V long time unused bikes issues?

[Itchy]

Hi

I keep finding old people with good 1990s sports bikes , they want to sell at some really good prices , the problem with many of them are that they have been sitting idle in their garages under a sheet or canvas for 10+ years.

I'm generally not too fussed with high milage but super super low milage bothers me a bit esp ildeness.

What sort of damage does not moving for 10 years do? , I've seen bikes with 3.5K on the clocks , look brand new (except for dust), and I'm not so sure about buying them due to lack of use , although some like this VFR750 , had been prepped for LT storage (oil in cylinders , batteries removed , fuel stabilised etc , tyres let down a bit , exhausts bagged and sealed). But had their last MOT sometime in the 90s.


Theres a bloke I know with a Mercedes (car) , and he never uses the bloody thing , he reverses it out washes it waxes and it drives it back in , and its got all sorts of problems.

What are the issues with LT stored bikes ?

Any ideas

Thanks.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[thx1138]

I passed on a second hand GSX-R that had been stored for well over 5 years, it looked immaculate, but I was worried about those issues too.

[TheDonUK]

Well assuming they have been prepaired correctly, there should be no REAL issues... The fuel tank would have had to be completely drained, and kept nice and dry, if it has carbs they would have to be empty and clean one would hope... Im not an expert on this, but it seems from experience its more pot luck

Some bikes can sit there for 10 years with half a tank of petrol (long ago evaporated) and start on the button (albeit run rough for a while)

and others... well who knows the electric loom might have become mouse food, or parts may have corroded to unholy levels...

If the bike has been stored well, you might get away with replacement of some of the consumables...

[thx1138]

many years ago, I bought a 1971 Suzuki TS-125 with less than 2k on the clock, it had been sat in the back of a car sales room for years and years, this was about 1990. I gave the car dealer £500 for it, sold as seen, and it started first time, and was okay to ride. But, I wouldn't do that now, as I would be worried about problems, back then I was 19 and new nothing about bikes.

[WavyGravy]

my paso had sat for 8 years, its biggest problem was the brakes had seized, as long as the bike has been garaged and hasnt got damp it wouldnt be hard to get it running.
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1975 CB125s, 1991 GN250, 1990 Ducati Paso 906
"Don't wake him up - He's got insomnia - He's trying to sleep it off"

[Kickstart]

Hi

Some modern fuels are bad for evaporating and leaving a nasty residue.

Tyres degrade with time (think the main problem is caused by exposure to UV light), so they might look fine but have stuff all grip.

Used engine oil is acidic (contaminated with the stuff blown past the rings). Can cause damage if stored with used oil in the engine.

Electrical connectors will corrode.

Brakes will seize up.

That said I would not worry too much about these things. Only real nasty is the fuel and possible problems with used oil.

All the best

Keith
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[doggone]

Rubbery items like tyres (obvious) and carburettor bits will degrade.
Electric wire insulation will likely be hardening and likely to fail - e.g.HT leads will leak juice when wet.