looking to buy a cbr400 this saturday! 8) What should I check??

marty_400 · 05-01-2008, 6:05 AM

Hiya All,

Newbie to this forum, hailing from Sunny Bristol in England!

I've been converted, and looking to buy my adolescant dream bike!

The bike is a 1992 model. What should I look out for?

I've got so far:

HPI
V5
MOTs

Checking the bike over:
Panels
Engine casing
Pump forks, check seals
Bounce on rear shock
Check wheelbearings for play - up down and sideways
All electrics work etc.

Any else I'm missing?

Hope you can advise!

Cheers
Martin

PPS:
Dealer says he only has the last MOT certificate, July07 - only did 1,700KM since then.... Seems a genuine enough shop.

Alarm bells or ok? (I'm taking a bike mechanic down with me just in case anyhows.)

I'm hoping to get bit of a collectors item. OK may be worn, but I'll rebuild if I have to in my own good time as I have anorther bike to ride

LoopyLee · 05-01-2008, 6:57 AM

First of all

to the forum, its great to see another newbie on here.. Our Baby Blade forum hasn't been up and running for long..
I've not had my BabyBlade long but I love her to bits.. have a look in the photo's thread and you can see other BabyBlades..

here is some stuff ive copied from another thread for you

Me... LoopyLee

Quote:

When you go looking at bikes take someone with you who knows a bit about bikes, your dad sound like he might be a good bet, to give it a good look over.. As most of them are older now, mines 16 years old, check everything, make sure you hear her running and see if the owner will let you, or the person with you, take it for a test run. As you have seen from my posts on the site I have had problems with my fuel pump, which didnt show up on the test run.. Sometimes things like intermittant faults dont show up when you first look at a bike but its sorted enough for her to run while I wait for payday and my new fuel pump and relay.. Make sure you buy a manual for your bike so if anything does go wrong you can try to figure out what the problem is.. plus you can post a plea for help on here, we are full to the brim with helpfullness

Surffrog

Quote:

Basically everything Loopy Lee said is spot on.

But if I could just add one or two things:

Check the tyres. Is the rear tyre bald down the middle? If so, they do burnouts, which puts a lot of strain on the clutch and drivetrain, not to mention the engine. Walk away.

Tell whoever it is whose selling the bike that you want to hear it warm up from cold. When you get there, put your hand on the engine. Is it warm? If so, they maybe trying to hide a big end bearing knock.

Another good way to tell if they've started it before you get there (and you should do this anyway) is to check the dip stick. Undo it, wipe it down then just place it back in without screwing it in. This is the way to check the oil on them. Don't screw it back in and then pull it out to check. Rub the oil from the stick between your fingers. Does it feel gritty? If so, walk away. If, doing everything correctly, the oil still doesn't show up on the stick for a couple of minutes, you know they've pre-started it.

If, after a couple of minutes more the oil still doesn't show, walk away. They don't look after it.

Get them to take off the radiator cap and then start her up. While this is happening, listen to the engine for any unusual knocking or whining noises. Obviously, any knocking will mean expensive repairs - walk away.

When the bike's idling, is there a rusty scum rising to the surface or lots of little bubbles when you rev it up? If so, the head gasket's going to need replacing. Walk away.

If all else is good, check the chain. Is it clean? This is something a lot of people can't be bothered with because it's by its very nature a dirty job. If it's dirty, it will give you an indication as to how the bike has been treated. If they can't be bothered to clean the chain, what else couldn't they be bothered to do?
Hope this helps and good luck!

If you need anymore advise dont hesitate to ask....

marty_400 · 05-01-2008, 7:05 AM

Wow, thanks for the Tips guys!

Surprized you can run the engine with the radiator cap off, I'm probably thinking cars or something.

If there is a "cbr meet thing summer - let me know! 8)

Cheers
Martin

LoopyLee · 05-01-2008, 7:18 AM

Here is your photo of the bike you are looking to buy Martin so people can see it....

It looks to be in pretty good nick.. only thing is you cant see the detail from a photo.....

LoopyLee · 05-01-2008, 7:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty_400

Wow, thanks for the Tips guys!

BTW.. just so you know... I'm a girl

marty_400 · 05-01-2008, 7:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoopyLee

BTW.. just so you know... I'm a girl

ops my bad!

"Thanks chaps and Chap-esses!"

LoopyLee · 05-01-2008, 7:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty_400

ops my bad!

"Thanks chaps and Chap-esses!"

Dont worry.. It happens all the time

LoopyLee · 05-01-2008, 8:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty_400

Dealer says he only has the last MOT certificate, July07 - only did 1,700KM since then.... Seems a genuine enough shop.

Alarm bells or ok? (I'm taking a bike mechanic down with me just in case anyhows.)

I'm hoping to get bit of a collectors item. OK may be worn, but I'll rebuild if I have to in my own good time as I have anorther bike to ride

I shouldn't worry about the MOT certificates, while it is nice to get the previous ones, a lot of the time you dont get them when you buy a vehicle. I personally would be more interested in receipts for previous work/parts etc... but again you dont always get them either....

I got MOT's going back to 1999 with my bike and apparently it started out as a black one, maybe looking something like your possible one, and then it was blue and now its done in the Urban Tiger colours...

Now reading a bit into this, the change of colour (twice), the fact that none of my panels are original ones, the scrapes on the engine casings and a 6 month gap in the mots, I'd say its pretty obvious that my bike has been dropped at least twice. There are casing scrapes on both sides, but given the fact that it's 16 years old I'm not really surprised.. You would be hard pushed to find a bike of that age that hasnt been dropped at some point in its life..

She runs beautifully and gets me about and the bits that niggle me about her can be sorted out over time.. The engine casings I can sort out at a later date if I want to.. I am buying a new fairing for her, original honda parts a bit at a time off ebay, but only because the after market fairing she currently has doesnt fit together properly in some places and I find that annoying!!! I will end up replacing practically every nut, bolt and washer on her because they look a bit manky, again I find that annoying!!! Oh and I want wavey discs for her at some point as they look sooooo cool

No doubt there will be other things I do as time goes on..

marty_400 · 05-01-2008, 9:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoopyLee

I shouldn't worry about the MOT certificates, while it is nice to get the previous ones, a lot of the time you dont get them when you buy a vehicle. I personally would be more interested in receipts for previous work/parts etc... but again you dont always get them either....

I got MOT's going back to 1999 with my bike and apparently it started out as a black one, maybe looking something like your possible one, and then it was blue and now its done in the Urban Tiger colours...

Now reading a bit into this, the change of colour (twice), the fact that none of my panels are original ones, the scrapes on the engine casings and a 6 month gap in the mots, I'd say its pretty obvious that my bike has been dropped at least twice. There are casing scrapes on both sides, but given the fact that it's 16 years old I'm not really surprised.. You would be hard pushed to find a bike of that age that hasnt been dropped at some point in its life..

She runs beautifully and gets me about and the bits that niggle me about her can be sorted out over time.. The engine casings I can sort out at a later date if I want to.. I am buying a new fairing for her, original honda parts a bit at a time off ebay, but only because the after market fairing she currently has doesnt fit together properly in some places and I find that annoying!!! I will end up replacing practically every nut, bolt and washer on her because they look a bit manky, again I find that annoying!!! Oh and I want wavey discs for her at some point as they look sooooo cool

No doubt there will be other things I do as time goes on..

Hiya Loopy,

Awwww thanks for the advice!

I guess I just can't get my head around the realities of buying a 16yr old bike! I hope it goes reliably if nothing else, and I have as much fun as you doing her up etc.

I'll let you know how I get on! 8)

Cheers
MArtin

Gothy · 05-03-2008, 5:55 AM

welcome to the forum,
If you get a test ride, and everything feels / looks how it should, its probably fine. Old bikes can still be sweet, I mean im in a bike club that has vintage and classic motorcycles dating back to the oldest about 1920 i think.
And believe me they are immaculate! And still run as good as they did back in the 60's.

Let us know when you've got it, and post some pics too.

Ive got a 13 & a 14 year old bike.
The engines are still sweet, with low miles.

Yes one has been dropped by the previous owner (my mum) forgetting to put the stand down, but the bike is fine, it has minor scraches on the engine case. Thing is the rest of the bike is so good looking for a 13 year old bike, its hard to even notice the casing.

Especially when the only owners its had are;
. The guy at the shop who imported it,
. My dad 10 years
. My mum 1 year
. Me 2 years

LoopyLee · 05-04-2008, 4:16 AM

Well........... did you buy it?????????

Gothy · 05-04-2008, 10:13 AM

all this keeping us in suspence!

LoopyLee · 05-04-2008, 2:49 PM

I know.. its just not on!! Is it???

Surffrog · 05-05-2008, 1:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty_400

Wow, thanks for the Tips guys!

Surprized you can run the engine with the radiator cap off, I'm probably thinking cars or something.

If there is a "cbr meet thing summer - let me know! 8)

Cheers
Martin

You can do the same test on a car too. Just remember to put it back on before you go anywhere and don't take the cap off if the engine is hot already!

Btw guys and girl (god that sounds like I'm being derogatory to girls - Loopy can't you just be an honorary member of the guys?) I believe he did buy the bike.

LoopyLee · 05-05-2008, 5:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surffrog

Btw guys and girl (god that sounds like I'm being derogatory to girls - Loopy can't you just be an honorary member of the guys?) I believe he did buy the bike.

No problem.. I'll just run up the shop and buy the obligatory 'meat and 2 veg'

Surffrog · 05-05-2008, 5:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoopyLee

No problem.. I'll just run up the shop and buy the obligatory 'meat and 2 veg'

I knew we could count on you, Loopy

LoopyLee · 05-05-2008, 6:12 AM

Got them.. I'll keep them in the fridge so they dont go off!!!!

Surffrog · 05-05-2008, 7:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoopyLee

Got them.. I'll keep them in the fridge so they dont go off!!!!

Good girl

Gothy · 05-05-2008, 9:17 AM

hahahahaha

marty_400 · 05-06-2008, 3:46 AM

Hiya Guys,

Ops, sorry, should have said!

Yup got the bike!

Will post loads of piccies, once we've got the firing issue fixed. (At the mo, she is covered in 90miles of crap/bug splats. I don't really fancy washing her (A dousing all parts with water, until the eletrics have been looked at. Hopefully that will be tonight.)

Cheers
Martin

PS:
Gorgeous bikes these 400s - unbelieveble good looking - and 16yrs old???? wow!

LoopyLee · 05-06-2008, 1:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty_400

Hiya Guys,
Gorgeous bikes these 400s - unbelieveble good looking - and 16yrs old???? wow!

They are beautifull.. I'm totally in love with mine

marty_400 · 05-06-2008, 5:42 PM

Lodger looked at her for the 1st time tonight....

... He was blown away as well!

LoopyLee · 05-07-2008, 2:19 AM

I bet you cant wait to get out on her properly

marty_400 · 05-07-2008, 3:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoopyLee

I bet you cant wait to get out on her properly

I'm very much looking forward to giving her a good hard seeing too out on the mountain roads of Wales! (Brecon is calling etc!)

Martin

Surffrog · 05-07-2008, 6:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty_400

I'm very much looking forward to giving her a good hard seeing too out on the mountain roads of Wales! (Brecon is calling etc!)

Martin

Have fun, but take care and keep her sunny side up