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Repair or replace? (lemm.ee)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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This is being cross-posted for as much feedback as I can get.

My '12 Honda CBR600RR is nearing the end of it's life at 82,000 miles; there's minor visible scoring in the nikasil plating in the cylinders, and that's only going to get worse.

I can get the cylinders replated--assuming that the scoring is no worse than I think it is--for about $800 + the cost of shipping the block, but that would require being able to entirely rebuild the engine on my own. I'd probably want to also regrind the valve seats, replace the valves, piston heads, and def. piston rings if I did that. I've already got the cylinder head off because the valves weren't holding pressure.

I can get a replacement engine for around $1500-2500. I can replace an engine on my own, although it's a pain in the ass.

Or, I can get a new bike. But I'm not sure what makes and models for my riding style will have any better longevity than my CBR600RR has had.

My current short-list is a crashed '07- '12 CBR600RR (because I can easily swap necessary parts/bodywork, etc.), or a Yamaha YZF R6, Suzuki GSX R750, or Triumph Speed Triple 1050 (which is prone to electrical issues, and also needs some creative headlight adjustment to work with clip-on bars). Does anyone have experience with the YZF R6, GSX R750, or Speed Triple? Any issues to watch out for that might prevent any of them from making it to 100k miles without major mechanical work?

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I have no idea about the damage and expected costs so I can only judge from a psychological site:

A wise woman (my psychology teacher when I was in school) once told me that when you think about if you should spend money on something that brings you happy memories, you should just do it because those happy memories are what makes you feel happy at the end of your life (and helps you when you are going through a rough time).

So while it likely is the better financial decision to get a new bike, you'll always remember fixing your bike and keeping it going. It's something you achieve. It makes your bike special, it'll make the memories you make with your repaired bike special. You're of course spending money on repairing and maintaining your bike, but at the same time that money goes into good memories.

*assuming you fix it yourself. If you just let someone else repair it that special effect won't be there

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

This is sort of where I'm at with my 1981 Suzuki. I've learned to polish valve seats, hone cylinders, replace rings, replace the gearbox a couple of times, and some other stuff, on my own.

She's a little 400, I work her a bit too hard sometimes but I've loved knowing how to do my own work, and that my little bike rides and rides and rides.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Same here with my 84 KZ550. I just started work on a partial rebuild after it had sat for 2 years. I've learned a tremendous amount about engines, suspension, electrical, etc, and had tons of fun doing it (and of course also had many cursing fits).

I definitely could have gotten a different bike for the amount I've put into it, one that I actually could have ridden from day one, but this one is my bike. Practically every bolt has been looked over by me, I can't say that about basically anything else I own.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Very nice, and my favorite bit is that the principles you learn on a simple moto engine easily scale to a full-size car or even truck engine. Spark, fuel, air, all at the right times and ratios. Everything else follows.

Still, considering a switch to electric, just because I mostly commute and don't want to contribute to environmental destruction. Just wish batteries had a bit more range 🤔

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

You make good points. I've worked on a couple cars before but bikes require much less space, time and money.

Also, just keep in mind the process of making batteries for electric cars. Lithium mines are by no means clean and cause lots of deforestation.

Personally I'm really hoping we see a bigger uptick in Hydrogen powered vehicles, seeing as in theory, any gasoline car can be converted, plus our current repair facilities and methods will mostly carry over. It makes a lot more sense to me to adapt what we have than to uproot and start over from scratch.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

Nah there's a lot going for EVs in the material recycling realm, see redwood materials inc as an example of a company looking to skip the mining.

We don't really need stuff to carry over, besides that the source of most hydrogen is fossil fuel based. See the IEA report for a fair and reasonable assessment.

Electricity infra is already installed almost everywhere in the world. When I lived in California, I saw exactly 2 stations which offered pressurized hydrogen.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

That makes a lot of sense. And I can agree that I have an emotional attachment to my motorcycle, both because of the money it cost, but also because of the time I've put into it, and the ways that I've modified it to make it 'mine'.

After talking to a lot of people over the last few days, the most rational approach seems to be to buy a replacement motorcycle, and then repair this one as I can, assuming that I can find a reliable place that can replate the cylinders (or bore them to 69mm and then plate them if the scoring is deeper than it appears). That way I'm not feeling stressed about it not working, and if I fuck it up, it's not a tragedy but a learning experience.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

Its aging and failing. Unless its going to be for collection and used rarely, I'd replace.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

No new bike will last you as much. Built-in obsolescence is everywhere. Stick with Japanese is the only advice I have.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

That's a bummer. I know that when I look on a lot of forums, everyone always says that modern motorcycles (not Harleys!) will last forever as long as you do basic maintenance. But it sounds like 'forever' for most people doesn't include putting on 20,000 miles in a single year. (That was the year I went through three sets of tires.)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

Have a '24 GSX R750. Brand new so I can't personally speak to longevity issues. That being said, Suzuki has kept this same bike since 2011 (trim changes only) which suggests it is a proven build. I think there was an upgrade to Brembo brakes a few years ago? But other than that it's essentially the same bike 2011-2024. Needless to say its been super easy finding/selling OEM and aftermarket parts for upkeep/upgrades. As a bonus, the GSX R600 is mostly identical to the 750 for parts swaps as well.