restoring a bike

Ibrahim · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Karma :

Hey guys, im new to the forum and would like a few tips and advice. Im planning to get a second-hand dirt bike in the summer, nothing above a 250. i dont want it in tip top condition either so price will be pretty low, this way i was thinking to fix it up and restore it. however, i havent really worked on motorbikes before but want to start learning. What would be the best way to start? just take it apart bit by bit changing parts that need changing and put it back together? i would appreciate any advice, help or info. thanks

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

Buy something REALLY simple like air cooled is good and simple, something like a DR200 or a KLX200 (virtually the same bike one is a suzi the other a kwaka) buy a manual , take pictures of things before you take it apart.
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finpos · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Karma :

1) Buy a bike you can easily get parts for.
2) Don't buy a pile of crap. It's called a pile of crap for a reason. You'll spend a lot of money on it, and it'll still be a pile of crap. Some people seem to think that just because a pile of crap once used to be a motorbike, they can sell it as a project. It is not a project, it is a pile of crap. Have I overdone that?
3) Buy a manual, and start with the easy maintenance type jobs. Whenever you take something off, take your time to clean/repaint/repair it, even if it's not the part you are trying to get at. Replace rotten fasteners, connectors and bits of rubber as you go along. Then, when you do the bigger jobs, it's a lot easier.
4) Don't ever do a purely cosmetic repair on it, like paint a sidepanel. It's well known that this will cause the engine to seize the next day.

f.

Ibrahim · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Karma :

thanks guys, now ive got a rough idea of what im doing.

Kal · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Karma :

Projects are great ways to learn about how a motorbike works, but are a bad way to get into bikes cheaply unless you know what you are doing or are very lucky.

Generally getting a project bike to a running state will cost more than buying a runner in the first place would have cost.
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Kal...
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Ibrahim · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Karma :

hmm yea it makes sense, im getting a project bike mainly to understand how motorbikes work in more detail instead of getting the bike to run.