SP1 Advice

[Shauned71]

Hey hey... as subject says.. after some advice on a SP1.. basically anything to look out for on them, things to worry about? And what do you think about the price, as in is it worth getting even if it is a bit duffed up ?
(thinking if need be break up the bike)
Have a mate who is looking at one, W plate 45k shortish T&T It has had a 30mph off, slide down road on the left side. Damage (doesn't look too bad) to left front fairing, snapped indicator and mirror and it looks going by the pics that its knocked the left can off.. as in it's got a slip on can and now it's.. well slipped off. Comes with history and also has the original exhaust system with it. £1250.

Trying to be sensible here so assuming there will be some more scags and scratches along the side but description on it is it isn't heavy and still all looks a nice bike.

[slower110]

If it's possible then defo go and have a look at it, see exactly what the damage is for yourself. The price seems very low, mileage may put some off but it comes with history....that full service history?
I like mine and have had no problems at all although mileage wise it's only just been run in lol.

[Shauned71]

Bit of extra info no T&T Bike is HPI clear.. bit more duffed up than first thought but in my mind doesn't look like the end of the world. Believe it to be this one....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-HONDA-VT ... 25829d1bcc

[sirch345]

Damaged frame, broken off steering stop(s), bent/damaged forks, and bent/damaged wheel(s) are all thing to watch out for. Making sure the bike tracks in a straight line with the handle bars straight is a good start.

Chris.

[tattie]

Hi There Shauned71,
If it has been down the left hand side check out the lh rad as some have been known to spring a leak at the mounting bracket without having been dropped. Check just about everything everybody else has mentioned as well. I would be keen to know what service history comes with it as well. There looks to be a fair bit of repairs to carry out plus it has the look of a winter run neglected furry alloy machine.
The cost of repairing/replacing the bits might outweigh the end result. There are a fair few for sale at the moment but a lot are not selling due to the price tag. You should still be able to pick up a reasonable bike up for around 3k, winter is just around the corner and the prices will drop a bit.
I would not worry about high miles as long as there is a reasonable service history, there was one on ebay recently that went for £2600 or £2700 with a fair bit of extras plus originals, just hang on and keep looking.

Having sold my one last December and regretting it for the last 9 months I am just hanging on for the right moment, but don't tell my wife


Cheers

A.M.

[Shauned71]

Well here a update.. bike is now.. mine Bit too much work for my mate so I bought it. But.. I have no idea what i am going to do with it. Money.. or lack of doesn't allow me to keep this as a winter project at the mo because basically too much of the little spare cash i have is now tied up in it so it would mean for me to keep it I would have to part company with my storm and tbh i'm don't believe I am ready to do that just yet. However.. I have a fair bit of work on so it is possible that things may change money wise.. kinda got to wait and see.

Here's the low down on the bike... 45k fully stamped up to 32k nearly all MOT's and a few loose receipts all of which are newer than last stamp in book so assuming home servicing in it's later life. Have all original books, manuals and keys etc (one key fits all) The one bit I haven't worked out... I know the bike has been used for track days, I know it hasn't seen T&T for over a year so wondering when it was slid down the run way, maybe recently but going by the dirt on it i'd guess sometime ago and has been laid up since. Hpi is clear.. ofc that doesn't mean it hasn't had problems in past but hasn't had a claim as far as write off's go.

Good bits..
Tyres have both got bit of life left in them yet
Starts on the button and purrs like a kitten. Well.. a really big kitten as that
No binding to brakes
All electricals work as they should besides one missing indicator.
Frame, swing arm and forks all look straight.. wheels good and without testing further as in riding properly believe bike tracks in a straight line.
Have yet to find any scuff marks to frame, casings etc

Bad bits
Every panel is either scuffed or alot worse.. the right side fairing being the only panel that does not need a major repair (no cracks, just scuffed) the rest... they are a bit tatty but, there are no bits missing. As far as a cheap to repair project bike goes.. this part doesn't bother me at all.. it's what I do best so only time needed to sort panels out.
The tank however.. that may be a different story.. that has taken a nice slap and is in a bit of a state.. may be able to salvage it.. would have to try a pin puller on it here and there but being realistic I think I should prepare for worst as in possibly looking for a replacement.

Other damaged parts are...
Both mirrors snapped off
Left indicator snapped off (have spares)
Left H/bar bent
Left hand switch assembly scuffed up but do still work
Clutch lever bent
Clutch fluid reservoir scuffed and top missing (need complete pot)
Left hanger snapped and gear pedal bent
Left rad is bent a bit on leading edge but so far holding water although I have yet to run the bike for any length of time to check for leaks properly.
Left bar end missing
Being fussy, could do with new grips

Art race cans... both are damaged but, the damage on both of them is on the leading edges just above the link pipes.. confident that I can take em apart and trim the damaged bit off (shorten them by 1.5 inches) would just have to source 2 rings which go on the ends where the rivets are. as back up... I do have the original cans which are tidy.

So there you have it.. gonna have to mull it over for a few days and decide what to do be it keep as winter project which I do really fancy doing. Sell on as spares & repair as is or break the bike up and ebay the parts

Decisions decisions

[turbo_billy]

Here`s my take on the bike. Worth more in the sum of its parts if you do decide to break it but you have a good starting point to get the bike roadworthy again. As long as the frame is straight and true with no damage, bodywork is fixable or go down the route of a Chinese set (£350ish delivered and with a bit of fettling fit just fine) Most other parts you require normally appear on ebay so just a matter of time and as you are in no rush.....
If you do get it back on the road you have a treat in store
Good luck with whatever you decide and congratulations on membership to the SP owners club.....

[Pete.L]

For some reason your pictures appear to be over the top of your writing and is obscuring most of what you say
But from what I can see in the pictures it looks like it's had a light tumble with mostly cosmetic damage. Nothing that can't be overcome There are still plenty of second hand or pattern parts around so a bit of time patience and money should see it back up to standard. In the mean while, get yourself a mirror and drive it with a few scratches...see what you think

Pete.l

[AMCQ46]

For some reason your pictures appear to be over the top of your writing and is obscuring most of what you say

I get that problem when I look at this post, and all of Carls posts on my work PC, but at home on teh i-pad or Mac it is fine!!!!!!!!!!

Shaun, with your bodywork skills I think you will be able to get this looking good for little money

[VTRDark]

For some reason your pictures appear to be over the top of your writing and is obscuring most of what you say

I get that problem when I look at this post, and all of Carls posts on my work PC

Let me guess, your using Explorer. the browser that don't let one explore

Try a different browser.

(:-})

[Tweety]

Let me guess, your using Explorer. the browser that don't let one explore

Try a different browser.

(:-})

My thought exactly... Exploder garbles up the forum pretty badly... All others work fine for me...

Nice bike... Here's hoping it get's put back together... For that matter, I'd buy it off you if it was an SP2... I have more than enough spare parts... (about all missing is the fairings and frame...)

[slower110]

If you can keep it and repair it then that is what I'd be doing, I know as with a lot of other things it all comes down to finance!

Re the exhausts, I did that when I binned my storm, just shortened the right can by an inch and a half and nobody ever knew not even the fella who bought it. Easy to do.

I have indicators if that's any help lol. Keep us posted

[Shauned71]

Really not sure what to do now. Clutch fluid pot damaged so no or should say little fluid in system therefore no clutch. quick bleed and makeshift top for fluid pot and we have clutch. Battery seems to be holding charge so no longer jump starting. Straightened gear shifter etc and been up and down the road, certainly goes ok and does feel like it's straight. But, big but! Drained oil off, now have what looks like 4 litres of milky coffee Left side rad is knackered too.

Starting to think maybe selling on as spares or repair or breaking the bike maybe the better option.

Still trying to make my mind up though

[Jazzscot]

Milky coffee oil is either water in the engine or too many short runs which has caused condensation to build up.

Personally for the money you paid for it I would see it as a long term project. Just do a bit here and a bit there and in no time you will have a decent bike.

I would quite like an SP 1 project bike.

[Shauned71]

I must be honest I do fancy keeping the bike the problem, money is on the tight side plus work a bit quiet right now so can't really afford to. It was a bit of an impulse buy, I thought grab it seeing as it was cheap and then work out what to do with it figuring that if need be I'd at least get my money back. At the mo thinking I should just advertise it, maybe I will be lucky and make a quick buck but i will ponder over things for the next couple days.