Learning about engines and stuff
Discussion
If I wanted to buy an old, small bike, I'm thinking 50cc-100cc to take apart and rebuild, what would be a good bike to do this with?
I know nothing about engines, and really want to learn. So would love to completely take a bike apart, including the engine, and put it all back together, hoping it actually runs. Learning/restoring on the way.
What would be a good, simple, bike to do this with, that has spares still available, and good online resources. Preferably four stroke. I'm thinking something Japanese so that it will work properly once it's complete.
I know nothing about engines, and really want to learn. So would love to completely take a bike apart, including the engine, and put it all back together, hoping it actually runs. Learning/restoring on the way.
What would be a good, simple, bike to do this with, that has spares still available, and good online resources. Preferably four stroke. I'm thinking something Japanese so that it will work properly once it's complete.
Personally I'd either do it to a bike you want to keep or if you just want to learn about engines - either watch a few youtube videos or buy a cheap lawnmower
I've played with cars and bikes for 30+ years, I've fixed hundreds but never needed to strip an engine, I've swapped a few and gearboxes etc but with few exceptions (dirt bikes, two strokes etc) if an engine needs a rebuild it's usually cheaper to swap a good one in.
I've played with cars and bikes for 30+ years, I've fixed hundreds but never needed to strip an engine, I've swapped a few and gearboxes etc but with few exceptions (dirt bikes, two strokes etc) if an engine needs a rebuild it's usually cheaper to swap a good one in.
Bob_Defly said:
I want to do it to something I can actually ride, and small cc. Not a lawn mower.
You’ll have to narrow it down a bit then!Something “Japanese” could be anything from a CB77 Honda (for the road) to a CR93 (for the track (if you have deep pockets)) to a TL Honda if you want to ride off-road!
Honda parts are pretty easy to get but will costs a few quid. Again depends if you want to do an old fashioned restoration where you repair stuff or a new style restoration where you replace stuff. That will decide whether you want something rare or not!
srob said:
Bob_Defly said:
I want to do it to something I can actually ride, and small cc. Not a lawn mower.
You’ll have to narrow it down a bit then!Something “Japanese” could be anything from a CB77 Honda (for the road) to a CR93 (for the track (if you have deep pockets)) to a TL Honda if you want to ride off-road!
Honda parts are pretty easy to get but will costs a few quid. Again depends if you want to do an old fashioned restoration where you repair stuff or a new style restoration where you replace stuff. That will decide whether you want something rare or not!
I bought an old Honda XL185S because I've always like the look of them, and I fancied a restoration project. I'll get round to it one day. It's a dead simple late 70s twin-shock trail bike which only cost £300, and it came with about half a ton of free cow s
t.
edit: I've learned more about engines from doing a belt service on my car, and getting my rough Suzuki RF900 back in order - replaced camchain, valve clearances, carburettor dismantling/cleaning/balancing etc. I had those carbs apart more times than I can remember. My best advice is, if you get a carburettored multi-cylinder bike, don't split the bank of carbs, they're a swine to get back together!
t.edit: I've learned more about engines from doing a belt service on my car, and getting my rough Suzuki RF900 back in order - replaced camchain, valve clearances, carburettor dismantling/cleaning/balancing etc. I had those carbs apart more times than I can remember. My best advice is, if you get a carburettored multi-cylinder bike, don't split the bank of carbs, they're a swine to get back together!
Edited by underwhelmist on Thursday 25th February 03:05
underwhelmist said:
My best advice is, if you get a carburettored multi-cylinder bike, don't split the bank of carbs, they're a swine to get back together!
Oh, and if you have a really nice Foxeye CBR 900 RR with a stage 2 dynojet that is running a bit rough after standing for a year...........DON'T open up the carbs and attempt to clean out the jets with a piece of thin wire.Edited by underwhelmist on Thursday 25th February 03:05
Just saying!
Or, in fact, then proceed to break the jets trying to get them out to clean them properly.
Ended up having to buy a replacement stock carb. The bike went from a fire breathing monster that made your eyes stand out on stalks to something that felt closer to a Honda Superdream.
I never knew just how much difference those dyno jet upgrades made (bought it with the work already done).
Maybe I bought a duff replacement carb. It did run MUCH smoother though!
In my experience the most expensive bit is the gaskets so take a look at the prices for them for anything you're considering buying. Older stuff may well use paper gaskets that you can make yourself.
CG125 is a good suggestions as there are millions of them out there and parts are cheap.
CG125 is a good suggestions as there are millions of them out there and parts are cheap.
Bob_Defly said:
Actually probably a dirtbike, so I don't have to insure it.
Which is something I would love to do as well if I had the space.As you are wanting to keep it and ride it after you have stripped and reassembled it, I would just buy whichever bike attracts you the most.
If its just some old snotter of a bike that yiu have nonreal interest in, then you may struggle with motivation to get out there and put it all back together. Whereas if its something you like and are looking forward to riding then that motivation is going to be much higher.
Having just done what you are proposing with an old trials bike my one word of advice would be.........DON'T.
I stripped my bike completely and i mean shock,forks and every single nut and bolt.
I took photo's and videos of the whole process so I knew how everything came apart and should go back together.
How wrong could I be.
It totally overwhelmed me and it's hard to know where to start.
At this present moment in time I just about have a rolling chassis and the engine is hopefully going back in this weekend.I'm not very hopeful of this going well.
I've lost countless hours sleep and a s**t load of money,I would never attempt a full bike strip down again.
What I would suggest is taking on a job at a time and not doing a full strip down. Try doing something like a set of wheel bearings,a simple job once you know how and have the right tools but a little challenging to a newbie. Youtube will help with most jobs.
Also,make sure you buy something with readily available parts,nothing worse than spending hours on the internet trying to track down rare parts,ask me how I know.
I stripped my bike completely and i mean shock,forks and every single nut and bolt.
I took photo's and videos of the whole process so I knew how everything came apart and should go back together.
How wrong could I be.
It totally overwhelmed me and it's hard to know where to start.
At this present moment in time I just about have a rolling chassis and the engine is hopefully going back in this weekend.I'm not very hopeful of this going well.
I've lost countless hours sleep and a s**t load of money,I would never attempt a full bike strip down again.
What I would suggest is taking on a job at a time and not doing a full strip down. Try doing something like a set of wheel bearings,a simple job once you know how and have the right tools but a little challenging to a newbie. Youtube will help with most jobs.
Also,make sure you buy something with readily available parts,nothing worse than spending hours on the internet trying to track down rare parts,ask me how I know.
Gee68 said:
Having just done what you are proposing with an old trials bike my one word of advice would be.........DON'T.
I stripped my bike completely and i mean shock,forks and every single nut and bolt.
I took photo's and videos of the whole process so I knew how everything came apart and should go back together.
How wrong could I be.
It totally overwhelmed me and it's hard to know where to start.
At this present moment in time I just about have a rolling chassis and the engine is hopefully going back in this weekend.I'm not very hopeful of this going well.
I've lost countless hours sleep and a s**t load of money,I would never attempt a full bike strip down again.
What I would suggest is taking on a job at a time and not doing a full strip down. Try doing something like a set of wheel bearings,a simple job once you know how and have the right tools but a little challenging to a newbie. Youtube will help with most jobs.
Also,make sure you buy something with readily available parts,nothing worse than spending hours on the internet trying to track down rare parts,ask me how I know.
I know that feeling, I started out restoring a car when I was 18 - I set to work with an angle grinder and disc grinding out the rust - each area went well but when I looked up and realised just how much work I'd uncovered I felt sickI stripped my bike completely and i mean shock,forks and every single nut and bolt.
I took photo's and videos of the whole process so I knew how everything came apart and should go back together.
How wrong could I be.
It totally overwhelmed me and it's hard to know where to start.
At this present moment in time I just about have a rolling chassis and the engine is hopefully going back in this weekend.I'm not very hopeful of this going well.
I've lost countless hours sleep and a s**t load of money,I would never attempt a full bike strip down again.
What I would suggest is taking on a job at a time and not doing a full strip down. Try doing something like a set of wheel bearings,a simple job once you know how and have the right tools but a little challenging to a newbie. Youtube will help with most jobs.
Also,make sure you buy something with readily available parts,nothing worse than spending hours on the internet trying to track down rare parts,ask me how I know.
Definitely do one job at a time, eg - engine then replace, then suspension, etc
I still enjoy stripping things, just bought a complete car as I wanted a few bits and I love getting the air ratchet out and stripping off bumpers, subframes etc
srob said:
Bob_Defly said:
I want to do it to something I can actually ride, and small cc. Not a lawn mower.
You’ll have to narrow it down a bit then!Something “Japanese” could be anything from a CB77 Honda (for the road) to a CR93 (for the track (if you have deep pockets)) to a TL Honda if you want to ride off-road!
Honda parts are pretty easy to get but will costs a few quid. Again depends if you want to do an old fashioned restoration where you repair stuff or a new style restoration where you replace stuff. That will decide whether you want something rare or not!
Only note of caution is some of the older jap stuff wasn’t sold in the UK. That means parts are a little tricky to source and are more expensive than something mainstream. My lad is salvaging every part he can and we are only buying things that are missing or things that are way beyond repair (like pistons).
Have to say, it’s great fun. He (and I) are learning a huge amount too.... I’ll never forget the day he decided he had to cut the cam chain to get the head off .... He was right though.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff