To part or build?

[rebelpacket]

Hey folks. I'm at a bit of a cross-roads right now with my 510.

I've got a new cylinder, gasket kit, cam chain, sliders and a few other bits waiting. My busted cylinder head seems to have dissapeared into the ether. When I call the guy I sent it to, I get the "still waiting on <insert excuse here>, it'll be 3-4 weeks, call me back then". I sent him the head three days after my bike blew up in March. Its August.

So at this point, I'm writing the head off.

New head (only guides and seats): 1300$
New piston + cylinder: 800$
New valves (4x150$) : 600$
New rod + cost to have it pressed in: 650$

All in all, its going to be about 3000$ minimum to get the bike running again. With such a staggering cost, I'm thinking that parting the bike out, and taking what I can get from the bottom end, frame, etc, etc, I can walk away with 2500$ to put twards a LC4.

But this isn't a popular ride, and its not ebay is teeming with parts-sharks looking to scoop up a new set of forks, or a frame.

So, whats everyones thoughts? Rebuild or Part?

[highsider]

Tell that guy to send you the head still broken, and send it to someone else. Then find him, and kill him.

[Awesome]

I'm sure you can find a full motor much cheaper than that. Sounds rediculous to spend all that money and effort. Also sounds like parting it would be a pain and leave you sitting on a lot of extras.

[Paul_E_D]

Ooph, tough call. Who has the head? Is there no way to scoop a complete motor?

[rebelpacket]

I've been checking ebay at least three times a week since it blew up. No cheap motors available. And even then, I'm still just riding a grenade someone else pulled the pin on.

I see a multitude of options with this bike, and each one leaves me penny less with a time bomb.

[McBiggity]

[TheIglu]

I'd say cut your losses and rid yourself of it. I would not enjoy racing if I knew I was waiting for my engine to pop twice a season.

[Paul_E_D]

Yeah, and if the budget is that tight, the KTM may not be great replacement... H-O-N-D-A

[Tricky Mike]

Sorry if this has been covered, but how did it blow up? Cam chain?

[BMFR6]

tough call alex. i would definatley track down the head you sent out though. thats just effed up.

[rebelpacket]

Dropped an exhaust valve coming into turn 3. Dollar signs everywhere.

Paul, not a KTM race motard, 625SMC. Bigger, more bullet proof motor they put into lots of their award-winning adventure bikes. You won't see me foot-out on that thing.

[Tricky Mike]

sucks, man...
I suppose there's no way of knowing if there are guys like you checking Ebay three times a week for the parts you'd be selling... Maybe parting it out would be the best bet if there is some demand there... just no real supply. I suppose there could be???

[ChR1s]

re: 510

I'd like to think a local shop could rebuild a simple head? With the monies you've already got into it, and the down time, I'd rebuild it to keep it. Then let it go when the pain doesn't feel so severe. That does seem like a crazy amount of money for a single rebuild though. Don't think I'll be wanting to float the valves on my TE450, that's for sure.


What would you be wanting to do with the 625? I hear it's quite a paint shaker. My bro's got a 690SM that he likes. I'd like for him to let me have it for a spin to see if I might like it as well.

[bigred875]

sounds like you should just cut your losses at this point....part it out.

you may have to sit on it for awhile and use more out-of-pocket cash to get something you can ride....but atleast you will be able to ride now...and hopefully you can re-coop some money after awhile...

like others have said....if you are doing the motard route...looks like honda is the way to go...

[a13x]

Jay Root has a 2003 CRF450 motard for sale around the same price you are going to pay for parts...

[McBiggity]

alex, any interest in racing the ex500 before I sell it?

[Paul_E_D]

btw, Alex. Bring that big katoom to Crow hill saturday and ride you blues away! I'll buy the first round of the evening and we can figure this shiznit out.

[deeto]

tough call alex. i would definatley track down the head you sent out though. thats just effed up.

[KB]

DOOOOOOOOOD............part it out. Buy a CRF, don't buy Jay Roots, come racing. Rebuild top end once every 500 hours, come racing, repeat. Join the CRF ranks brotha.

KB

[rebelpacket]

btw, Alex. Bring that big katoom to Crow hill saturday and ride you blues away! I'll buy the first round of the evening and we can figure this shiznit out.

Can I take a rain check? I leave for Hatfield McCoy this weekend, but I'll take you up on that offer when I get back!

Biggles, I may take you up on that offer. If its still around when I get back, I'll give it a shot on the track.

KB, I'm still bouncing options around. A honda would be nice, but its a PITA to get it plated for the street. For a dedicated race bike though, it does appear to be the money. Did you do the top end on your beast yet? How did everything look?

[Rick Lee]

Yeah gotta say i love my CRF450R and im pretty sure Scott Greenwood is selling one for around the money your talking to fix you KaBoom! Ride Red or keep fixing orange...no brainer.

[tls25rs]

Alex,

I'd love to see you get the Husky fixed up and running again but things being what they are I would understand if you went another way with this.

Couple of things I have to ask, are you going to be happy with the bigger bike when you take it to the track? Does that even matter to you or are you looking more to street riding the motard? Everything I have ever read about the bigger bikes is that they are great for the street but when you take them to places like OVRP, Englishtown etc. that the little bikes are way more fun. That being said maybe the bigger bike would be more suited to the type of riding at Loudon than the smaller bikes are.

Whatever way you decide to go, let me know if there is anything I can help you out with.

Here is a link to Millenium Technologies,
Millennium Technologies News
They are the company I was telling you about that might be able to repair your head quicker than George at Uptite.

Joel

[rebelpacket]

I hear you Joel. I put some feelers out for parting it out on SMJ. Apparently everyone wants mint parts for no money. I'm not going to take a hit on a brand new set of triples, or a brand new rear wheel. I didn't realize millenium repaired heads as well! I sent my Duc cylinders out there to get bored to 95mm. I'll give them a ring about head work too.

Half of me wants a turn-key motard (which doesnt exist). The other half of me wants to go neck and neck with Joel into turn one with a foot out. Its pretty clear either way I'm going to loose money, so I'm not sure how to play it.

Joel, take my 5" rear wheel dude. Next race weekend I'm up there, I'm bringing it with me, and you will USE IT!

Thanks for all the advice folks.

[Scottg22]

So who has the head??

I would suggest getting the head back from where it is and trying a local engine builder.

Call Pat @ New England Performance and describe the problem with the head and see what he says. If he can do it, get the parts back from the DeadBeat and have Pat (or similar local Race Shop) fix it.

-Scott

[Scottg22]

A honda would be nice, but its a PITA to get it plated for the street.

The 2002 Honda CRF450 I have forsale is complete with a Title.

-Scott