94, 14k miles, very low compression, otherwise good condition.  the guy says could be a head gasket.  he wants 800 bucks for it.  opinions?

Can you satisfy this equation?

$800 + upper engine rebuild < or = $1200 - $1500. :dunno:

Assuming everything else is A-OK.

well what i guess im wondering is how can i be sure its the head gasket?  i dont really know whats involved with replacing it.  also i dont really know anything about rebuilding the head.  i do however have ok wrenching skills and the ability to learn along w/ a clymers manual if that helps any..

Bad compression is more likely to be related to the valves and seats. Reworking a head is not tough to do. But it would be best to take to a mechanic to cut new valve seats, requires special tools. Taking the head apart is no big deal. There may just be carbon build-up preventing a valve from closing completely.

I doubt that it is the head gasket.

Well. I wouldn't say that deal screams "don't pass me up"... I bought my '94 for $400, although it does have 2x the mileage.... and I still think I paid too much sometimes. If all that is wrong w/ it is the compression, meaning the tires are damn near new, paint is flawless, carb and what not is in good shape, tagged and inspected, chain/sprockets are good, etc, etc, maybe it's worth $800.... All that stuff wasn't so great on my bike, I think in the end I've paid quite a bit more than it's worth by the time I include parts/my time... but hey, I guess that's half the fun right??  

meh, that's what I think anyways.

trey

I read once that if the valves are waaay too tight, then a valve might not be closing at all, causing zero compression on that side.  That would be a cheap fix.  I think checking it involved a flashlight... like, you lower the exhaust, point a flashlight down the sparkplug hole,  turn the engine over by hand, and look for light coming up through an open valve.

But in any case, you're only saving $200-$300 over a bike with compression.  I'd offer in the $400-$600 range, then if it just needs a valve adjusted, then you're in luck.