Plusgas is a good idea but takes time, and most shops dont want a bike sitting there using up space while is soaks in. Yes I could do that part, but I would have to buy the bike and take the risk, a risk that could end up costing me the equivalent price of an engine. I live in a 3rd floor flat so any and all work has to be done outside.
I can see the logic for the labour numbers because, I had a 1200 that had a snapped stud a few years ago. I took it to my local engineering place and due to the frame rail just being too close to the stud, I had to drop the engine in-situ so he could drill vertically/accurately. And even then was only able to do the drop/install because he kindly proved a second set of hands and a trolley jack. That engineering shop has since shut down and my local shop that let me work on their shop on a Saturday shut down a few years ago. And I don't have a mate or know anyone well enough that has a garage where I could try and do the work myself.
Had my local guy had the space I might have then asked if I could do the work of dropping and reinstalling the engine, so all he had to do was dealing with drilling any of the snapped studs out and help me guide the engine in/out. He dud suggest as an alternative option that I could swap the head, but I only would one of these on ebay and I would still have to pay him to do the swap.
And besides all of the above, I don't want to be dealing with any of this crap on a bike I have just bought, that I would have potentially paid almost 4k for... Yes for some capitalist, price gouging, greedy, rip your customers off reason - all the 2007/FZ1 I have found are all going for near or above 4k. I havd found 2 other FZ1's with ABS -
£4600: 2011, 30k, ABS, dealer:
black frame, black engine, wheels w/polished rims, bodywork is custom white & blue. so the wheels and the bodywork would need painting). The price is way over book due to the mileage, should be 4k or close too.
£4500: 2010, 10k, ABS, dealer:
black frame, black engine, black wheels, bodywork is red. This price is about right. But the one image where I can see number 3 cylinder I can see some corrosion. getting some photos sent to me.
£4350: 2010, 10k, ABS, private:
black frame, black engine, gold wheels, bodywork is darkblue.
This price is a bit high. Getting some photos, sent to me.