What to do with a dead bike

[boyse7en]

On my ride into work this morning my BMW F800S started making a clattery noise from the engine and the oil light came on (flickering). Nursed it the last mile to work and parked it up, but it sounds fairly terminal.
A secondhand engine seems to be about £1200 on eBay, which is pretty much what the bike is worth so it seems pointless swapping in an unknown motor.

What would be the best way of moving it on? Stick it on ebay? Break it for parts? Contact a bike breakers?

Its been my reliable commuting companion for the last 12 years, so I'm very sad to see it cease to proceed.

[black-k1]

I think it depends on how much work you are willing to put into it. You'll get the most money by breaking it for parts but it'll take time and you'll be left with a large pile of bits that don't sell. Bunging it on e-bay or contacting the likes of James Sherlock or MotorWorks will likely get you peanuts but it'll be sorted quicly and easily.

[joema]

I broke a bike and it took about 9 months or so and eventually sold the frame and forks and wheels as a rolling chassis. It did net me more than i paid for the bike (ER6) but it was a hassle. The engine was the most expensive bit sold. so without a working engine i defo wouldn't break it.

You never know, it may be fixable.

[FSEngineer]

IIRC these were prone to piston slap and it was a known issue on pre-2008 bikes. As suggested above I'd start by contacting Motorworks to see what they can do in terms of a replacement (post-2008) engine, failing that they would most likely give you an offer to take it off your hands to part it out if you don't have the space/time/inclination.

[boyse7en]

FSEngineer said:

IIRC these were prone to piston slap and it was a known issue on pre-2008 bikes. As suggested above I'd start by contacting Motorworks to see what they can do in terms of a replacement (post-2008) engine, failing that they would most likely give you an offer to take it off your hands to part it out if you don't have the space/time/inclination.

Don't think this is piston slap. It sounds much more "metallic" and the engine oil light makes me think it is more likely to be bearing related.

[Krikkit]

I'd take good pictures, write a decent description and shove it on eBay with a £250 starting bid (to deter time-wasters) and let it run.

[KTMsm]

Krikkit said:

I'd take good pictures, write a decent description and shove it on eBay with a £250 starting bid (to deter time-wasters) and let it run.

^^^ This

Although I tend to find a 28 day classified ad with a price and "submit an offer" gets better prices as it allows people to come and have a look rather than bidding blind

[boyse7en]

KTMsm said:

^^^ This

Although I tend to find a 28 day classified ad with a price and "submit an offer" gets better prices as it allows people to come and have a look rather than bidding blind

Didn't know you could do that, so thanks for the info.

Got to sort out how to get it home from work car park first... with a bit of luck it might have been nicked

[Wacky Racer]

Back in 1967 when I was at school I bought a ratty old Triumph 3TA 350 twin for £12 to use as a field bike, I had fun with it for a couple of years until the engine seized up.

I advertised the bits in MCN, frame, wheels, engine, seat etc and had loads of replies and managed to get £50 for them, which was a lot of money back then for a schoolkid.

The point is surely you can advertise the bits, Wheels, frame, clocks etc and get more than £1000 fairly easily......

[Rene Souffle]

If you decide you want to get rid of it for scrap. Speak to James Sherlock, Motor works and Motobins. I imagine they’d be interested in taking it off you hands