After 15 Years And 2,000 Miles

That's a long time standing! Pretty much any seal could have gone ! Brake pistons likely stuck ! SUspension probably needs service too. Any moisture anywhere over all that time will have taken its toll ,..
Probably needs a thorough check over and recommissioning.. good luck with the bike !

 

Sounds like you’ve got the right plan for it there Red, all I would say is it’s probably ok to use a cheap 10/40 with filter then go with the good stuff, no need for a thinner oil?

 

I would disconnect the ignition first and turn over till the oil light goes out as a first job. Maybe do this a couple of times before attempting to start up.

Do all the starting with a jump start from a bigger slave battery to protect the electrics / starter, 30 secs of operation on the starter and a rest after each try.
If you jump start from another vehicle make sure the engine is off and the keys in your pocket


Buy a couple of filters as the one in now may well be toast and collapsed, fit a new filter and whatever oil you decide to use.

beware of fully synth oils on an older motor, I would go for the same std of oil possibly SG/SH rated and see if you can get some seal swell to add to the initial oil to help soften up the seals for the initial startup.

You can dump this out at the first oil swap.

Good luck as theyre a pretty good motor

 

It should be fine, I bought a blade a few years ago that had been standing for about 7 years with old fuel in the tank. Stuck a new battery on and after about a half a dozen tries, it fired and after some coughing, spluttering and a bit of blue smoke, it ran perfectly.

All I ended up doing was giving it a full service and changed the plugs, I didn’t touch the carbs or even drain the fuel.

10W40 semi synthetic is fine for these old ‘90’s Sportsbikes

 

The tyres will be shite, they’ll feel like riding on a sheet of ice, plus tyre technology has moved on a fair bit, you can a get very good deal on new old stock Pirelli Diablos about £120 a set and they work perfectly on these older bikes.

 

If I remember correctly there was a problem a good while ago with filters disintegrating and blocking off the oil flow, I would at least remove the filter and check it before you start the engine, may save wrecking the motor for the cost of a filter.

 

15 years in storage is a long time especially if stored incorrectly, was the bike just parked up and left?

If it was mine I’d change the oil & oil filter before start up, not worth risking for a few £’s.
Oil and brake fluid are a must, don’t forget brake fluid is hydroscopic.
You will get problems starting with old fuel, has any fuel been left in the petrol tank/carbs.
Change petrol lines to carbs, they may look ok on the inside but most probably breaking up internally.

 

Friend of mine recently “recommissioned” a 1996 Yamaha Thundercat which had done 1000 miles. I say recommission, it was more like a cosmetic touch up, as the bike had fallen over and needed a bit of paint here and there and maybe a new mirror. He did all the things you suggest in your first post, basically all the fluids, and had no issues at all. It was like turning your watch back 22 years, it looked perfect, like it was back in the showroom ready for its first owner.

 

Fork seals, master cylinders rebuild. also and has anyone mentioned spraying some oil in the cylinders.

 

Well the bike looks pretty tidy good luck with the project