Old owner new Member

[Cafe.Racer]

Hello.

I'm a new member on here, but I've had a VTR for years - I'll tell you the story then you can judge me.

I passed my test some years ago, and got a Bandit 600 which I had for a few years, but one day when that went in for a service I got lent a RF600 and that was that, I "needed" a sports bike. Originally I was going to get a VFR or a CBR6 (spotting the Honda theme?) but I had a test ride on a VTR, and I was hooked. I love the look and the ride and the twin.

So, that was it. Bought a nice Red one in 1998, and I've had it since - been on quite a few touring holidays (Ireland was awesome) with the Mrs (GPZ500) did a couple of track days, bit of commuting. The we had kids, I got older, etc.

The bike's been stood in my Dad's garage since 2002 (July 02 is on the tax), and I used to go and run it every now and then, but not for the last 8 years, maybe. But now it's had to be fetched back to ours.

I can't make my mind up whether to get it back running and keep it, or sell it on.

The battery is caput, (£45), but I'm just wondering what else is going to not be working, for me then to tax and insure it and not get used. 7,700 miles, and harris cans - other than that completely stock. I'm good on cars, but know very little about bikes.

Dunno what to do.

[Duffy1964]

Keep it dude, change to manual cct's, fresh oil& filter new battery, happy days

[macdee]

all the info you need to get the big girl back on the road is here
just ask and you will have your answer in a flash
as its been standing for a long time dont start the bike till you check out the cam chain tensioners threads
the fronts are prone to breaking the spring which leads to a battle with the piston and valves

[Jamoi]

Hello and welcome

After all that time, would be a real shame to let go of it! Like a good old friend.

Give it a service over the winter, replace any bits which degrade with age, like duffy said, oil, battery, coolant, brake clutch fluid, maybe tyres?

Just give it a good going over and check out cyber carls thread for new members, that contains links to changing your oem cam chain tensioners to manuals and upgrading your regulator/rectifier. Both things need looking at to safeguard against costly or annoying breakdowns.

[Kev L]

You are likely to get very biased advice from us i'm afraid, all a bit addicted to the VTR!!!! I would keep it and do the odds and sods to get it back on the road, it doesn't owe you a great deal at the moment. It won't make a lot at the present time with the market suppressed and if you intend to have a bike waiting in the wings for nice days, you will struggle to better the old girl.
Welcome to the club fella, hope you reach a decision soon. Where are you based?

[carmanbikes]

Give it a service and keep it, Just to get out when you feel like it,

[sirch345]

Welcome aboard

An interesting intro.

Getting it running and take it from there. You can purchase a Yuasa OEM battery for a tad under £35 (inc p & p) on ebay.

You can see my routine for starting an engine that has been stood here:-
http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=31757

Chris.

[darkember]

Hi there & welcome

[lumpyv]

get it up and running, you know you want to!

and if you do video its first start up and put it on here. that would be good .

[Tweety]

It wont fill your pockets much at all with the current market, and like someone said already, if you like the bike, and the fact that it's a twin, you'd be hard pressed to find a replacement for decent money that makes you happy...

So my verdict... New battery, new fluids and a filter change, clean the carbs, and give it fresh rubber... That shouldn't set you back enough that it hurts much, not if you do the work yourself, apart from tires perhaps... And, you then have a bike ready for whatever nice day you nee/want it... Plus, at that point, you can entertain decent offers, if you like...

[Watty]

Do it!!!!!!! You know you can't resist. Welcome aboard sir

[bsabloke]

Welcome to the group.
I brought a 98' with 7800 miles. Sorn for7 years, ran regularly but not ridden. After 200-300 miles use i started getting blue smoke on the overrun. Getting progressively worse. Diagnosed rings but rebuild cost was ridiculus, so replacement engine fitted.
Vtrdh brought the old engine from me & when stripped had a wear mark on the cylinder wall like a sine wave & too deep to hone out.
Robs thoughts were corrosion from condensation in engine.
No 2 bikes are same but something to bear in mind.
Richard

[lloydie]

If it's been stood for all them years did you store it correctly ?

Tank might be rusted (inside )
Carbs bunged up
Pots and rings rusted
Tyres cracked
Fork seals rotten
Suspension seized up cables rotted .

Hello and welcome and hope it's still good regardless wether you keep it or not .

[simo]

Hi and welcome to The Fast Red Club. +1 cct's

[fabiostar]

well its red and been sitting for years so sell it il give you £10 and a packet of crisps for it lol.. on a serious note, clean the tank, change the plugs,oil and filters and fire it up and get it running first before you spend anymore time thinking bout selling it...

welcome along by the way..