Mugged into collecting a Motorcycle

[Smallfry]

As title, I have been mugged into collecting a motorcycle for my stepson. Motorcycle is 55 miles from me, and he lives 160 miles in the exact opposite direction.

It is a Honda Pan European apparently early 90's. He has bought it sight unseen. Reason I have to collect it, is that he has not passed the necessary test yet. He wants us to store it here until he can collect it and ride it home. I don't think that is a good idea, so will probably end up driving down there and dropping it off. It is supposed to have an MOT, but I have told him it will probably need the Cheng Shin remoulds replacing before he rides it anywhere far

Now, I will have to collect it in my van. Apparently it's a runner, but more than that I don't know.

I know bu**er all about motorcycles, so anything I should look out for ? I understand it is a heavy old lump, so getting it in out out of the van is going to be interesting. My main worry is it falling over, but I also don't want him moaning if there is play in the epiglottal trumpet housings, and I did not spot it.

 

[dobbslc]

Thread 'Strapping motorbikes into the back of a van'

Saturday at 7:06 AM

On the subject of motorbikes...

To the collective...? What do you lot do for strapping them into a back of a van...?

Reason I ask is - of late I started booking in a lot of electrical work on motorbikes - I could do abit more to be honest - if I could get them here to my workshop.

I got a MWB VW Crafter van. I bought a front wheel chock/alloy ramp/handle bar strap off ebay. I got a life time supply of other ratchet straps hid up somewhere here.

Reason I ask is - paint sprayer opposite - showed me how he straps his motorbikes into his van - he reckons the handlebar straps I...

• premmington
• Replies: 37
• forum: The Brew Room

 

[tom2207]

As title, I have been mugged into collecting a motorcycle for my stepson. Motorcycle is 55 miles from me, and he lives 160 miles in the exact opposite direction.

It is a Honda Pan European apparently early 90's. He has bought it sight unseen. Reason I have to collect it, is that he has not passed the necessary test yet. He wants us to store it here until he can collect it and ride it home. I don't think that is a good idea, so will probably end up driving down there and dropping it off. It is supposed to have an MOT, but I have told him it will probably need the Cheng Shin remoulds replacing before he rides it anywhere far

Now, I will have to collect it in my van. Apparently it's a runner, but more than that I don't know.

I know bu**er all about motorcycles, so anything I should look out for ? I understand it is a heavy old lump, so getting it in out out of the van is going to be interesting. My main worry is it falling over, but I also don't want him moaning if there is play in the epiglottal trumpet housings, and I did not spot it.

do you have any friends who do know about bikes ,,, be easier to take one of those along , and give you a hand to load up ,, a stout plank and a beer crate will be needed too , and some ratchet straps

 

[ajlelectronics]

do you have any friends who do know about bikes ,,, be easier to take one of those along , and give you a hand to load up ,, a stout plank and a beer crate will be needed too , and some ratchet straps

Or get it moved by a professional, surprisingly reasonable cost last time I did it.

 

[RonMig]

Good excuse to buy a remote-control winch to drag 300+kgs dead weight up the ramp into your van

 

[tom2207]

Or get it moved by a professional, surprisingly reasonable cost last time I did it.

if it needs inspecting before its paid for / collected may be tricky ,,, do the aa still do an inspection service ,,, old Hondas tend to be ok , but you would still need a good look round if theres any come back you dont want to be the one in the middle having said it looks grand ,,, if your not competent its a bad place to be caught .

 

[Smallfry]

do you have any friends who do know about bikes ,,, be easier to take one of those along , and give you a hand to load up ,, a stout plank and a beer crate will be needed too , and some ratchet straps

I have got some 60mm thick by 2.4m planks, so I don't think the crate will be necessary, but will take one anyway. Got several small ratchet straps, an tie down points.

SWMBO had a Yamaha 125 in her yoof, and the guy who is selling it will no doubt run it up the planks, but other than that, no, the few friends I have now will be too busy tidying their sock collection, and in any case, none of them are into motorcycles at all.

 

[Smallfry]

Good excuse to buy a remote-control winch to drag 300+kgs dead weight up the ramp into your van

Certainly not. Being thus equipped will invite even more "can you justs"

 

[Smallfry]

if it needs inspecting before its paid for / collected may be tricky ,,, do the aa still do an inspection service ,,, old Hondas tend to be ok , but you would still need a good look round if theres any come back you dont want to be the one in the middle having said it looks grand ,,, if your not competent its a bad place to be caught .

It is quite cheap apparently, so I think he is not expecting to be perfect, but of course his idea of acceptable is probably vastly different to mine.

 

[Smallfry]

Or get it moved by a professional, surprisingly reasonable cost last time I did it.

I suggested that, but he says they are too expensive, and he would rather pay me, knowing I am a soft touch.

 

[tom2207]

It is quite cheap apparently, so I think he is not expecting to be perfect, but of course his idea of acceptable is probably vastly different to mine.

and there in lies the issues ,, top end ticks , pitted forks , etc , greasy and dirty is one thing , but whos idea of scuffed fairings and scratched crash guards etc ,,,,, bikes are a minefield ,,, would he not go with you if you arranged the time , then if its ok straight back to his place to leave it off ,,,,, its not the moving it thats the issue , its spending someone elses money then being responsible for that if you dont have the experience or knowledge to back it up

 

[Nomad]

If he bought it as spares / repairs / project he will have low expectations. Best case he gets a pleasant surprise.

If he bought it as working with niggles there are many ways this could go south.

I spent many happy years buying project bikes in December and fixing them ready for summer. Some parts are unobtanioum or cost most that the bike! eg grey import VFR400 with rotted exhaust cost £400, new exhaust (convoluted 4-into-1 v four) was over £600. My welding improved a lot on that project!

Be lucky

 

[Pete.]

Pan euros are a great mile muncher but not exactly an ideal first bike being a big fat heavy barge of a thing.

If it was cheap cheap then there's not much to lose but it's a lot of bike with a lot of bodywork and a lot of stuff to rot away underneath. If it's been off the road a while it'll need a full work-through.

There was a reasonable condition one for sale nearby here for 600 quid last year. An old guy was giving up riding. It didn't exactly sell quickly and he had to put it up for offers and that bike was complete and in fairly reasonable nick.

 

[RichardM]

He's already paid for it? If he's not prepared to have a look at it before buying then why worry.
TBH get someone else to collect it, it's a jelly mold, heavy, plastic lump and if the panels are good then will need to be taken off to reliably strap down.

Honda ST1100 Pan European (1990-2001): [ Review & Buying Guide ]

Released in 1990, this full-dress tourer was designed from the very outset to allow its rider and pillion to merrily explore Europe in total comfort.

www.bennetts.co.uk

 

[minimutly]

I have got some 60mm thick by 2.4m planks, so I don't think the crate will be necessary, but will take one anyway. Got several small ratchet straps, an tie down points.

SWMBO had a Yamaha 125 in her yoof, and the guy who is selling it will no doubt run it up the planks, but other than that, no, the few friends I have now will be too busy tidying their sock collection, and in any case, none of them are into motorcycles at all.

You have to run it up backwards, unless your van is big enough for the bike and two people standing up.

 

[Pete.]

I've never loaded a bike into my van backwards ever.

 

[dobbslc]

For some reason I was thinking it was a Deauville. Who the hell buys a Pan European as a first bike?

 

[addjunkie]

Or get it moved by a professional, surprisingly reasonable cost last time I did it.

This its not too dear…

 

[Turbo]

He's already paid for it? If he's not prepared to have a look at it before buying then why worry.
TBH get someone else to collect it, it's a jelly mold, heavy, plastic lump and if the panels are good then will need to be taken off to reliably strap down.

Honda ST1100 Pan European (1990-2001): [ Review & Buying Guide ]

Released in 1990, this full-dress tourer was designed from the very outset to allow its rider and pillion to merrily explore Europe in total comfort.

www.bennetts.co.uk

That is going to be a nightmare to strap down with all those mouldings in the way.
Read the linked thread thoroughly to get some tips.

 

[Smallfry]

For some reason I was thinking it was a Deauville. Who the hell buys a Pan European as a first bike?

Its not his first bike. He is on an A2 licence ATM and will be 24 in April, so he can apply for A category.