New starter
 

City living means tons of starts per mile so after heating up the bike didn't want to start.

After installing a new used ebay starter, I was amazed how quick the bike sprung to life.

So if you have an old starter and your bike is sluggish to start, remember that it may be that time.

Makes me really wonder if it was also over taxing the battery in its old age.

Cleaning the armature and installing new brushes, replacing or cleaning the shaft bushings and bearings, lubing with a good waterproof High temp grease, cleaning the positive lead so you have no voltage losses or excess resistance, replacing that 12 year old pos lead from starter relay to starter, with a good piece of marine grade tinned fine wire cable and well soldered and crimped connectors. Adding a new ground cable of the same type wire and design from battery to engine. And lastly replace that Positive battery lead from battery to starter relay. All add up to a starter system that will crank at the highest speed, for as long as you need it, in high temps or cold with minimal battery drain and voltage losses .

And all of that is just a few $$$ and some time.
Then consider upgrading the RR and wiring to something more capable, and modern.. Watch your voltage at the starter increase, the voltage drop decrease all making the starter work less hard , heat and wear less, and the motor start easier and more reliable.

Maybe slightly less money (not sure) but throwing on an ebay starter with way less hours on it was like 20 min work compared to who knows on a rebuild.

I am all for fixing some stuff but other stuff I just want a quick swap and back on the bike.

The starter doesn't consist of many parts. Just for future reference for others.

Attachment 21450

Somehow Eric forgot to list the addition of magic smoke as part of the starter rebuild. I took the liberty of including it in your photo.

magic smoke is only used on older british Lucas Products. Newer Japanese products use synthetic carcinogen free Vapor "smoke":cool:

When you need a fast, simple fix and the part can be swapped in a few minutes your plan is not bad.. With your VTR being a daily rider, having a second starter assembly is not a bad idea anyway, as shit happens on rebuilds and a simple dropped part could make the rebuild go wrong and now you're stuck waiting on parts.

Rebuild the back up starter, bag it up with some silica desiccant and put it on the shelf.
Rebuild parts are $26
Honda 31201-MR6-008 TERMINAL SET, BRUSH $12.64
Honda 31206-MR6-008 HOLDER SET, BRUSH $13.30

So more then your $20 used ebay starter..... but the rebuilt one will be clean, fresh and ready for 20, 30, 40,000 miles of starts... how much life is left on the ebay one?