Import Moto Bits

Hey everybody, my name's
newbiechrisdoingresearchintorepaircostofacrashedimport.

Sorry about that, how are ye all?
Still haven't bought a bike, but I've looking at some Honda Hornets
this weekend.
One has been in a 'minor accident', apparrently involving a 30km/h
crash into the back of the car in front of him.
He says, and i quote: '...i don't think the front wheel even touched
the car 'ay..'

....which only leaves the possibility of him endoing (BMX term- i think
motorbikers call this a stoppie?) into it (??).

I'm checking it out tomorrow for things like bent forks, flat spots on
the front wheel and/or a damaged frame.

I was just wondering if anyone knows who i can call to get hold of/get
quotes for the following:
blinkers, rear brake pedal, tacho/speedo, brake master cylinder etc..

Are there any import bike shops around that could get this stuff in
used or new?

Hornet owners...
are any of these parts common with cb600 hornets??

Also, could anyone who has laid their bike down and got it repaired
tell me how much it costs to repair a tank that has some dents and
scratches on it?

Cheers,
Chris

 

Why buy a bike and take on somebody else's problems ? , by the time you have
stuffed about buying parts and getting things fixed , you could have gone to
a bike shop and brought the same model bike cheaper and in better condition.
Not only that , but how do you know that the whole frame isn't bent ? , you
would look funny crabbing down the road on some patched up heap of crap.

The best advise you could get is to save up all your beer money and get a
decent bike from a reputable bike shop with a documented history.
Otherwise you will be forking out money all the time trying to patch up a
heap of shit just to keep it road worthy.

 

Yep , I do have an idea , the fact is that if you are going to buy a bike or
whatever , then you don't buy a heap of shit that is bent and damaged that
has to be repaired first before you can use it , especially a bike that's
been in a crash , you don't know if the frame is bent or fractured .

And by the time you have spent running around to get parts from one place or
another , bargaining for a better price and then having to fit it and the
rest of the crap , it would be quicker and cheaper to just go to a good bike
shop and buy a bike that is roadworthy and ready to drive away.

Also , added to the fact that the original poster has never owned a bike
before , then it would certainly be better for him to buy a bike from a bike
shop instead of fiddling about re-building a bike.

 

Since you're advising someone that the best way to buy a secondhand 250 is
from a dealer, I respectfully suggest otherwise...

 

I heartily agree: the best way to buy a bike would be to
purchase it from an honest, scrupulous and reasonably-priced
dealer of motorvehicles. I shall ask the Tooth Fairy for a
recommendation.

-----sharks

 

Where in amongst

do you say anything about a private sale?

Must contain fit of laughter... people in office...

 

My point being is why buy a busted up heap of shit that needs to be fixed up
before you can ride it from some dodgy bloke down the pub , when you could
probably get the same bike from a dealer or private sale that is in good
condition and doesn't need fixing up before you can ride it .

Sure the busted up heap of crap may be cheaper , but after scratching around
for parts and spending the time fixing it up , it will end up costing you
more than a bike that is brought in good condition , and if you buy a bike
from a dealer , then you usually get some kind of warranty with it if it is
over a certain sale price.

You buy the bike for your own enjoyment to ride , not take on the problems
of somebody else's bike.

 

What I am saying is that it would be better to buy a bike in good working
order and ROADWORTHY from a dealer than it would be to buy a busted up heap
of crap that needs to be fixed up before it can ride it.

 

HEY! I *don't* resemble that remark. I'm a complete screaming n00b.
I went to a dealer. They picked me for a n00b and promptly tried
to rob me - fuckers did everything but shoot my horses in the
kneecaps and steal my woman. Didn't work. I grepped the trading
post and equivalents regularly for another week or so, checked
out a few bikes, knocked back all that didn't seem right.

Then, I ended up with one of those incredibly dodgy and dangerous
private sales: 101Km on the clock, completely spotless, hardly
been ridden much less dropped. Full manufacturers warranty, full
books, full everything.

Of course, as a complete n00b, I was completely incapable of
differentiating that from the three year old several-thousand-
kilometred POS that the aforementioned dealer tried to push
on me for $500 more than new price, and >$2000 more than I paid
for Blue Bear.

So yeah, you're right Sandgroper, I *should* have
bought from that prick at Sydney City Motorcycles.

We fuckin' n00bs need all the protection we can get from
the likes of you. Thanks for your supportive and imformative
posting.


G

 

ah but bikes from dealers arent always roadworthy

remember buyer beware

 

I see harsh week is continuing.

---
Cheers

PeterC [aka MildThing]
'81 Suzuki GS450-s
'87 BMW K100RT

www.dmcsc.org.au

 

Yeah, well, just wait until you don't look like a n00b. Then
they'll ignore you, just in case a n00b walks in while they're
talking to you, and they miss out on the commission!

-----sharks

 

Yeah , maybe you are one of these people that has a n00b / I am a wanker
appearance and the bike dealers see you coming from miles away , so you have
go no choice but to search out other n00bs/wankers in the newspaper that are
selling their bikes.

 

Hey GB, you're not a _complete_ n00b, you seem to have got the hang of
harsh week already ;-)

big

 

On 18/1/04 5:29 AM, in article

Yeah, buy a CB250!

Hammo

 

You looking in the mirror again?

 

Yeah I know it's a gamble but I don't mind the prospect of a project
if i can pick it up for about $300-500. Otherwise it just isn't worth
it.

I appreciate your concern!!

However the forks are straight (of this i am 90% sure), there are no
flat spots on the front wheel, rubber is good and the frame appears to
be straight.

My main concern is that his AIRBOX is cracked in half..

How would that have happened i wonder?? Backed over it with a car?
Massive chassis excursion during the crash??

BTW I did my learner training yesterday and the day before that...
SOO much fun!!

Such a better, more fluid 'user interface' than a car.
Can't wait to get onto my own bike!!!

Chris

 

Yes, Hammo. I'm looking in the mirror again...

 

I'd feel a lot better if you told us how you ascertained this...

Actually, what's the damage? Could you list it for us?

If a steel frame's going to bend that far, chances are it won't just go
bbboinnnggg back into its original shape.

Even if it is an absolute bargain, I'd still advise against buying this
particular bike because:

1. Hornet 250's are_very_rare, and Honda never even sold that many Hornet
600's, either, meaning there'll be very slim pickings at wreckers, the only
place where you'll, realistically, be able to get parts for a grey
import-model bike.
2. The Hornet 250 wears the same tyres as the pre-2000 FireBlade, which
would make for some very un-250-like handling and a steep bill come time to
replace tyres.

Rule 1 of playing Re-Animator with smashed bikes-pick something common. The
Hornet 250 is not common.

 

Thanks for your advice!

when looking at the forks i lined up the triple clamps and looked for
twists, also looked straight down each fork leg and they both seem to
be straight.
I must admit i didn't take the tank off to check the frame at the
front because the forks seemed ok.
It's a naked though, and looking down the length of the bike it
appeared straight.
Another slightly comforting thing is his brother told me the bike was
ridden home (20k or so) after the crash.
BTW the bike was advertised on ebay recently for 2000+ and surprise
surprise nobody bidded.

Re: parts
i know it will be difficult, stupidly so if not for the fact that
hornet 250s use a cbr250 engine and most other parts are directly off
a cb600 or cbr900 fireblade.

BUSTED BITS:
front brake lever and master cylindar
rear brake pedal and cylindar
airbox (could have happened earlier)
both front blinkers
Headlight is apparrently ok but not on the bike when i inspected it
tach/dash assembly
bit of paint missing from the tank
broken front mudguard
engine starts then stops but only with copious amounts of aerostart.
Won't run for more than 4 seconds or so.fuel supply problem- the bike
was sitting for 6 months.

I will only take it for less than 400. a coupla cartos should suffice.

ONE MORE CONCERN..
If the airbox was cracked quite some time ago, then the engine's been
taking a fair bit of unfiltered air. Any experience with this??
Do bike engines mind it very much?