Any problems with used bike sitting for long?

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NCRonB · #1 Unread post by **NCRonB** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 11:01 am

Hi all,

I have a chance to get a used 2003 Ninja 500R with just over 500 miles for about $3500. From what I've seen that's very reasonable. The owner says it has never been dropped/damaged and has always been garaged, but for a two year old bike with only 500 miles, it's had a lot of sitting still time. It also just got a new battery. I forgot to ask why, but that seems odd.

Are there any problem areas I should check in this case, or is it not a big deal?

Thanks.

#2 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 11:24 am

Prolonged sitting is a bad thing...but two years is not much. I see brand new, unsold bikes all the time that have been sitting on the showroom floor for over a year. The concern is the seals...they tend to dry out if the engine and transmission are not ran. This particular bike should not have any problems.

The dead battery is simply an indication of yet another lazy and/or ignorant bike owner that didn't remove the battery for winter storage. It's very common to see otherwise good batteries killed this way, and is no indication of electrical problems with the bike.

NCRonB · #3 Unread post by **NCRonB** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:02 pm

Thanks, ZooTech.

Analog · #4 Unread post by **Analog** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:08 pm

I've heard of gasoline coagulating in the line and filter, but that was after the bike had 6 years of sitting in a barn...

If zoo tech says it's probably good, then it probably is.

#5 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:24 pm

Analog wrote:I've heard of gasoline coagulating in the line and filter, but that was after the bike had 6 years of sitting in a barn...

Yeah, fuel only takes about six months to go bad. The best course of action to take if bad gas is suspected is to immediately drain the tank and pour in fresh gas and some SeaFoam. I made what I felt was a safe assumption that the bike had been started this year, though, considering the investment in a new battery. Some SeaFoam still wouldn't hurt, though.

#6 Unread post by **Sev** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 1:07 pm

You're going to have to go through the fuel lines and get the crap cleaned out. Change the oil, it's probably been sitting a little long as well. Check for dry rot on the tires, it doesn't usuallyhappen that soon but it is possible.

Then there's all the normal used bike stuff, exhaust color, fork seals, brakes, make sure the frame is straight and on and on and on.

NCRonB · #7 Unread post by **NCRonB** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:57 am

Sevulturus wrote:You're going to have to go through the fuel lines and get the "crumb" cleaned out. Change the oil, it's probably been sitting a little long as well.

I figured I'd have to change the oil and maybe whatever else is required for its first service, but are you saying the fuel line will need to be cleaned or it might because it has been sitting? Is there some way for me to know when I check it out, and if it needs it, is it something I can do without much trouble or am I looking at having a mechanic do it? I'd like to knock extra $$ off the price if that needs to be done.

#8 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:37 am

rbickers wrote:are you saying the fuel line will need to be cleaned or it might because it has been sitting?

It might need that depending on how long it sat and whether or not the previous owner used Stabil or another fuel stabilizer (SeaFoam works well for this, too). If the bike has been running this season...at least within the last three months, I'd say an oil change and a couple tanks of premium fuel treated with SeaFoam should be all you need to ensure the fuel system is flowing as it should. If it sat for the bulk of the last two years with untreated fuel in the tank (and carbs, lines, etc) then you may need to have the carbs disassembled and cleaned thoroughly.

rbickers wrote: Is there some way for me to know when I check it out, and if it needs it, is it something I can do without much trouble or am I looking at having a mechanic do it? I'd like to knock extra $$ off the price if that needs to be done.

Just be sure to ask the guy when it was last ridden. Watch closely when he starts it up for you to see if he has any trouble getting it going, or if it spits, spudders, and misfires the whole time. If it has a really rough idle and he seems to know nothing about this "fuel stabilizer" you speak of, you may want to express concerns over possible build-up of varnish in the carbs. That would require probably around $250.00 to have remedied.

NCRonB · #9 Unread post by **NCRonB** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:50 am

Thanks for all the info, everyone.

I checked out the bike today and spoke with the owner more. She said it had been driven occasionally or at least started and run occasionally.

At any rate, the bike looked really good all over; everything I could check out was in good shape. It started, idled and ran well (that is, as best as I could tell -- did I mention I don't have my license yet?).

Now all I need is some gear, the MSF, perhaps a service manual, life insurance ... and oh yeah, my wife's blessing.

#10 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:06 pm

rbickers wrote:Now all I need is some gear, the MSF, perhaps a service manual, life insurance ... and oh yeah, my wife's blessing.

And a can of SeaFoam.