Am I being ripped off? Loud ticking Suzuki Gn125

[toxicphoxx]

Hello, hopefully someone can help me.

I have a Suzuki Gn125 1994 model. There is a loud ticking noise when the bike is running. This link is of the same bike with same problem on youtube:

https://youtu.be/W511l1Bb5Ew

So I took it to the garage and they looked at it yesterday for me. I was told that they had checked the valves and clearances which were all fine.
Then they said they think it needs an engine rebuild because of a piston thing? Which will cost around £400-500
I love my bike so much but I cannot afford that much

I'm not massively clued up on bikes, but I'm trying to learn as much as I can.

I spoke with my brother who is a biker and a car mechanic by trade and he thinks I'm being ripped off. I spoke to a friends husband who is a mechanic and he thinks it's something else.
If the piston was broken, surely I wouldn't have been able to ride it 5miles to the garage.?? It has had a small oil leak as a seal needs replaced but it has never been low or run out of oil.

On the youtube video some of the comments were:

"your piston is tapping the cylinder top end"

"replace the rocker arms"

"adjust the valve to tappet clearance"

I don't want to sell my bike and I need it for commuting,
Please someone help!!

[Evil Hans]

Could be a lot of things ... one of which could be Piston Slap*



* and yes, it would still be ridable.
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[Rogerborg]

Let me get this straight: you want us to diagnose the problem on your bike by listening to a problem on a different bike?

Your problem could be piston slap requiring a rebuild (although sod that, throw a different engine in or just sell it), or it could just be valve clearances, or a loose cam chain. If your brother is a half decent mechanic then he should be able to diagnose it within ten minutes in person.

Doing the valve clearances on that bike would take him under half an hour, and he can reset the cam chain tensioner while you fetch the tea and biscuits. Doing it yourself would be a couple of hours. You'll need basic tools (spanners, sockets) plus a set of feeler gauges. It's only intimidating until you've tried it.

If you want anyone else to help then you have to actually give us something to go on:

Mileage, any service history, whether this started suddenly or came on gradually, anything that you changed before it started happening, any other symptoms, but most of all a video of your bike.

If I sound grumpy it's because your history on BCF is just asking for help. You've not engaged in any way.

Also, I'm grumpy.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[toxicphoxx]

Thank you for your reply. Yes I am a new member and have only once asked for help before. I am trying to learn about bikes as I go. There is no point in me replying to other's posts yet as I wouldn't be able to help anyone with the little I do know.
Everyone starts somewhere.

I have a video of my bike but didn't know how to upload it from my phone onto here. We can't all be so knowledgeable about everything.
That is the only reason I posted the video of another bike with the exact same sound as my bike makes.

My brother is not able to look at my bike in person, otherwise I wouldn't have posted on here.

Whether new member, or not massively active yet, I don't see why you had to be rude. Not very kind considering I'm asking people who know more than I do.

I do not want a keyboard warrior style argument either. I just sought advice about my bike.

[Evil Hans]

[toxicphoxx]

I got the bike in December 2015. Since I have had it, the chain has snapped, been replaced and adjusted a month later.

It has an oil leak as a seal is broken. it has never been empty or even low on oil since I have had it, on topped up once. The noise was sudden and happened 3 weeks ago. not been ridden since 2 days ago when I took it to the garage.

I have tried to post a video of the bike on this post now I am on the laptop and I hope it goes through.

[Holdawayt]

I had the same bike and also had piston slap, rode it around for about 3 weeks before replacing the engine.

If you can find a complete engine on ebay (£100 I paid for mine) you'll be able to swap it over in around 3 hours if you're a newbie. It's all common sense and there's really not much to it. The engine is very light too so it's not hard to get into the frame.

My rockers were completely worn down and the piston had had it. Doubt the garage is lying to you.

[toxicphoxx]

https://youtu.be/tMNDO2W53HU

My bike

[Evil Hans]

How many miles has it done?
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[temeluchus]

More than likely it has been run low/out of oil at some point, so fucked bearings and rockers galore.

Outside chance its the cam chain tensioner, but hard to tell from a video.

Nice singing btw
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[Silver_Fox]

Man that sounds horrible, I hope you get it fixed
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CBR600 F3 FV
CG125

[A100man]

As above - Sounds more top endy than bore. Take the valve cover off and then upload some pic of what you see - could be anything from busted valve spring to
chain tension and more..

.. don't run it again though in case it's salvageable.
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[bikenut]

watched you tube vid, and after a valve adjust vid came up on a similar bike, watch that and learn, you have to start somewhere, right, so this is your chance, genesis.

there may be a manual on here, if not then buy one. look at the exploded views on cmsnl, before your engine does lol.

valve clearance check and adjust, cam chain check and adjust, get the engine to idle at about 1200 rpm and re post a vid. drain oil, check for metal debris/flakes/glitter, check oil filter also.

remove plug and look at piston crown thru the plug hole, can you see a shinny patch on the piston crown, a shinny ring round area on the edge of the piston???

try and identify where the noise is coming from, use a long screw driver or broom stale touching engine and cupped to your ear, move from place to place on the engine to find the loudest area, your mech buddy will know about this and have a listening devise similar to what a doctor would use
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nuts about bikes

[bikenut]

what seal is leaking oil??
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nuts about bikes

[Nope.]

[toxicphoxx]

Thank you all for your help and advice. I have just purchased a Haynes Manual for my bike. I'll get to know all about it from there! I'm going to try and get my bike to my brother and we are going to fix it together, with him teaching me along the way.

Thanks again.

[Silver_Fox]

Let us know how you get on
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CBR600 F3 FV
CG125

[Rogerborg]

[bikenut]

be aware of how the "Haynes book of lies" got this monica!

see the exploded views on cmsnl aslo, they can only help.

are you a girl and di you get this bike from a dealer??

been riding this bike for 3 weeks with this engine noise??
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nuts about bikes

[Fin]

As others have said, engines are cheaper than that repair cost, also a lot of Chinese engines are exactly the same so you could get one of them new.

[WD Forte]

Owwwww! sounds terminal
has it been run dry?
forget repair/rebuild waay too spendy for a commuter
I'd go the aforementioned cheap chinky lump route if an
affordable SH Suzuki motor can't be found
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bikers smell of wee

[WD Forte]

I don't know much about the gn125 but looking at more pics and it appears to be an OHC motor.?
If so, I wonder if the camshaft/cam chain has developed problems.
Only getting in there with the spanners will decide what the problem is for sure.
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bikers smell of wee