TheTaylorEffect
Standard Bore
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2022
- Messages
- 1
Hi Folks,
Not an R3 owner - but looking. In need of some advice.
I want to go back to a power cruiser after riding sport tourers for a few years - and found a 2011 R3 Roadster on Craigslist for $7500 with a little over 7000 miles on it. Owner just put new tires on it a few weeks ago. I spent several hours reading all of your helpful and informative posts to get a feel for the common problems before contacting the seller (and thank you all very much, there was a lot of great info on here!)
I went up last night with the standard "Craigslist motorcycle checkup kit" (flashlight multimeter, depth gauge, etc. )
Based on all the information I found here, the first thing I checked the valve cover gasket for weeping.
While there is no visible leak - the valve cover gasket is warping and bulging out. It's completely herniated over the front-most cylinder (apologies - not sure if thats Cyl1 or Cyl3). The warped gasket is looped out like a U to the point I could have fit an allen key through it and pried it out or broken it.
I wiped down the gasket seam with a clean rag and got a solid, thick, straight line of oil. There is no discoloration on the pipes or headers or the cast block, so I don't think the seal is broken but it seems close. I pointed it out the seller who appeared genuinely surprised. I told the seller I was going to pass for now based on the gasket and thanked him for his time.
I LOVED the bike otherwise. I'm a big guy and it fits me well and looks great. Having brand new tires is a huge plus - and the foot forward control kit has already been installed. The more I think about it the more I want it.
Should I try to get the seller down on price? Seems fairly straight forward to replace the gasket, but at the same time, I don't want to have constant anxiety about taking the bike on long trips and having it fail. Wondering what you would do if you were me.
Not an R3 owner - but looking. In need of some advice.
I want to go back to a power cruiser after riding sport tourers for a few years - and found a 2011 R3 Roadster on Craigslist for $7500 with a little over 7000 miles on it. Owner just put new tires on it a few weeks ago. I spent several hours reading all of your helpful and informative posts to get a feel for the common problems before contacting the seller (and thank you all very much, there was a lot of great info on here!)
I went up last night with the standard "Craigslist motorcycle checkup kit" (flashlight multimeter, depth gauge, etc. )
Based on all the information I found here, the first thing I checked the valve cover gasket for weeping.
While there is no visible leak - the valve cover gasket is warping and bulging out. It's completely herniated over the front-most cylinder (apologies - not sure if thats Cyl1 or Cyl3). The warped gasket is looped out like a U to the point I could have fit an allen key through it and pried it out or broken it.
I wiped down the gasket seam with a clean rag and got a solid, thick, straight line of oil. There is no discoloration on the pipes or headers or the cast block, so I don't think the seal is broken but it seems close. I pointed it out the seller who appeared genuinely surprised. I told the seller I was going to pass for now based on the gasket and thanked him for his time.
I LOVED the bike otherwise. I'm a big guy and it fits me well and looks great. Having brand new tires is a huge plus - and the foot forward control kit has already been installed. The more I think about it the more I want it.
Should I try to get the seller down on price? Seems fairly straight forward to replace the gasket, but at the same time, I don't want to have constant anxiety about taking the bike on long trips and having it fail. Wondering what you would do if you were me.
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