Project - too risky? What should I beware of?

Just after a few opinions from people who have repaired crashed bikes - particularly Gen 6. Im considering having a crack at purchasing this Honda VFR800 2002 | Trade Me

What should I beware of - I cant check it out in person. The forks are known to be bent but how likely that the frame is bent - Are the Km too high to bother. I just saw it and thought it would be a good company in the garage for my Gen1 and if I take my time getting parts when reasonably priced one pop up it maybe a cheap newer ride for me.

 

Take it from someone that has been down this road with any number of bikes, it ain't never going to be a cheap ride. Once you start the tally of known damaged components and add to that the surprise broken parts and the worn out normal wear items you could probably have purchased a nice used bike with the same number of Km. I am not saying "don't do it." Just be aware and do it for the fun of a project and for the satisfaction of putting a great bike back on the road. It is a little long in the tooth to make it a viable financial investment.

 

I would use a wrecked bike to fix mine. Otherwise, I wouldn't buy a crashed bike. That kind of project snowballs.

Jose

 

Fixing up a bike with a bent frame and forks is iffy unless you have deep pockets. Then again if the purchase price is low you have a nice trove of parts for a future runner and for parting out to those who need a bitsa or two might be a good thing to do.

Did this buying a stove up SR500. From the forks back. Just fine thankyou.. Ported and polished head- bars- carb- rear wheel-fender and lights-tank-sidecovers...more.. Saved me a bundle. Even traded some goodies off for some machine work.

 

As the others have said, it usually ends up costing more than its worth,unless your just doing it as a fun project.

 

This one.

I've done this on my previous 5th gen (it was lowsided by a previous owner). I got it relatively cheap. But after I bought her and opened her up to assess the real damage, I realized it had a bit more than met my eye. I ended up spending too much on it to get it to 100%. But after that it looked and ran flawlessly! Was it worth it? Since I was very happy with the end result and it gave me a few years of great service I was happy. However, like a lot of folks have said, I could have spent the same amount of money + repairs on a bike that was in better condition.

With a bend fork, most likely it also has a bent wheel. I would stay away from it.

 

If I were to jump on a project like that I definitely would not buy a bike thats been crashed sight un-seen, most likely a can of worms---- unless your a gambler :crazy: JMO

 

Hard to say when you cannot check out the bike......For that price worse case you can part her out to get your money back. But then that would not be fun

 

This same advice could be applied to ex wives and SO's depending on which state one resides.

 

Depending on your abilities as a mechanic and your connection for parts it could be a good deal. I'm not afraid of projects like this. Though what has been said about being able to inspect the bike first. If you can't then you better have good judgement and experience of rebuilding such vehicles and low ball the purchase price. If you can't buy it for a cheap price then walk away because it could be a money pit. Unless you know you can part it out and make money for your time invested in to it.

Without inspecting it, it's going to be a crap shoot because most sellers either don't know what it takes or the real damage done or they are trying to find a sucker and won't tell you the real truth of the damage. So as they say buyer beware. Good luck.

 

Thanks for all the experienced advice everyone. I will watch the auction. If the price stays at about 1k I'll probably get it - I do enjoy the thrill of a gamble! I imagine the price will go up quite a bit though in which case I will leave it alone. so I will keep you posted!

 

Is the auction on Fleabay or similar? Ask for some detailed pix from the seller. Especially of the damaged areas. Not me but there are some "wrenches" onboard who can spot the irreperable from a mile away.

A thou you say. How much is that in real money like escudos or barleycorns? It's bad enough that we yanks have to put up with Canadian money with those silly looking birds on it.

No discredit to the Kiwi of course..

 

I have fixed my Gen 6 twice after wreck's, I had a van pull out in front of me and I shoved it underneath. Which cost me about 1,500 after all said and done with, I will post the pick below. Then in august this year I was riding a little to spirited and my rear tire came out around a twisty thanks to a local PA road with some coal on it. I hit the guard rail at about 60mph I have picks of that too, anyway I have it almost all back together. It will probably be another 1500. I just can't let her go out like that, so i keep fixing her up. The one thing i can say though is that ebay is a gamble, and I get most of my parts new from a local honda dealer that my brother get a huge discount. That one isnt bad at all, my guess is that you will put in about 500-1000 depending on how close to perfect you want it.

Under the van, the pictures don't give the damage justice


After the van

 

HA HA - at least we don't have to put up with notes that are all the same colour! In real comparison terms we would have to compare bike $ value. The bike in question would be worth between 5-7k depending how tidy I could make it.
The Trade Me site is our NZ version of Fleabay. We have FleabayNZ but nobody uses it for local stuff.

 

Now that's the motivation I need to take the plunge!! Looks awesome Did you paint the white fairing or are they replacements?

 

Looks like any major color change in money here is going to be in our pennies. Soon to be probably aluminum.. A good idea overall having different colors. I handed a guy a 100 dollar bill just yesterday thinking it was a tenner. No doubt out there somewhere there are groups opposed to color coded currency for racial, sexual, religious and moral reasons or that some distant relative now deceased, is color blind.

Sounds like your Trade Me is similar to our Craigslist..

 

So I absorbed everybody's advice and although Funnybusiness was at odds with everyone else I listened to him and BOUGHT THE VFR800!!! I am very excited and cant wait to see it in the flesh. I will enjoy it as a project even if it doesn't turn out as a wise economic decision - although if it does work out economically it will be added satisfaction.
I will start a photo'd thread once I get started!

 

Good deal keep us posted. I like threads of that type.

 

Keep the pictures coming mate! as it would be =