Morning all, wee bit of a quandry im in and hoping to get some good advice or feedback on as i wouldnt be too au fait with some elements of bike parts.

Basically i have a 97 CB400SF Version S (viewtopic.php?f=69&t=29725#p222100), the front fork & oil seals are away on it in typical fashion, but thats grand as i got the parts there to sort it out. Sadly though i have no technical knowledge or the tools to do this myself so its just sat there the last few months as i havent got my finger out over it and now i discovered the other day that one of the rear shocks is leaking too, again, presumably from sitting about? Near cried

So do i throw money at the bike and have it standing me more money than its worth (already like that ffs lol) in getting the forks oill, seals etc all done (bearings too, why not, its all taken apart anyway) and replace both rear shocks? I dont see it being a bike i'll be keeping for years otherwise i wouldnt mind so much, but i reckon in a year, maybe even 2 at most id sell up. Im presuming work like what id need for the forks and good rear shocks would cost about 4/500 in total easily? I could just sell it and take a hit and give the new owner willing to take on the work all the parts i have sitting there for it to sort it all out?

Or the other option is breaking, what is the market like for parts for this bike as i never see much for them for sale? Does it take years to shift even the main parts? The bike is great mechanicaly and generally bodywise too bar these elements i listed above, so what sort of money would i be looking at if i broke the bike?

Engine: £150?
Rear Showa shocks: £50 even if 1 is leaking?
Pirelli sport tyres which have less than 1 km use: £100?
Rear hugger i only just got in from Japa: £100?
Discs & pads: £100?
Wheels?
Brembo front calipers?
Speedo housing?
etc etc, no idea as i say, just trying to gauge an idea from those more knowledgable.

Just paid the friggin bike insurance last week too ffs Maybe i should just get someone to steal it lol Or is there something else i have overlooked as an option? Im presuming there's no bike shops would take it in as a part ex given what needs done and the age? Well apart from offering about £200 for it

Few things to consider. You just paid the insurance, this is money you won't get back so put that on the 'keep' side of the argument.

Fork seals really is easy but why not try this - bike on the mainstand, jack up under the exhausts, remove the forks and take them and the parts to a bike shop and let them do it. Save a bunch of labour and save yourself a load of hassle.

Leaking rear shock? Get a s/h one in, put it on the mainstand and swap it out. Two bolts only!

As for your valuation ideas...

Engine: £150? yes but you'll have it a while
Rear Showa shocks: £50 even if 1 is leaking? leaking one is worth sq rt of naff all. Good ones aren't worth much more.
Pirelli sport tyres which have less than 1 km use: £100? Maybe yes, but they are funny sizes (ie not 120/180) so you won't get what they're worth
Rear hugger i only just got in from Japa: £100? Nope. £50 or thereabouts.
Discs & pads: £100? Discs maybe £50 if straight, pads nothing.
Wheels? Not worth much. I scrapped the last pair.
Brembo front calipers? If they fit the regular forks, these are worth a few quid. Either way £80-100 with pads.
Speedo housing? Hard to get hold of the speedo should net you £100.

I wouldn't say the bike is far gone enough to warrant breaking or that it's profitable enough to do so.

Sell it as an easy project instead, or just get it sorted.
Pair of Hagon (reasonable quality aftermarket) shocks is £45+P&P for usedor <£130 all-in for new. And the swapping of them is genuinely a piss of piece on a dual shock bike with a mainstand.

Then strip the forks out the bike and bring them to the shop, it's never more than 2 hours labour costs (go to a backstreet and expect about £50 labour only plus oil if you don't have it or lots more at the Honda dealer) and your bike is running again, probably for less than you'd lose on the insurace, nevermind the tax - and you can ride through the last of any weather that's left!

Gary i thought we talked about this.......
Will speak to you later on :)

Cheers for that Amorti, some good insight from those wee bits :) No tax/MOT on the bike currently because of the forks so dont have to worry about money there, insurance isnt dear anyway but i take you point on losing some elements.

Yeah i could see that the rear shocks looked easy enough to change *shock horror* but as for replacements, are Hagon good or a decent budget type? Dunno what to be at, just in bad form with multpile things going against me currently lol MOT up on the car next week so i'll see what joys that brings me first before i decide what to do with the bike. Just on a fed up rant and hopfully calm down by then lol.

DaddyC wrote:Cheers for that Amorti, some good insight from those wee bits :) No tax/MOT on the bike currently because of the forks so dont have to worry about money there, insurance isnt dear anyway but i take you point on losing some elements.

Yeah i could see that the rear shocks looked easy enough to change *shock horror* but as for replacements, are Hagon good or a decent budget type? Dunno what to be at, just in bad form with multpile things going against me currently lol MOT up on the car next week so i'll see what joys that brings me first before i decide what to do with the bike. Just on a fed up rant and hopfully calm down by then lol.

Hagon are a decent budget shock. Not Ohlins performance, but also not the cheap cheap stuff on eBay. Hagon will last you and also can be rebuilt at a later date if it becomes necessary. If you're feeling the pinch, get that used pair of shocks and fit them, they'll get you through the test and can be rebuilt later if needed.

Find out who on here is local and could help you out with the forks. But on the forks with them out the bike you're not looking at too much money at a backstreet anyway really. Fancy a bodge to get it through the test? Wipe the forks off outside the test centre and stick a small strip of rag under the dust seal to catch any when he pumps the forks... Not ideal but gets you back on the road in case the car doesn't make it!

Amorti my garage is waiting for him but he is just throwing a shit fit

hannakournikova wrote:Amorti my garage is waiting for him but he is just throwing a shit fit

Ah, that'll be the one. I thought I saw a little tear and maybe a snot bubble too

HAHA feck off you's two! Just totally disheartened seeing it as it is currently as i try to keep on top of things usually and with everything else hitting me its come to a point where ive just lost it with loads of things. Its ok though, ive got my own hanky seeing as you feckers wouldnt even offer me a tissue to dry my eyes

Sounds like i'll forget the breaking element anyway :) I wouldnt do a bodge on the bike either, especially as its not me and then its just an excuse for it to sit longer unsorted lol. The car should pass with little trouble i expect but i'll not count my chickens just yet lol.

lol you wouldn't want my snot rags anyway.

Glad we could cheer you up a bit