Well I finally found a nice Triumph Bonneville on eBay. The price is okay ($3k) and looks great, but it has one small problem. The bike was a victim of Hurricane Sandy and as a result, it was under salt water for a couple of hours. The owner cleaned out the crankcase and poured oil in it and it turned over. A couple of weeks passed and now it's locked up. Before Sandy, the complete build was only a few months old with over $10k put into the build. I spoke with the owner and he says the cases need to be split, the engine rebuilt, so I'm looking at about $2500 or more to get it running. I really like the bike, but trying to be realistic about all of this and not let my emotions get the best of me. Should I run away from this and not look back? I'm not a bike guy and have never rebuilt a motorcycle engine.
yamaha
PowerDork
8/19/13 9:10 p.m.
If you have never rebuilt an engine and the parts are going to cost you $2500, I'd run away.....
pres589
SuperDork
8/19/13 10:07 p.m.
http://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2009-Triumph-Bonneville-PHANTOM-BLACK-110814724
At best it's a parts bike.
its not like older English bikes have good electrics. Add some salt water and you will be chasing electrical gremlins forever. Might as well budget replacing every wire, switch, bulb socket, coil and the charging system.
If it is a newer Triumph, forget it.
Also plan on putting in new bearings in the steering stem, wheels and if it has one, the swingarm.
If it has hydraulic brakes and he didn't bleed them right away, that can be an issue. If it has cables, then may be OK.
Chet
New Reader
8/20/13 3:53 p.m.
Salt water damage is very extensive to any car or bike.
The only way to save a salt water soaked engine is to change the fluids immediately, start it up and run for hours. Then change the fluids again and run again. Usually you have less than 12 hours to do this or the engine is junk. Steel + Salt water = iron oxide in minutes, damage in hours and junk in under a day. The wiring has the same problem but there is no saving it, it's done.
Having drown a few engines in my life, I'd pass.
Thanks for all the good feedback. I going to pass. Buying the bike you've always wanted should be a fun experience not a nightmare.
