Honda XR125 - MOT Failure - Need some advice please!

Kez · L Plate Warrior Joined: 06 Jul 2015 Karma :

Hello.

This is a bit of a horror story.

I bought a bike off of Gumtree last week, 2005 Honda XR 125, I'd been after a cheapish/decent example of this model for ages.

Ended up finding one which had a few mods - Arrow exhaust, heated grips - and had previously been owned by a mechanic (good sign to me), and was for sale for a decent price (£900).

The bike had low owners (4) and an engine swap done a few years ago which had only covered around 10k miles.

So to me, a first time motorcycle buyer, this seemed like a good deal and a good price. Now for the shocking part. Instead of viewing the bike myself I arranged for a courier to collect the bike for me and have it delivered.

Sat my CBT on Friday, got insured and took the bike out for a good run down the coast - it's running perfectly, sounds good and to me feels quite quick.

The next day I take the bike to one of my dads mates who gives the bike a look over and says "this thing should not be on the f***ing road".

I took the bike to an MOT centre today for a second opinion. This confirms the worst.

3 pages worth of reasons as to why it has failed.

As far as I'm aware as I bought the bike through Gumtree there is nothing I can do about getting my money back... Have tried to contact the seller but he is just saying the bike was fine when he sold it.

I will list the MOT failures and maybe someone can give me a rough idea of the cost of fixing these and if it is even worth my time or should I just sell the bike for HOPEFULLY half what I paid Sad

.

1. both handlebar grips not secure to handlebars

2. brake lever too short (these have been cut by prev owner)

3. front shock seals have failed and are leaking oil

4. brake disk contaminated by oil

5. stop lamp remains on when brake released

6. drive chain excessively loose and worn

7. front and rear drive sprockets worn to excess

8. rear sprocket mounting bolt not correctly fitted which may make the motorcycle dangerous to ride.

9. (THE BIG ONE?) swinging arm/rear suspension component loose - marked as **DANGEROUS**

10. headlamp aim too high.

There are also around 10 advisories.

I feel pretty gutted about the whole thing but at the same time I suppose it is my fault for not going to see the bike for myself and taking someone who knows what they are talking about with me...

Lesson learned I suppose.

Anyway any advice here/rough costs/what I should do would be greatly appreciated!

Kieran.

arry · Super Spammer Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Karma :

Acerman · Banned Joined: 26 May 2015 Karma :

Dont worry! Worst case scenario is that you get a bike with everything fixed, and maybe you do it yourself and learn something. Its all things you will need to know about later, so get some help and a manual. Buy parts and fix it, you get to know your bike better too. Good luck!

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Few hours work and about 150 quid. Hardly worth crying about.

arry · Super Spammer Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Karma :

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

I guess but the internet is a miracle for people who want to do home mech stuff, few youtube vids and bam. Thumbs Up

Vincent · Banned Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Karma :

Aye.......as above, there's nothing too bad there. Compared to some of the horror stories we read on here, you've got off lightly. I'd fix what you can yourself and leave the rest to the garage. If it's a local garage, you may get a good deal, if they have much business savy, they'll see you as a potential new customer for life.
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Kez · L Plate Warrior Joined: 06 Jul 2015 Karma :

Cheers for the replies everyone. I think I will try and replace the majority of it myself then, as a few have said, youtube has guides for almost everything these days.

In terms of getting parts, where is the best place to shop, my go to place for things like this would be eBay but is there another website that anyone can recommend that sells Honda (XR) parts?

Cheers again.

Baffler186 · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 May 2013 Karma :

Matt B · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 May 2012 Karma :

So you are now trying to shift it for the same price you paid?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-Honda-XR125-Full-Arrow-Exhaust-HPI-Clear-MOT-Failure-Great-Bike-/161755161098

Why not just sort it and ride it?
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

Acerman · Banned Joined: 26 May 2015 Karma :

Hehe GREAT BIKE Laughing

MCN. · Banned Joined: 31 Aug 2014 Karma :

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

250 cash. However, fix it. Don't be a douche, fix and ride yo.

Kez · L Plate Warrior Joined: 06 Jul 2015 Karma :

I quote "Lesson learned indeed but as Rogerborg often says there's one born every minute and if you're not up for the challenge of putting it right then there's always someone equally deluded / mechanically challenged (sorry.....) to sell it to" - plan was to sell it but I've now decided to try and fix it myself.

Thanks to who recommended wemoto.

And minus the list of problems ( Laughing

), I think it is a great bike.

Thank for your order with Wemoto.
We will contact you with further information as soon as your order is processed.

You can follow your orders progress here:
x

Order Contents:
1 x Brake Light Switch - Rear
1 x Bulb Headlight
1 x Chain Lube - Rock Oil Professional 200ml
1 x Clutch Lever
1 x Fork Oil Seals Pair
1 x Front Brake Lever
1 x Handlebar Grips - WRP - Medium / Soft
1 x Pads Front Brenta Standard (GG Type)
1 x Swift Heavy Duty Chain and JT Sprocket Kit
1 x Vision - Semi Synthetic 4T 10W/40- 1 Litre

Kez · L Plate Warrior Joined: 06 Jul 2015 Karma :

Looking at the parts it doesn't actually seem like that big of a job to get it roadworthy again, just a bit daunting when your MOT sheet has 3 pages and 25+ points on the thing.

Most of the jobs seem fairly easy apart from changing the fork seals and chain+sprocket set.

When changing the fork seals should I be replacing the oil that's in there?

Minty · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Karma :

Dont order anything else until someone with knowledge has told you what you need. I know they are relatively cheap, but why do you need a headlight bulb if the aim is too high and is your brake light switch broken or just not set up properly/dirty/loose wire?

Unless you are minted of course?
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Matt B · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 May 2012 Karma :

Acerman · Banned Joined: 26 May 2015 Karma :

I understand why it says L plate warrior here, see you have the L on the bike Laughing

Good luck with the job, it will be a GREAT BIKE in the end.

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

The Swift chain is the only daunting item there, I've had some snap randomly, as have other BCFers.

Swing arm will likely be bushes or bearings of some description. Cheap.

Kez · L Plate Warrior Joined: 06 Jul 2015 Karma :

Do you think I should cancel the swift chain and go with the DID chain instead, costs about £15 extra but would seem worth it...

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Vincent · Banned Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Karma :

Yes....don't get a cheap chain...they're a false economy Thumbs Up

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Eddie Hitler · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Karma :

Takes the piss asking £900 for a bike that needs that much work. You're looking at £300 at best. Why don't you just fix it?

Acerman · Banned Joined: 26 May 2015 Karma :

Eddie Hitler · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Karma :