Motorbike question??

miss.average

I hope this is in the right place - and if not I apologise already.

My husband bought a motorbike, ( about 8 years ago) a Honda CBR600 .Its year is 2000 with very low mileage etc. Since he bought it, it's become a very expensive ornament in the shed! ie he's only been on it once. I've 'persuaded' him it must go. However, now it won't start, splutters...... we think it must be dirty fuel ??
My question would be - is it worth spending on to get it sorted, put tax and mot on it, or would it be best to let it go as its?? I've been watching ebay and the price/ value varies from 1300 to 2450.

Any advice very welcome - thanks in advance

tykesi

If it's in good condition other than this I'd say empty the tank and stick some fresh fuel through it. If it's anything else I can't see it costing that much to sort and a working taxed & tested bike will attract a lot more interest and in turn a higher price.

I'd advise doing this sooner rather than later as the price you can ask will go down towards the end of the season. This good weather could see it gone within a week if you sort it.

miss.average

that would be great - a shed with a bit of room!
thanks I think we ( or should I say I) was thinking along the same lines.

Geodark

Depending on how long it has been stood it could be dodgy old fuel in the carb, might be worth emptying cleaning the tank and carb out, then sticking some fresh fuel in. I have a bike out front here that I will be doing that too over the next few weeks as it has been stood for a couple of years.

Rolandtheroadie

He's only got 1 lying? That'll not do. He needs more.

Personal feeling aside, I'd be tempted to just get it running and advertise it with a full and honest description.

If you MOT it, he might as well insure it. And tax it. Then it would be better to sell it next year at the start of the season. So there's no point letting it lie to the point it wont start again. So he could use it for a wee while......

Richard53

If it was running OK when he put it away, it's almost certainly varnish in the carbs where the old fuel has evaporated. Common problem, and quite easily sorted by a strip and clean. £5 for carb cleaner if you DIY, a couple of hours' labour if you don't.


As others have said, a running bike with tax and MoT will get far more than a non-runner, which could be an easy fix or a money pit for the buyer. I would not buy a non-runner unless it was for pocket money, as a project. Far too risky to assume it's 'only' x,y or z at the seller's word.


Only tax it for 6 months, as the new rules are coming in later in the year when the new owner will have to tax it him/herself anyway.


And yes, sell it soon. If it hasn't gone by late August, put it away* and sell it again in the spring. You'll get little for it out of season.


*Drain fuel tank and carbs, put battery on charge, at the very least.

Quiet_Spark

Providing the plastics are intact I'll blind bid a £1000 for it, and won't worry about the little things like the brakes being partially seized, cracked rubbers, tarnished metalwork, etc, where it's been stood up.

miss.average

thanks to all
husband going to 'have a go' - although he doesn't know it yet!!!
Just to let you know the bike has less than 13000 miles and is in pristine condition - no rust , etc I notice it has two exhausts one on the bike and one in a wrapper underneath the bike cover?? according to my neighbours son (??) all it needs is a good clean out! -and is fit to go?? I wasn't looking to sell it on here - just get an idea of expected price, but thanks for the offers anyway.
so thanks again everyone
hopefully gain the shed this year and maybe get a weekend away!

Stooby2

The fuel in the carbs has gone off if it hasn't dried out altogether and after 8 years, the fuel in the tank won't be good either.

If he takes off a side panel, he should be able to get to the drain screws at the bottom of each carb and drain them out. Then he needs to empty the tank and refill it.

It'll take a lot of turning over before it eventually starts and may well cough and fart for a bit until fuel, properly gets through the carbs.

And I'd guess by now, the tyres aren't going to be any good - might pass an MOT, but not something I'd want to ride on.

If you can get it running, I'd stick it on eBay, with a full description, stating it hasn't been used in years. You'll probably get a reasonable amount for it. You could try sticking it through an MOT, but unless you've got a van or a trailer, you'll need to insure it to ride it to an MOT centre. Don't tax, whatever you do, you're just throwing money away.

Quiet_Spark

Stooby2 wrote: »

If he takes off a side panel, he should be able to get to the drain screws at the bottom of each carb

You need to remove the tail fairing, seat, fuel tank, and airbox before you can even see the carbs.

davetrousers

I have a 1996 CBR600 and a Fireblade, I've had the 600 over 16 years.

I would get a can of Bradex Easy Start, make sure the battery is fully charged, squirt some in the air intake, then persevere with trying to start it on the button. It'll start eventually. Then go for a blast up a motorway or something.

CBR600s are bulletproof.