.
Thanks, I'm going to find out more about this bike and post back. It sounds like it won't be worth the aggravation to get it checked out and running., I'd rather buy a new one with a warranty.
G
Guest
·Re: What happens to a bike left sitting for 6 year
Rusty gas tanks... seem a common problem for old bikes.
I will say that most of my bikes in the last twenty years or so have been "reserected". My Duc is the first new bike I have had since 1976. I think I'm past the 50 bike mark. Many have been drug from under porches and out of barns. Some for parts, some were hopeless, some I still have and love dearly. I wouldn't recommend this for everone, but I enjoy working on bikes as much as riding. I also hate buying new parts... I fix, modify, or swap..the hunt is half the challange.
My best "bike left sitting"... 1966 benelli 50. Bought in1997 for $100 with 4.6 miles and a broken throttle cable. Had been kept in a dry garage. The original perellis are not even dry rotted. (I don't know why). I had to replace the seal at the shifter, adapt a throttle cable from a Honda, clean rusty tank and carb,and a good going over. Have about 1200 troublefree miles now. Cheap fun.
Low mileage means little ($) if a bike has not been kept up over time.
Rusty gas tanks... seem a common problem for old bikes.
I will say that most of my bikes in the last twenty years or so have been "reserected". My Duc is the first new bike I have had since 1976. I think I'm past the 50 bike mark. Many have been drug from under porches and out of barns. Some for parts, some were hopeless, some I still have and love dearly. I wouldn't recommend this for everone, but I enjoy working on bikes as much as riding. I also hate buying new parts... I fix, modify, or swap..the hunt is half the challange.
My best "bike left sitting"... 1966 benelli 50. Bought in1997 for $100 with 4.6 miles and a broken throttle cable. Had been kept in a dry garage. The original perellis are not even dry rotted. (I don't know why). I had to replace the seal at the shifter, adapt a throttle cable from a Honda, clean rusty tank and carb,and a good going over. Have about 1200 troublefree miles now. Cheap fun.
Low mileage means little ($) if a bike has not been kept up over time.
G
Guest
·Re: What happens to a bike left sitting for 6 year
Excellent post. You sir are a breed apart.
Excellent post. You sir are a breed apart.
G
Guest
·Re: What happens to a bike left sitting for 6 year
Gee...thanks......
and my wife says If I drag in another @#$^motorcycle....well you know the rest.
Gee...thanks......
and my wife says If I drag in another @#$^motorcycle....well you know the rest.
Re: What happens to a bike left sitting for 6 year
I bought a 97 M900 this summer with a little over 300 miles on it as well. In all respects it's a new motorcycle. However, shortly after hitting the 600 mile mark it started to use oil. . . quite a bit at first, but it's tapered off recently. I changed the valve guide seals in attempt to fix something relatively cheap and easy that I though might have been the problem, but it wasn't. Looks like something more significant (rings probably). So, the big danger in a "new" old bike are dried seals, gaskets and the possibility of corrosion in the cylinders, valves, etc. Depends on how it was stored (prep, environment, etc). I'd have a competent professional take a really good look at it and perform all the diagnostic tests he could with respect to the engine. If I had to do it all over again, I'd look for a good one with more miles on it (3-4K). Good luck.
I bought a 97 M900 this summer with a little over 300 miles on it as well. In all respects it's a new motorcycle. However, shortly after hitting the 600 mile mark it started to use oil. . . quite a bit at first, but it's tapered off recently. I changed the valve guide seals in attempt to fix something relatively cheap and easy that I though might have been the problem, but it wasn't. Looks like something more significant (rings probably). So, the big danger in a "new" old bike are dried seals, gaskets and the possibility of corrosion in the cylinders, valves, etc. Depends on how it was stored (prep, environment, etc). I'd have a competent professional take a really good look at it and perform all the diagnostic tests he could with respect to the engine. If I had to do it all over again, I'd look for a good one with more miles on it (3-4K). Good luck.1 - 7 of 7 Posts
