I'm looking for a general opinion before paying out a shedload for a repair the bike may not need.

The story is;

This VFR400 NC30 was owned by a guy before me for 7 years, used at the weekends etc.
I purchased the bike on around 22,000km.

From June this year I have done 19,000km and the bike is now sitting on 41,000km. It was serviced when I purchased it, and had a check over in August, all seemed fine.

Late october, I'm out on the bike and it won't start. Battery is flat.
I bump start the bike, ride home and leave it for a day or two. Still wasn't starting. I figure it needs a new battery (and possibly something electrical meaning the battery isn't getting charged). Regardless, I purchase a new battery, fit it, look forward to a days ride, and nothing, bike won't start.

Leave it for a week, get in contact with a local bike repair shop who now have the bike. They say that either, one of the valves is damaged, or a piston is damaged. Now, the quote for the valve repair is around £50. But the piston is £400-500.

The bike showed no signs of problem before it wouldn't start, and has been fine all year. A lot of the mileage has been commuting to and from work (60 miles a day round trip)

My question for you guys is, does a damaged piston sound resonable? Obviously it could have happened over time, but I was fairly sure that the VFR engine was bomb-proof and things like this were hard to manage.

Should I be getting a second opinion on the damage?

If I am going to be getting quoted £500 odd to repair the engine, I may bite the bullet and take the opportunity to take the engine out and rebuild it myself.



cheers
Dave

OMG!!! That sounds like a bunch of gangsters there fella. This has the tell-tale signs of a knackered regulator. £60 fix and if you are capable of removing the seat then you can go it yourself.

Sounds like they are taking the piss. The piston is an easy one to check - take the heads off and look...doesn't cost too much to look..

If it is a piston, then I'd expect that it made friends with a valve and smashed its head in...so valves too...

Nothing to do with electrical issues at all though - prob got a duff generator or a burned loom/dead reg rec..

Where you based? Maybe one of us could have a look?

You can buy engines from £150-300 on the bay..and replacing one is not too tough for the dedicated mofo..

I have thought about the engine rebuild, the only concern I have is the lack of skill.
I was going to sell this, but I now realise that I can't as it has been such a joy to ride. As such I will be doing a full conversion to the tyga kit (which may take me a while, but will be worth it imo)

I am based in essex. Would be much obliged if someone has some time to come have a look.

Cheers,

Dave

Hi Dave sorry to hear you are having trouble, if your engine is goosed I have an engine for sale which was last run 4 weeks ago before the bike will split for parts http://www.400greybike.info/newforum/vi ... 17&t=14409" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , shameless I know .

Thanks. Not convinced I'm going to go down the road of a new engine just yet.
Will keep it in mind though

Sorry to hear about your problems..Where abouts in essex are you?

I do have a spare reg/rec for an nc23 if its any good? not sure if they are the same...

Essex is a bit far for me.. but if no rush could probably drop by if Im working in the area..

There isn't a great rush.
At the minute its in the shop, but they are clearly in no rush to do anything.

If they fix it and it is just a sticking valve, then I'm quite happy for them to do it.

Its just if they say its the piston and I need to be paying hundreds of pounds when, to be honest I don't see how it could have happened.

viper_biker wrote:OMG!!! That sounds like a bunch of gangsters there fella. This has the tell-tale signs of a knackered regulator. £60 fix and if you are capable of removing the seat then you can go it yourself.

Exactly what I would have said. Were they wearing masks?

These guys were recommended by a mechanic my uncle uses (who apparently is abit crap anyway)

I'm defiantely having doubts.

I'm not that experianced with mechanic stuff, just also quite the skeptic and I honestly thought, it was going to be either battery or reg/rec problem.

I just don't know what to do with it