Advice please...

[Mudwiz]

Problem: My pretty tired Vara has blown the engine, and will cost me well over a grand to fix.

Possible solutions: 1. Get new engine from ebay/breakers and fit it to well worn other parts!
2. Invest in a replacement bike, would need to be same bike and lift all my good parts over. (Suspension, brakes, pannier frames, guards etc.) I have lots of good, quite new, bits on my bike which make it the joy it was to ride.

There are some quite nice low mileage Varas out there, but this would be a significant investment... I'm thinking I need a similar age one to mine with MUCH less abuse!

Don't want to change bike, given the investment in parts and learning the Vara has!!

Any opinions welcome. (I am aware that may open the floodgates!!)

 

[CrazyFrog]

I'd go for the replacement engine route myself. You already intimately know the condition of the rest of your bike whereas if you purchase a replacement bike you will be entering the unknown. 'Better the devil you know' etc. etc.

I haven't looked, but would have thought you should be able to land a low mileage replacement engine off the 'bay for less than £500. I just got a 7K miles spare engine for my SLR for £400.

Seems the cheapest and least hassle route to me

 

[boboneleg]

I would say that a lot depends on your budget. This bike has 25,000 miles which is nothing for a Varadero, flog the panniers and anything else you don't want to recoup some money, transfer your goodies over to new bike and then decide if you keep your existing bike for spares or break it for parts and recoup some more dosh.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-XL-1000 ... 4d313f7b1b

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

Difficult one Chris, however, you obviously have your bike how you like it, you say the rest of the bike may be worn but if the suspension is good, with a good engine, the only remaining stuff is consumables which could be half fecked/siezed even on a tidy 13yr old bike.

Fix the engine or get a replacement, then fit new cct's with failsafe or manuals

Phil

 

[Mudwiz]

Thanks Gents. Mine is kind of worn all over, so I'm going with the lowest miles new-to-me I can find.

just pulling all my good parts of the dead one....