GSX-R Advice, Please

Here's the deal. I got a tip from a friend of a GSX-R that's coming up for sale. As my sig indicates, I ride an older Yamaha and know what those are worth and what to look for when looking one over for purchase. Unfortunately, when it comes to much newer bikes, I'm pretty much lost. I'm hoping you all will chime in and give me your opinions on this machine.

I stopped by where this bike is sitting this morning and gave it a once over before going into work. The bike was surprisingly in pretty good shape. I took several pictures and will put them up in just a second. When I was first told about this bike, I was told they thought it ran. I have since talked with the man that does have possession of the bike and he confirmed that it does run.

Here are the pics...













Most of the damage looks to be cosmetic. As usual, the plastics took most of the damage. I thought it was odd that the mirrors were still attached as these are typically the first things to get knocked off when the bike is dumped. After talking to the owner, it turns out the guy he got it from used it to try to learn stunting on. He sucked and the bike shows it. Most of the damage came from doing unsuccessfull stoppies and such.

I could not assertain the year of the bike. Maybe someone here can tell from the paint scheme. Here are my questions for you:

• What do you think this machine is worth in its present condition?
• How much money do you think it will take to put it back to decent condition? Decent condition would be new plastics, levers, etc.
• Are there any "quirks" I should know about or look for with these bikes. I still have time to go look at it one more time.
• What do you think this bike would be worth in decent primered condition?

I'm thinking of fixing this bike up and selling it for a profit so that I can buy the bike I really do want. I'm just trying to decide if the margin is great enough to invest the time and money.

 

If you can take the bike out for a spin,too see if the frame is bent. From all of the stunting the frame could be bent or worse cracked.Stoppies are extremely hard on steering stems on the frame and steering bearings. Also look for drilled holes or safety wire. Safety wire usually means track duty. Check to see that the VIN number and Engine number match up to what is on the pink slip. What shape are the tires in? Sides look ragged, again track duty. Chain and sprockets in good shape?? Rusted chain could also mean that the Previous owner did not do any or much maint.

Sean

 

Some bikes starve for oil when one wheel or another is up in the air.

I would worry about the frame and forks. If they are sound, then it may just be cosmetic. Those gixxer mills take a metric ton of abuse, which is why the wingnuts love them so much.

 

thats exactly what i was going to say!

really, i would be more concerned with the forks possibly being bent from letting down a few too many wheelies at 100+ with the front wheel not spinning. i have 2 friends that like to do that (they are brothers), and they bend about 2 sets of forks per season.

 

Honestly? It's fall. There are a lot of NICE bikes for sale right now. You already know this thing's been THRASHED, you're just trying to decide to what degree? Personally I would keep on looking. Plastics ain't cheap and you have NO IDEA what sort of quagmire you might be getting into.

 

At this point, I'm thinking that if I can get it for < $500 I'll do it. Otherwise, no deal. We'll see tomorrow.

 

Not really a problem with a 4 cyl engine - it's the V-twins that are prone to oil starvation from long wheelies.

Although I'd guess that bike hasn't seen too many long wheelies judging by the way it's been dropped all over the place.... :lol:

Looks like an 00 - 02 model by the headlight and tail.

Anything under $500 would be a damn good buy. They make pretty neat fighters too.....

http://www.customfighters.com/forums/sh ... php?t=7623

 

yeah i agree on it being 00-02. unless you are stealing it though, i wouldn't expect it to go for less than 1500 dollars. there's a company on ebay that sells complete plastics made of abs for ~ 300 dollars, and you can get them in any oem or race scheme...(shipping around 150 bucks).

If it was knowingly stunted, then underlying structural problems can be a problem, that being said it's a gsxr...they were pretty overbuilt back then.

hopefully it's a 2001+, fuel injection is nice.

 

Huh, I never did post a follow up to this. Opps...

The bike was sold -- not to me -- for around $1800. They started the bidding at $500 so that knocked me out right away. There were a lot of people that showed up just for the bike and the auctioneer knew that. Oh well.

 

not suprised for sure around 2000 these bikes like there honda counterparts the cbr are huge in the stunting scene and for good reason, they are nearly bullet proof, tons of power and very nibble great bikes that sadly kill a lot of really stupid kids