Buying an 06 that's been sitting for almost a decade?

Insan3guy · June 11th, 2016, 08:43 PM

So I was wandering around craigslist when I found a 2006 with 800 (eight hundred!) miles that's evidently been sitting for some time now.

I've got a bit of experience with getting old pregens road-worthy but nothing like this.

Questions:
What kind of degradation happens on this timescale? Are we just looking at rust on the outside, or is the engine probably toast?
Obviously the fluids all need to be replaced but is it likely that all the insides are gummed up?
I'll happily do carbs but replacing engine bits is a little more than I'm comfortable with.

Think it's worth the time?

empire00 · June 11th, 2016, 08:59 PM

If it was outside odds are good that the forks are shot. Shock may be as well. engine wise you might just be talking about fluids and a carb/tank cleaning. Chain and tires will need replacement. Check the brake rotors for deep rust. For 800 it might be worth looking at but I would spend some time looking it over before committing to anything.

verboten1 · June 11th, 2016, 09:07 PM

Our 2001 sat for 9 years in a carport.

It needed the tank cleaned, the carbs cleaned, fluids changed, and is now a great runner.

Ghostt · June 11th, 2016, 10:54 PM

All rubbers replaced, tires, hoses, brake lines, caliper seals. New chain, all fluids of course.

Pulls the plugs, put some light oil in the cylinders, rotate by hand to make sure the rings aren't frozen, the crank it a few times with starter motor, put plugs back in.

Other than that have fun.

spent_too_much · June 13th, 2016, 06:12 AM

I recently purchased a parts bike that sat for 8 years. I could not turn the throttle, or get the key into the fuel door lock, for a while. The tank is all gummed up, and I know that the carbs are. It was outside, but covered. Surprisingly, it was not all rusted out.

As others have stated, tires, fluids, etc. will need replacing. The sum of replacing all the "little" things might outweigh the bargain. I purchased mine strictly for parts - not to return to the road.

If the price is right, go for it!

"A" · June 13th, 2016, 06:42 AM

If the bike was located in the desert area of CA, with drier air, it might not be too bad..

Inspect the bike through and through before you commit, check ALL moving parts still move...

Check the inside of the fuel tank for rust, if rust present, might be cheaper just get a used tank from salvage instead of reseal it.

spent_too_much · June 23rd, 2016, 07:49 PM

What did you decide? Did you purchase it?

Insan3guy · June 23rd, 2016, 09:00 PM

I decided against it. I figure that even if I make a profit it won't be worth the time.

June 11th, 2016, 08:43 PM	#1
Insan3guy ninjette.org member Name: Patrick Location: Coronado, CA Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2015 zx6r Posts: 176	Buying an 06 that's been sitting for almost a decade? So I was wandering around craigslist when I found a 2006 with 800 (eight hundred!) miles that's evidently been sitting for some time now. I've got a bit of experience with getting old pregens road-worthy but nothing like this. Questions: What kind of degradation happens on this timescale? Are we just looking at rust on the outside, or is the engine probably toast? Obviously the fluids all need to be replaced but is it likely that all the insides are gummed up? I'll happily do carbs but replacing engine bits is a little more than I'm comfortable with. Think it's worth the time? __________________________________________________ You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be misquoted and used against you in an internet fight

June 11th, 2016, 08:59 PM	#2
empire00 ninjette.org member Name: Sean Location: Southern IL Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 250r SE, 2015 FJ-09 Posts: 171	If it was outside odds are good that the forks are shot. Shock may be as well. engine wise you might just be talking about fluids and a carb/tank cleaning. Chain and tires will need replacement. Check the brake rotors for deep rust. For 800 it might be worth looking at but I would spend some time looking it over before committing to anything.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

June 11th, 2016, 09:07 PM	#3
verboten1 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Monroe, MI Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): '75 CB550:.'82 XV920:.'00 KLR650:.'00 EX250:.'08 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - June '15	Our 2001 sat for 9 years in a carport. It needed the tank cleaned, the carbs cleaned, fluids changed, and is now a great runner. __________________________________________________ '82 XV920: Soon to be tracker--'00 KLR685:adv --'04 DRZ400E--'12 Super Tenere --'13 Versys Ride more, worry less.

June 11th, 2016, 10:54 PM	#4
Ghostt in your machine Name: Scott Location: Summer Shade, Ky. Join Date: Oct 2014 Motorcycle(s): 98 Ninja 250/F12 aka ZX-2R "SERENITY", 91 Ninja 500/A5 aka ZX-5R "Phoenix", 84 Honda GL1200A "SIREN" Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 25 MOTM - Jun '17, May '16, Mar '15	All rubbers replaced, tires, hoses, brake lines, caliper seals. New chain, all fluids of course. Pulls the plugs, put some light oil in the cylinders, rotate by hand to make sure the rings aren't frozen, the crank it a few times with starter motor, put plugs back in. Other than that have fun. __________________________________________________ *violente et ignorantia* ZX-2R BLOG *Twitter and Instagram = Ghostt_Scott* *I'm not here to change your mind, just to inform.*

June 13th, 2016, 06:12 AM	#5
spent_too_much ninjette.org guru Name: Miguel Location: TN Join Date: Jan 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2000 EX-250; several other years of the same Posts: 460	I recently purchased a parts bike that sat for 8 years. I could not turn the throttle, or get the key into the fuel door lock, for a while. The tank is all gummed up, and I know that the carbs are. It was outside, but covered. Surprisingly, it was not all rusted out. As others have stated, tires, fluids, etc. will need replacing. The sum of replacing all the "little" things might outweigh the bargain. I purchased mine strictly for parts - not to return to the road. If the price is right, go for it! __________________________________________________ ... can't stop updating the bike! Last futzed with by spent_too_much; June 24th, 2016 at 12:21 PM. Reason: spelling correction

June 13th, 2016, 06:42 AM	#6
"A" vampire Name: A Location: IT Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2 many 2 list Posts: A lot.	If the bike was located in the desert area of CA, with drier air, it might not be too bad.. Inspect the bike through and through before you commit, check ALL moving parts still move... Check the inside of the fuel tank for rust, if rust present, might be cheaper just get a used tank from salvage instead of reseal it.

June 23rd, 2016, 07:49 PM	#7
spent_too_much ninjette.org guru Name: Miguel Location: TN Join Date: Jan 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2000 EX-250; several other years of the same Posts: 460	What did you decide? Did you purchase it? __________________________________________________ ... can't stop updating the bike!

June 23rd, 2016, 09:00 PM	#8
Insan3guy ninjette.org member Name: Patrick Location: Coronado, CA Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2015 zx6r Posts: 176	I decided against it. I figure that even if I make a profit it won't be worth the time. __________________________________________________ You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be misquoted and used against you in an internet fight

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