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Discussion Help/guidance wanted for purchasing a broken bike

Discussion in 'WANTED' started by Seven Murasame, May 7, 2023.

  1. Seven Murasame

    Seven Murasame Member

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    Hi, I'm new to this forum and new to buying more expensive bikes. I want to try and get an MC22, but buying one in good condition is a bit more expensive than I can afford right now. I was thinking of trying to buy one with mechanical issues and solve them myself. I'm okay with one without and engine if its' cheap enough as well. I don't really know where to go about buying a broken bike online. I have seen posts about people working on such bikes here, so I figured I would ask for help.
    Sorry if this isn't the right place to be asking.
     
  2. ruckusman

    ruckusman White Mans Magic Master Premium Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    The MC22 is popular here and seem to be rising in price, well at least they were during COVID.

    Not many in the US from what I can gather [I may be wrong on this].

    Depending on what is broken as to whether or not it can be fixed economically, good thing is there does seem to be most parts available, either used, OEM new or from aliexpress.

    Shipping heavy parts will cost $$.

    There's a facebook CBR250RR group I believe as well as the usual facebook marketplace as well as racer specific groups.
    Unfinished project bike is a common term...

    If you do find something which isn't running, you will get all the help you could possibly want here, so you've come to the right place for that.
     
  3. Seven Murasame

    Seven Murasame Member

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    Thank you so much, I will try looking for project bikes. Tried looking for 'salvage' and 'shell', but those didn't seem to get many results.
     
  4. ruckusman

    ruckusman White Mans Magic Master Premium Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    We've got more than a few US forums members, and I know some have MC22's - I can't think of them right this second, hopefully they can chime in and offer assistance
     
  5. DannoXYZ

    DannoXYZ Well-Known Member

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    My Bike:
    Honda CB125TT, Kawi EX250F, EX250J race, Honda CBR250RR-MC19, NSR350R-MC21 VF500F, CBR600RR, VFR750F
    I bought MC22 kit as pile of parts from last of Dave Moss's racing gang. They had imported 8 MC22s as parts in container from Japan about 20-yrs ago. I got last of it which was supposedly 3 MC22s in parts. Some of these were disassembled further and smuggled out of Oakland docks in trash bags, otherwise they would've had to pay duties as complete bikes.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    In end, there were only 1.8 MC19/MC22s in parts. I had to:
    • order missing pieces from breakers in OZ and UK
    • order more pieces from Yahoo Auctions in Japan
    • weld aluminium frame
    • weld steel sub-frame
    • re-build half of wiring harness
    • fabricate missing panels from scratch out of fibreglass and CF
    • paint mis-matched bodywork
    • register in Vermont and transfer to CA after 1 year
    I costs me about U$D 12,5K and about 800-hrs of work to assemble my MC22. If you're not mechanical and electrical engineer, it might be more difficult and cost you more.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    If you want to buy a kit, I've got about 80% of MC19 left: frame, sub-frame, engine w/BHG, carbs, harness, etc. I'll be back from AZ to Thunderhill Raceway near Sacramento in October. Can deliver it there if you want to pick up.

    @thebeefsalad is other U.S. member with MC22
     
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  6. ruckusman

    ruckusman White Mans Magic Master Premium Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    WOW - Whatever you do, do not ride that MC22 :prankster: - gold plate it and put it into a display case, that's one amazing project, a tribute to your dedication!
     
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  7. maelstrom

    maelstrom LiteTek Staff Member Premium Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

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  8. DannoXYZ

    DannoXYZ Well-Known Member

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    Here's one I saw couple years ago. Unfortunately I was in middle of moving and just didn't have time or space for it. Compared to effort of building and restoring one from scratch, it's quite good deal!

    @Seven Murasame , I highly recommend you get completed bike. Different in price is not that great and if you add in your time at current wages, you'd be well ahead just using that time working at your job and paying for working bike. :)

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 11, 2023
  9. maelstrom

    maelstrom LiteTek Staff Member Premium Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

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    There are people importing them into the US now because some statute has expired. That is the best option and I think the prices will be reasonable.
     
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  10. ruckusman

    ruckusman White Mans Magic Master Premium Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    I wondered about if self importation would be feasible, but the 'title' issue in the US is something I don't fully understand
     
  11. DannoXYZ

    DannoXYZ Well-Known Member

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    It's all about money and taxes! Most places just charge you registration fee, which goes towards building and maintaining roads. Govnt here figured out way to squeeze even more money out of populace. Title is official government-issued certificate that declares you as official owner of bike. This goes along with bill-of-sale when you 1st purchase bike. Based upon sale-price, you have to pay sales-tax, usually 8-11% depending upon state you live in.

    Then, when you go to sell bike to someone else, there's official transfer process where title is re-assigned to new owner and new title certificate is issued in their name. Again, since this is official procedure, it's documented and logged with sale price. And again, you have to pay sales-tax on purchase yet again!!! Each and every time!!! Damn blood-sucking low-life creatures!!!


    Good article about rare-bikes imported to U.S.
    https://www.cycleworld.com/250cc-two-stroke-sportbike-motorcycle-review-comparison-test/
     
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  12. ruckusman

    ruckusman White Mans Magic Master Premium Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    In the past I've done some reading about 2 strokes, peeps saying you'll never get it titled in California mostly and others going through all sorts of hassle establishing title so that they could legally own and register the bike when there were issues [some places were just unjustifiably difficult establishing title of previous owners] to effect transfer of ownership.

    We've got the same taxes here GST, if something is sold again through a GST registered business, it gets levied again on the sale price, so 10% then becomes ~20% - so on and so forth
     
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  13. Seven Murasame

    Seven Murasame Member

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    Thank you all for the responses. I will keep saving for a completed bike, thank you!
     
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  14. thebeefsalad

    thebeefsalad Well-Known Member

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    Howdy neighbor! Good luck finding a bike! I scored mine posting on cbr250.com and asking if any were available in the US/CAN/MEX. Lurker in NC DMed me that he had one. Sent a buddy that lives in NC, and was a professional wrench at the time, to check it over and make sure paperwork etc.. lined up. If/when you need parts, find the part # and search our "local" shops (i.e. revzilla, motosport, etc...) there are plenty of parts that are used on other bikes that will save money and time ordering stateside. Importation is possible, but shipping from anywhere but CAN/MEX is going to be damn expensive. Add on top of that the fees you have to pay. Theres plenty of documentation on the 'net. The mc22 is on the list of importable bikes in one of the 3 places you'll have to deal with to get it here with a proper paper trail.
     
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  15. inchoate

    inchoate Well-Known Member

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    speaking from experience parts for an MC22 are easier to get than MC19 parts. Neither are particularly easy in the states but because the MC22 was around longer there is more stuff out there.
     
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