Decisions with my motorbike

AlwaysPondering

Am currently at a decision point with my motorbike, it's just had a big service (48k), and they have picked up on a few things - I was expecting something.

Some of it is just normal wear and tear - discs/pads etc..
Other bits are the not so normal wear and tear, throttle body/some cables connections etc etc..

It's worth about £1600 as a part-ex, prob £2k as a private sale. Although I couldn't sell it without being honest about the work required. However the quote for fixing it all is around the £1k mark.

The garage said that if I was thinking of replacing the bike, then maybe this would be a good time to think about it. I was thinking about it, but in about 18 months time. When both I have some more cash, and the wife will have passed her test, so I have no need to have her as a pillion.

We are off on holiday around Ireland on the bike in a few months, at the moment it'll depend on whether or not my wife passes her test as to whether she is pillion or not.

If I did get a new bike, I'd rather spend the next month or so getting used to the new bike, and getting use to having her on the back. That said if she is to pass her test and take her own bike, I'd rather she spent as much time as possible on her bike getting experience prior to her test, and again after that before the trip to Ireland.

My current bike is nice and low so can get both feet down when she is a pillion, the bike I'd like I can't. I've done many 000's of miles with her on the back, so if she doesn't pass her test, I have no problem with her just jumping on the back and off we go.

At the moment I am edging towards having my current bike fixed, I know it, it has never given me any trouble and I do have a soft spot for it. That said it'd be a grand that I will never get back, and with the VAT increase at the start of next year, maybe now is a good time to swap. That said maybe if too many people buy now, then there will be really good deals early next year as people have brought forward they buying plans.

Anyone got any thoughts?

oldtoolie

For your £1000 you get 18 months use out of the old bike and with the overhaul receipts to show, you will might get the £1600 -- £2000 at the later sale time. However if you buy a new bike it will probably depreciate £1000 or more over 18 months. So get the calculator out.

In the end bikes aren't money savers and you should make the decision from the heart.

And how about the rear shock -- that is surely worn out after 48k.

Hintza

I know nothing about bikes but might be very tempted to change it in your circumstances

BUT

The old saying; "The devil you know" would be one important consideration when making my final decision.

mkirkby

AlwaysPondering wrote: »

Some of it is just normal wear and tear - discs/pads etc..
Other bits are the not so normal wear and tear, throttle body/some cables connections etc etc..

It's worth about £1600 as a part-ex, prob £2k as a private sale. Although I couldn't sell it without being honest about the work required. However the quote for fixing it all is around the £1k mark.

The garage said that if I was thinking of replacing the bike, then maybe this would be a good time to think about it. I was thinking about it, but in about 18 months time. When both I have some more cash, and the wife will have passed her test, so I have no need to have her as a pillion.

I think that last remark tells you all you need to know. Take it to an independent bike mechanic without telling him of any work which might need doing and see what he says.

Sorry to sound negative but I simply do not trust garages (bike or car) which have both service and retail sections since a nissan garage invented work that needed to be done and tried to get me to trade in against a new car. Remeber that it's in the garage's interests for you to get a new bike. The independent garage has no ties.

Apart from that...£1000 of work for a bike that's done 48k is just way out there. Don't believe it.

Keith

Get a second opinion on the work, if near London try Essential Rubber.

I recently sold a 50k+ bike on ebay, no test drive, no questions, V5c signed, cash in my hand, bike in the van and off it went to Poland. It had a knackered rear shock but the buyer didn't give a crap and paid more than I was expecting!

I certainly would not be paying £1k out on a bike worth £2k

dannymccann

Guess it depends how much you love the thing?? As above, I wouldnt be spending that much on repairs on something that is now getting on a bit, and at 48k (unless its a BMW?) its had a good innings anyway

oldtoolie

It is easy for a bike with 48k to need £1000 in servicing. Overhaul brakes front and rear, overhaul front forks, grease steering head bearings, grease swingarm bearings, replace old rubber brake and fuel lines, renovate or replace rear shock, replace chain and drive sprockets. And the OP mentioned a throttle body which can be expensive and complicated to remove and replace.

So yes, I might get a second opinion if I did not trust the workshop but no, £1000 isn't out of the question. If you did do that the bike would be ready for another 48k. Modern bike engines last as well as a car but the rest wears out quicker.

AlwaysPondering

Thanks to everyone who has given a view

dannymccann wrote: »

Guess it depends how much you love the thing?? As above, I wouldnt be spending that much on repairs on something that is now getting on a bit, and at 48k (unless its a BMW?) its had a good innings anyway

Yep, it's a BMW.. I have a big soft spot for the bike.. Apart from this it's in pretty good condition, with stacks of service history, work by previous owners etc.

oldtoolie wrote: »

It is easy for a bike with 48k to need £1000 in servicing. Overhaul brakes front and rear, overhaul front forks, grease steering head bearings, grease swingarm bearings, replace old rubber brake and fuel lines, renovate or replace rear shock, replace chain and drive sprockets. And the OP mentioned a throttle body which can be expensive and complicated to remove and replace.

So yes, I might get a second opinion if I did not trust the workshop but no, £1000 isn't out of the question. If you did do that the bike would be ready for another 48k. Modern bike engines last as well as a car but the rest wears out quicker.

I don't see any reason why it wouldn't just keep going.. it's on old boxer.. which I've seen many many get upto 80/90k miles.. and a few I've heard of well over 100k..

I could try doing some of it myself, but for the time it would take me.. and the fact my car has died, this bike is now my main form of transport.. no bike, no getting to work, no pay.. so I think I'm best off leaving it to the garage..

That said just sold my car as spares or repairs and got far more for it than I thought.. so am thinking I'll get it fixed, and continue saving for the next one, and pray nothing else goes wrong.. That said, buy new bike - ride out of showroom, lose a grand in value..

Markyt

I've just spent almost 1k on a 48k BMW - clutch had gone. I reckon it's worth doing as I'll get at least that mileage out of it again, but then I've no intention or need to sell it at the moment. In any case, I'd have struggled to sell it for more than a pittance with a slipping clutch.

Velcro_Hotdog

I had a similar situation a few months back, I have a TTR 250 which is getting on a bit now its an L reg. It needed £800 spent on it and the bike is maybe worth £1200 so it was probably best to part ex it for a new open enduro.

After weeks of feeling down in the dumps about possibly having to get rid of my favourite bike I bit the bullet and shopped around for some better quotes for the work. Got the work done in the end for £550 and was really pleased as it had given the bike a new lease of life it it was much nicer to ride.

Now because I have such a love for my TTR I couldn't live with the fact that mechanically the bike was sound but visually it was looking tired so then spent a further £500 on a new tank, and had the plastics re painted plus another £200 for new wheels.

The bike should see me through another 7-8 years riding on the road and green lanes and imo works out cheaper in the long run than spending 8-9K on a new bike.