SV stored x 1 year ...what next!

Hi everyone,

just joined after being overseas for the past year and am now back in England.

Basically my SV won't start (no surprise there) and although I've charged it up, nothing's working. I think I have some work to do before it's road worthy again (road tax/MOT would help).

I've dropped it off to a garage who has quoted me around £1000 to get it road-worthy, including service.

The rear brake calipers look seized up, a few bolts are missing (off the battery). I'm still not sure what all the charges are for. Water/moisture penetration into the electrics as well.

I've forgotten how expensive servicing a motorcycle is - but does that sound reasonable?

Any suggestions for things I could do myself, without getting the garage to do?

Thanks,

Rob

What do you mean bolts are missing off the battery?


Drain the fuel, drain the carbs. Make sure battery is actually holding a charge.
At worst you may need a new one, around £40.

£1000 sounds a lot did you store it in a chicken coop?

£1000!?
Did they at least itemise the job list, for you to look over? (Post it here if they did, people will know what it should all cost.)

I dropped the screw thread ends when I took the battery for recharging - so then I had to find a different set of screws with a retainer to hold the battery down.

It was stored in a garage....but I guess 1 year in storage...

Originally Posted by sinbad

£1000!?
Did they at least itemise the job list, for you to look over? (Post it here if they did, people will know what it should all cost.)

The garage called me up whilst I was outside Paddington Station so I could barely hear what they were saying...the service is around £200 in any case; and a new brake caliper around £200? for the parts, and then labour charge on top of that. I'll get the bill next week and try and see what it was all for.

They were a reputable garage years ago but I've never used them before and I know the management has changed recently for various reasons. I was just a bit surprised at how much, but that might have been my fault for not storing it properly...

You can get a fully working (used) rear caliper for £35 from SVspares.com.

I stored my GPZ for 2 years and it took about 4 hours to sort out. Needed some lube on moving parts and a brand new battery, drained carbs and rinsed through with fresh petrol.

Took a lot of cranking to get it going but run perfectly and started normally after that.

1000!!!!! THATS RIDICULOUS! Seriously, I would tell them to shove it, a new battery from wemoto is 32 quid (gel type), rear caliper from ebay your looking at 30 quid max, and you can service it yourself, changing oil and filter isnt hard, and whilst your at it drain the carbs, an evening or twos work and 100 quid is all it would cost you.

Thanks for the thoughts.

It isn't that simple - I'm pretty hopeless at anything mechanical!

The battery is actually okay - I know how to take that out and charge it myself. (that's how I lost the holding screws).

The rear caliper - if it's seized, I wouldn't have a clue how to take it off and put it back on. Plus I don't have any tools.

One of the rear footpegs also has a bolt which has welded and needs to be cut to get it to unscrew for adjustment.

I do agree that it seems like a lot - maybe I'll call them up and ask them for a more precise breakdown before agreeing for the work to go ahead.

[Biker Biggles]

Is it a pointy or curvy?You charged the battery,but did you reconnect it properly and do the bolts up tight?Is the battery shagged,as leaving it discharged for a year might mean it is dead.The rear caliper will probably unsieze itself with a bit of movement and cleaning.£1000 seems a lot to me when they don't specify what it is all for.