Triumphrat

05-31-2007

Been lurking for a while and finally found a possible candidate to buy. The spec are as follows.
2001 Bonneville 4000k miles, scarlet and silver, bone stock.
I have not seen it yet bit owner says in good shape but here is the kicker. It has not been started in a year. He said it ran great before he put it away. He says the gas smells ok but obviously will need to be drained and refilled. Battery is dead.

The price is good ($3500) but I am concerned about buying something that is not running. It could be as easy as change gas, drop in a new battery and be off or it could require a carb rebuild and god knows what else.

Any suggestions on how I should proceed?

davidc · 05-31-2007

Man, that sounds like a GREAT price. If it ran when he put it away, there is no reason to think it will not run now. Fresh fuel, oil, clean plugs, carb, etc. and you ought to be good to go. Go for it!!!!

CAPTDON · 05-31-2007

A little carb cleaner in the 1st tank og gas wont hurt either? Good price!!

badrufus · 05-31-2007

If he did not put stabilizer in the gas, you will need to address the carbs. It may be as simple as running a few tanks of gas with carb cleaner (Seafoam is great), or you may need to disassemble the carbs and clean them, remove the petcock and clean it. Look in the tank with a flashlight--the reason it is recommended that one store a bike with a full tank of gas is to prevent rusting inside the tank, but there is always some evaporation over time. How much the final cost will be depends on how comfortable you are with wrenching. On any bike that has been sitting for a year, but especially on a 2001, you are going to need to go over the braking system, tires and tubes, wheels, whole fuel system, steering head bearings, final drive, and electrics. There was also a repair for a chattering clutch for the 01--see if he had that done. I'd be curious if he has any maintenance records, at least of the 500 mile check and subsequent oil changes. If you're comfortable doing this work, the price is probably good. If you have to take it to a dealer, you may want to find a newer bike that hasn't been sitting. Also, I'm always curious as to why someone stops riding a bike for that long--ie, was something wrong with the bike that left him frustrated enough to put it up for a year until he decided to get rid of it. Put him on the spot--it's your money. It's one thing to buy an old Triumph that's not running, but frankly, I would be careful about a new Triumph that isn't. If it's not such a big deal to get it running (just a battery and fresh gas) then it's greatly to his advantage to do so--why didn't he?

sweatmachine · 05-31-2007

I think you shouldn't get it.

What's the guy's number? I'll call him to tell him you're out....

badrufus · 05-31-2007

Sure, Sweat, you'd be quite comfortable doing anything this bike needed. But that doesn't mean it's right for someone who expressed concern about having to take the carbs apart.

05-31-2007

Thanks everyone, for their reply. I am going to see it tomorrow afternoon. He gave me some more details today.

He is the second owner who bought it from distressed 1st owner (guy need the $). Here road it a bit, about a month, filled it with gas and put it away for 10 months. Can't remember if carbs where run dry and the tires have been replaced, fork seal don't leak, brake function properly (don't stick) and very small amount of rust. One small scratch on the top of the tank and battery is dead.

May plan of action is as follows:

Take a real good day light look at the bikes condition (inside of tank, transmission, rims, tires, etc...).
If it looks good, make the deal conditioned on me dropping a battery in the bike to make sure it kicks over and all electrics work. Spray some starter fluid in the carb to make sure it kicks and take it home.

What do you think?

sweatmachine · 05-31-2007

before trying to start it I'd replace the oil and filter, and drain the carbs (if not already drained), fresh gas, etc.

Tbone4j · 05-31-2007

Don't be concerned, a year is nothing, I wouldn't be concerned about the carbs even. Put a bettery in it and fresh gas and go. Ive had bikes sit for longer than that and fired them up and rode. I've bought bikes that sat for 8 years and had them running in ten minutes with some carb spray. Juice brakes are the only think that had to be bled. I know alot of guys with bikes that sit for periods of time, just give it a once over, brakes, tire pressure, fluid levels, battery, and take it home and change all the fluids. A 2001, with 4000 miles is a new bike. ~T~

06-04-2007

Well went over on Saturday to a look. Brought along a spare battery to see if she might kick over. When it was first rolled out of the shed I thought I had a winner. But then it hit the sun light and I could see that age had deteriorated the bike a bit more that I would have liked.

Rust in the headlight bucket, in the tank, also pitting on the mufflers and other chrome bits and the sun had faded the scarlet red paint quite a bit. Also the seat had a tear in it. The gas in the tank smelled of lacquer and had been in there more that 10-12 as he stated. It did kick over (not start) but by that time I had lost interest. Told him not interested and he was cool about it.

So the search continues.