Help - a $6,000 Useless Paper Weight (Bike)

[seven]

I have recently purchased a $6,000 used '96 Yamaha R6. The seller (a store) did the safety certification (which passed) before we finalize the purchase.

After 3 mths of use, problems started showing up (battery would not charge, although it is brand new, oil light still on even after oil change, etc.). With all the problems, I brought it to a Bike shop for tune-up and diagnostic. This is when I got my big surprise. The shop mechanic told me that the engine is in a very bad shape and it is actually very dangerous to be driving it around. The previous owner has not taken very good care of the bike (e.g. the chain was broken and he ended up using an epoxy glue to put it together!). He also mentioned that the bike should not have passed the Safety Cert. My option now is to buy a new engine (~$10,000), rebuild the engine (at least $5000 incld. parts & manhours, could potentially go up to infinity as they find more problems), sell it as junk metal, or a very expensive paper weight.

I am well aware that buying used item means buy at your own risk. However, I doubt that I have deteriorated the engine after 3 mths of gentle use. So I suspect that the Seller has rigged the Safety Cert somehow. I am aware that I'm partly at fault for: 1. buying used vehicle, 2. Not requesting Safety Cert to be done by 3rd party, 3. Not having someone who is well versed in bike w/ me to inspect the bike prior to purchase. Any suggestions on what I should do to recover some of my losses?

Note: I am a bike newbie so I have only used the bike around the neighbourhood a few times a week, 2hrs max each time, at a max speed of 50 km/h in order to practice for M2.

[motomondo]

Just some thoughts...

First of all, you are NOT partially at fault, just because you got a used vehicle. I am on my 8th two-wheel vehicle, and have never had a problem. I have never bought a brand new bike or scooter, always used, and I know first-hand that there are some weasels out there, that will do everything they can to take advantage of the buyer

Anyway, I'd suggest another option - buy a USED engine for your bike. With motorcycles it is common to find used motors, because of the number of accidents that sometimes "total" a bike for insurance purposes, but leave the engine in good shape. Check eBay or local junkyards. The price would be between $1,000 - $1,500, plus labour to replace it

If the seller is a store, you may have other resources as talking / writing to the owner, BBB, etc. What store is that?

By the way, there is no such thing as a 1996 Yamaha R6... the model year doesn't match

Good luck...

[ES_Revenge]

Bike engines cost upwards of $10k??? That kind of money buys you quite the automobile engine...

[urameatball]

I wasn't even aware that R6's existed in 1996. Are you sure you don't have a YZF600R (thundercat)?

And to pay $6k for a '96 supersport is ridiculous! I sold my 2005 for $6k last year! I also sold a '98 yzf600r for under $3k a few years ago.

Anyway, look in the used market for a motor (if you in fact need a new motor). Chances are you'll find one for under $2k (under $1k if you're lucky). Or you can take it to a shop to get the motor rebuilt. It'll probably cost about the same as buying a used motor though.

[urameatball]

Bike engines cost upwards of $10k??? That kind of money buys you quite the automobile engine...

no they don't. A brand new 2009 R6 from the showroom costs $10k.

[FazerRider]

wow OP. i hope you learned your lesson. an 96 R6 def shouldnt cost 6k. so first you got shafted by the place you bought it from. second you're getting shafted by the repair shop. 10k for an engine? 5k for labour? no freaking way.

btw how did you not notice the chain was held together by epoxy? and how could epoxy hold the chain when your bike has around 90+ hp at the rear wheel? doesnt make sense.

next time try not the buy a bike that old unless you have extensive motorcycle repair knowledge.

i suggest you document everything, especially the chain. you might need to take legal action again the place and hope they will settle. but the onus is on you to proof the shop was negligent. i mean, with a chain like that you could get killed on the hwy.

[seven]

Ups, typo... my bad! It's a 1999.

The mechanic I'm dealing with mentioned that someone brought in a used engine from eBay to put on his bike. The engine turns out to be in worse condition than the one he is trying to replace. Going by his experience, sounds like it is hard to judge what is the condition of used engine sold out there. If Motomondo has a positive experience, please share.

As for the Seller, I have contacted him and he did not offer any resolution. I am not sure if I could pursue this matter with the seller since he could argue that the bike is in good condition at time of purchase since it passed the Safety Cert.

This seller is located near Vaughan. I would rather not name names and give him a bad reputation until it is proven that he is an unethical seller. At this point in time I could only speculate that he is well aware of the bike condition prior to sale.

[seven]

5K is for parts + labor. 10K is rough approx from the repair shop. Like I said, I do not have much experience with bikes and it was my fault for not having a second pair of eyes to inspect the bike. I was depending on the safety certification to catch these things (which I thought would have catched the epoxy patch work). I would also like to know how this epoxy does such an amazing job!

wow OP. i hope you learned your lesson. an 96 R6 def shouldnt cost 6k. so first you got shafted by the place you bought it from. second you're getting shafted by the repair shop. 10k for an engine? 5k for labour? no freaking way.

btw how did you not notice the chain was held together by epoxy? and how could epoxy hold the chain when your bike has around 90+ hp at the rear wheel? doesnt make sense.

next time try not the buy a bike that old unless you have extensive motorcycle repair knowledge.

i suggest you document everything, especially the chain. you might need to take legal action again the place and hope they will settle. but the onus is on you to proof the shop was negligent. i mean, with a chain like that you could get killed on the hwy.

[ES_Revenge]

As for the Seller, I have contacted him and he did not offer any resolution. I am not sure if I could pursue this matter with the seller since he could argue that the bike is in good condition at time of purchase since it passed the Safety Cert.

There's lots of mechanics out there that sign off safety certificates for some $$$ under the table.

You will need to take the seller to Small Claims Court if you wish to recover money from the bike. I would find out who the mechanic/shop that certified it was as well, and report them.

If court fails, you may want to sell the bike off for parts afterwards--considering the cost to repair it is in the neighbourhood of buying a brand new bike, I wouldn't bother repairing it.

[urameatball]

btw, it's common (and recommended) practice to use a dab a silicone on chains with a clip link.
chances are, your chain is in good condition and was never broken.

and the shop is trying to ream you for all you got. Considering how you paid $6k for a 99 R6, I'd do the same as well.

obviously you have no idea what's what so here's what I suggest:
bring it to rosey toes if you want your bike fixed at a fair price.

[confused student]

I hope you have some rather large pieces of paper to hold down

[S14_Raven]

I would find out who the mechanic/shop that certified it was as well, and report them.

+1

Can't have these guys around certifying things that are dangerous.... It should be a pretty big deal, I think they have a chance to lose their mechanics license if you can prove it was not certifiable.

[woobie]

If your not already a member you might want to head over to www.gtamotorcycle.com and register. Between there and a few motorcycle wreckers you should be able to find a used engine for way less than the prices your getting quoted by the "shop". BTW don't just search for ones for sale, put a post up saying your looking for one to get faster results.

You should also look into what years of R6 are the same, that way you can widen your search for the engine. You should find that certain years are the same so your 99 could take an engine from a 99,01,02 etc(BTW I'm using these years as an example) . Head over to an R6 forum and you should be able to find all the info you need.

With a service manual a friend and some tools you could swap out the engine yourself in a day or two.

Oh and before you say **** it and take the loss, remember you can usually part out a bike for a decent amount of coin if you have to.

[woobie]

too funny, I head over to see what's new and see this
http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum...ad.php?t=75581

keep an eye on it and it may help you out.

[Rx-87]

5K is for parts + labor. 10K is rough approx from the repair shop. Like I said, I do not have much experience with bikes and it was my fault for not having a second pair of eyes to inspect the bike. I was depending on the safety certification to catch these things (which I thought would have catched the epoxy patch work). I would also like to know how this epoxy does such an amazing job!

WoW


Didn't know these very important details about motorcycle parts / mechanical costs etc..

Will definitely keep in mind of these "Approximations" of what it may cost to do major repair to a bike... as I may be getting one in the future


But that is truly an unfortunate turn of events =(