04 620 with cracked gages and no red key - should I get it?

[2bikebart]

I am new to the forum and have the opportunity to pick up an 04 620 pretty cheap.  It was wrecked and towed to a salvage yard and never picked up.  the salvage yard filed a mechanics lean and now has a title for the bike.  That's the good.   I talked to the guy on the phone just before they closed Saturday and said that the triple tree has a crack in it.  He says the forks are OK.  I am betting that they are bent. He also said the gages are cracked.  I did not ask him if he had the red key but my guess is no.  So If I have to replace the gages and have no red key what are my options and how much is this going to cost me?

from reading the forums it looks like I can.
1. flash the ECU - If I flash out the immobilizer in the ecu do I have to get someone to reset the TPS or once it is flashed can I just plug it back in with a new set of gages. 

2. Can I put in an after market ECU and will that bypass the immobilizer and if so what should kind should I look for and what do I need to program it?

3 - Other options.

Thanks in advance!

[Slide Panda]

Hmmm how cheap is pretty? I'd want a CLOSE look at the bugger before plunking any cash down. I'd wager a close inspection will find:

1. Bent fork (s)
2. Probably damage to steering stop - which can count as frame damage in some areas.
3. Possibly damage to the front of the frame in the area of the head/top tube
4. Busted switch gear and or damaged wiring in the area of the top tube.
5. What ever other physical damage... I'd have a close look at the alignment of the frame.

So after all that then you're looking at the ECU issue....  Short version, if it's hit hard enough to crack the triple I'd be very wary. I've seen bikes take lesser hits and get totaled out.

[2bikebart]

they are asking $1,500.  I am going to take a look at it monday.  the guy said "lite hit in front"   

[Slide Panda]

A light hit at a bad angle on a bike can do a lot of damage. As I mentioned, be sure to check the steering stops and weld joints at the head tube for cracks in the finish. Those are easy signs of a bend. If you've got a buddy with a monster or familer with them, bring them along. They are more likely to notice if something's out of place.

Also, check for bent handlebars and dented tank as well.

[xcaptainxbloodx]

do you have any parts that could fix it? new font end and gauge/key problems can very easily put this around 4k all said and done. at the end of that you get a 620 with a salvage or rebuilt title.

look around and im sure you could find a clean bike for around that price.

[2bikebart]

the guy at the salvage yard said they have a normal title not a salvage title.  I figure if I can get it back on the road for a grand and talk them down to $1000-1200 I should be ok but if I am looking at 2-3k then I don't think it is worth it. 

[The Bacon Junkie]

Look in the "For Sale" section over on the left... (Flea Market)

There's an '01 M900 for $2,300 and an '00 M750 going for $2,200.

Both look like they're ready to ride, and for only a couple of hundred bucks more than what you're going to pay for the wrecked bike...

It's gonna cost a helluva lot more than just a grand to fix that 620, no matter what...

Just my 2 cents...  Good Luck with whatever you choose to do. 

[justinrhenry]

Look in the "For Sale" section over on the left... (Flea Market)

There's an '01 M900 for $2,300 and an '00 M750 going for $2,200.

Both look like they're ready to ride, and for only a couple of hundred bucks more than what you're going to pay for the wrecked bike...

It's gonna cost a helluva lot more than just a grand to fix that 620, no matter what...

Just my 2 cents...  Good Luck with whatever you choose to do. 

  [moto]

[2bikebart]

Thanks for all of the input.  I can do most of the work myself so that keeps the cost down.  I restore neglected bikes for a hobby but have never fixed up a ducati.  I don't want to get into a bike like you say that will cost me more to fix than what I can pick up running.  I'll let you know how it turns out.  If the damage is minor I will probably get it if it looks more serious I will most likely walk away from it. 

[xcaptainxbloodx]

the guy at the salvage yard said they have a normal title not a salvage title.  I figure if I can get it back on the road for a grand and talk them down to $1000-1200 I should be ok but if I am looking at 2-3k then I don't think it is worth it. 

it will absolutly  be more than 3k to get that bike comfortably on the road. the gauges and the forks/triples will easily be over 1000$. then you have all of the things that are probably damaged but not mentioned. turn signals, mirrors, bars, foot pegs, paint, engine covers... all very likely to be damaged in even the lowest speed drops.

by the by, triples dont usually crack in a "light hit"

[booger]

All that work for a wrecked 620? Not even worth it. Let it pass. As mentioned the triples are strong and don't usually crack unless hit pretty hard. If the hit was hard enough to crack the triples you can usually count on frame damage. Frame damage isn't easy to fix properly. This bike goes beyond the pale of neglected; it's totaled. Find a better bike somewhere else.

[Jarvicious]

I agree with everyone else.  Maybe....MAYBE if you can get them to give it to you for under a grand it would be worth it, but as it's been said you're gonna have to dump at least a couple of grand into only parts, even if you do the work yourself.

New forks: $200 if you find a good deal
New ecu or even flashed ecu: $400-1k
Triples: stock, maybe a couple hundred.  Aftermarket: ouch
Gauges:  at least a hundred, I'm sure.

A grand may be a low estimate, but that's also assuming you only need to replace parts of the front end.  The only good side of the deal is that the bike is fuel injected.  If you have experience restoring bikes and you have the cash to throw around, however, I say go for it.  Bringing something like that back from the grave can be pretty satisfying

[2bikebart]

Ok so I go look at the bike today.  Could not run away from it fast enough!!! 

Apparently a "Lite Hit in front"  see cl add  http://charleston.craigslist.org/mcy/2113906754.html  means the top tree totally dislodged from the frame and the bottom tree bent at a 90% angle.  the front rim separated and mangled, gages and headlight smashed, not sure where the turn signals or mirrors were.  The forks did look pretty straight but one tube on the frame trellis looked slightly bent.

I asked him if that is a "lite" hit what does a hard hit look like.  He pointed over to a mangled mess of a bike that appeared to be an in-line 4 but I could not make out what it was.  He said that guy was killed the ducati guy lived!!!  Ok I guess if you work in a salvage yard you have a very diffrent perspective on wrecks!!!

I asked the guy if he would come down on price and he said he would have to ask the manager.  Then he ask how much I would offer I told him $200 and I was feeling very generous.  He said he did not think the boss would take less than a grand! We parted ways at that point.

Here are some pics of what not to do to your 620

[stopintime]

It's not very often a motorcycle can go through a car, but it's ok to try

Glad the rider lived

"Light hit"   

[justinrhenry]

glad you backed out