How damaging is to ride without a lambda sensor?

Question

I am considering buying a motorcycle, a 2015 Yamaha MT 07. One possible problem with this bike: its lambda sensor was cut at some point in the past. I would have to replace it (which I am fine with - does not seem like a very expensive item), but what worries me is that the bike has been without this sensor for some time now. Isn't it likely that this has affected other components?

Basically my question is: Is it likely that some time (I don't know exactly how much) running without a lambda sensor has damaged my bike?

Answer 1

The basic answer is yes. But that would most likely be limited to the catalytic converter. Most fuel injected vehicles run rich when they have a lack of information which the O2 (lambda) sensor would normally provide. The system runs it rich so as to protect internal components from detonation and other detrimental effects which happen due to a lean condition. The rich condition could cause damage to the catalytic converter.

Overall, it shouldn't create an issue for most any other part of the engine, but you may need to get a new catalytic converter. The current one could have either burnt itself out or become plugged overtime. Either way, you'd need to have it checked to see how it's operating.