Is a GSXR 750 with 39k miles worth buying?

[Floki]

http://jackson.craigslist.org/mcy/4526736242.html

I offered the guy $4,000 and he agreed to it. However, he bought the bike with 20k miles and never did a valve adjustment or check. Is this something I should worry about? He said his mechanic buddy says it doesn't need it.

[ninjamunky85]

Hmmm, did hid mechanic buddy actually check the valve clearance to see if they were in spec? It's probably not a big deal if the the bike is running good, and it looks to be in good shape otherwise.

If I were you I'd call my local dealer and ask them how much a valve adjustment costs for it. Then try to get him to take that off the buying price as I'm sure the manual calls for one between 20-40k.

[subxero]

$3k AT MOST and it would have to be in amazing shape inside and out

His mechanic buddy doesn't know **** unless he opened up the top and measured. To assume, make and ass of u and me

[Floki]

Originally Posted by subxero

$3k AT MOST and it would have to be in amazing shape inside and out

His mechanic buddy doesn't know **** unless he opened up the top and measured. To assume, make and ass of u and me

The NADA says low retail is 5,000??????

[Desmoluci]

The bike looks good in the pics, and it books for $5345 so it sounds like a decent price. Valve adjustment isn't that big of a deal, but Gixxers lead hard lives so make sure to check that bad boy out closely or take someone who knows bikes really well. Buyer Beware!!

http://www.kbb.com/motorcycles/suzuk...edretailvalue/

[Floki]

I have been riding for a year now, are there any specific things I can look for? I do not know anyone who knows bikes very well. I know you can often judge a bike and its owner by the chain.

[subxero]

Originally Posted by Floki

The NADA says low retail is 5,000??????

nada or KBB doesn't mean ****

Street value is what matters.

It is a run of the mill 7-8yr old gsxr 750 with 40k miles on it.

The market for such a bike is low and with a plethora of other available 750s that are not only newer but with less miles for only a fraction more than what the "book" price is = buyers market

$3k no more JMO.



nada value of my bike http://www.nadaguides.com/Motorcycle...R-249cc/Values I wish

[subxero]

Same bike with 30k less miles listed at $5200
in my area

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/mcy/4566778150.html

[bkh2]

Originally Posted by Floki

I know you can often judge a bike and its owner by the chain.

Since the chain was just replaced, you won't be able to use that strategy. Just listen to the engine and make sure there aren't any weird noises (ticks, clicks, custom Ducati dry clutch noise, etc.). A lot of the frame is exposed so make sure to inspect that there is no flaking of paint. Give it a test ride and make sure everything is aligned (forks, swing arm, etc.). Lastly, look at the tires and brake pads. If they need to be replaced soon, make sure to factor that in. Even if you have to replace these things, a $4k price tag is well worth it if the mechanics of the bike are sound; I paid $4800 which is an absolute steal up here in Vancouver. The 750's are great bikes and the k6/k7's are the best revisions.

[csmith12]

Don't forget it's FL guys/gals. $4 large seems like a fair deal.

[Xtina]

I'm from Ontario where prices are higher than Florida. And even I think that's too high a price. Those years are notorious for eating regulator/rectifiers (which in turn destroys the stator). If those go not only are you stranded but looking at $500+ for parts plus labour. Not worth it.

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by subxero

nada value of my bike http://www.nadaguides.com/Motorcycle...R-249cc/Values I wish

I see ninja 250's going for roughly 3.2k in my area all the time, my friend bought his '12 for 3,500 at the beginning of the summer. I bought mine for 2.8k I think the blue book is wrong for most bikes though, but I do think you're being a tad harsh, bike looks clean, only 7 years old only concern is 40k miles, but if the guy was commuting with it, then it should be fine.

OP, I would say arrive there with 3.5k in your hand and tell him you gotta get the valves checked which will be a few hundred, etc. You may scoop the bike up for like 3.8k or something.

[salcuta88]

I wouldn't pay that much for a bike with so many miles.

[Ninjinsky]

Ears are your friend. Try to listen to a known good one and hold the memory of any ticks or noises.
I actually rejected my first pregen purchase because of what I thought was "big end rumble" on start up but now I know they all do that and its just the clutch.
Ideal seller is someone fastidious but a bit scared of the bike, ( ie a male menopauser) You can likely get a feel for what kind of rider he has been, demeanor, chicken strips etc'.
One thing to avoid is to buy something faulty cheap saying "I know that fault will cost me $800 or whatever to fix" because on the rare occasions I did that there was twice as much that I hadn't spotted

[burningscooter]

Curious about the +2. Did he replace stock sprocket with a +2 or did he replace a +2 with a +2. That being said, is the 39K miles on stock gearing or with a +2 uncorrected.

[nickjpass]

You can get a much better deal...

[gantt]

my rectifier/regulator went out and killed the CDI. Suzuki wanted $1,400 for a new one

[CC Cowboy]

The bike is in Mississippi not Florida. The pictures are crappy but the bikes looks great to me. Price is good, not great. I would snap it up!

Suzuki make a great GSXR 750. Probably the best all around bike on the market.

[Xtina]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

The bike is in Mississippi not Florida. The pictures are crappy but the bikes looks great to me. Price is good, not great. I would snap it up!

Suzuki make a great GSXR 750. Probably the best all around bike on the market.

08+ is best. 06-07 not so much

[Sirref]

that's some pretty high mileage, I'd pay $3,500 then get him to drop off the cost for a valve check/adjustment. He can agree to have it done beforehand so as to not lose out on the money if an adjustment isn't needed and it's only a check that's needed.

that said, the asking price is dumb. for $5,000 I can get a cbr1000rr here with 4 digit mileage

[Floki]

What do you think about these GSXR750s?
2005 w/ 19,000 miles $4,200
http://mobile.craigslist.org/mcy/4543994027.html

2006 w/ 37k miles $4,100
http://mobile.craigslist.org/mcy/4535578124.html

2005 636 w/ 10k miles $5,000
http://mobile.craigslist.org/mcy/4560999403.html

[Sirref]

The 636 looks like a good deal, I'd find some way to talk the price down a bit but it seems to be alright

the 750 with 19k miles appears to be a good deal

[Floki]

@Sirref Do you know anything about the k5/k6/k7 stuff? I remember seeing somewhere that certain ones were garbage and broke down a lot. Does anyone know about this?

[Sirref]

I profess my ignorance on the subject

though I believe that refers to model years more than anything else, as would make logical sense

[Floki]

Offered 636 3,500 and he declined. lol KBB low retail is 3500

[Sirref]

kbb book value means nothing with bikes, it's all street value
5000 is too much but around 4000 is what he'll end up selling for. I'd say to stick with the 3500 offer and tell him to contact you if he decides to take the offer for 3500. 15 days on the market suggests that he is refusing to sell for less than what he thinks the value is (which is inflated and likely includes the $ he put into it across time of ownership)

[capt_bugaloo]

I would be very wary of this bike. It has a fair number of miles, and people tend to ride their GSXR pretty hard. I wouldn't take the word of 'buddy' that the valves are okay; you can not be sure without actually looking at them.

If the bike looks really good and he is willing to lower his price, I'd ask to take it to a mechanic you can trust to inspect it.

[Rifleman]

hopefully I can be helpful

the Suzuki GSX and GSX-R engines are nearly bullet proof IF.... IF the oil and filter are changed. I put 60,ooo miles on my Katana 750. what killed it was the carbs. I did the valve clearance check at 20,ooo. Dead Nuts On (DNO) to the manufacture spec. Looked like the day it came out of the factory under the valve cover... Did it at 30,ooo, 2/10,ooo'ths over spec on one valve but with in the +/-... I didn't bother doing valve clearance maint on it after that. Costing me more in valve cover gaskets and RTV.

so, that being said... has the bike been wupped

Trick #1, look at the oil window... now every jazz monkey changes his oil 10 seconds before he puts it up for sale, so the oil will be nice and clear and pancake syrup looking... BUT if he never changed the oil and it was black as could be, there will be a "dirt line" on the window... only way to get rid of it is to pull the clutch cover and actually clean it with Acetone and Q-tips... so look at the oil window for a stain... it can be tricky to see, it will just look like "the oil level", but if you actually see two lines, one that is the real oil level and another that is a "stain" oil level... strike 1

next things to look at (and I would say this is for all used bikes)

Chain- touch it, does it leave black wet grease on your finger... that is exactly what a chain is supposed to do... If the chain is dry, if it has any rust (red dust), if it isn't in the proper tension, if the adjustment is all the way out. If the sprockets are worn.. Strike 2

Brakes- Get a small flashlight to take with you when you go. Suzuki bikes have little plastic covers on the calipers that pop right off and you can look inside the caliper at the pads and rotors... Things to look for, pads worn down to less then 1/8 of an inch (thickness of a business card or there abouts) Rotor grooving... I'm not talking smooth ups and downs, all rotors have some typography to them, I'm talking about an actual grove(s) cut like metal on metal happened... With 39k on the bike the pads should have been changed 2 or 3 times... if he took care of it, no groves, if he didn't and let the brakes go metal to metal... Strike 3

oil leak any where on the engine, add a strike

tire rubber, looking for age cracking, not tread wear... age cracking means it's been sitting, why has it been sitting, what maint was not being done while it sat, add a strike

Frame rash. anyone can drop a bike and scratch up the plastics, but if you wad it at speed something metal on the bike is going to have the long straight road rash lines on it. Look around the front forks and axle, rear swing arm and axle, bar ends (but those are easy to replace) The higher up on the bike you find rash, the more wicked the crash... you find road rash on the top of the windscreen... yikes.

cable adjustments and brake res level and fluid color. if it's a cable clutch, which I don't know what year they switched to hydraulic clutches, but in either case, check to see if the cable is in adjustment and moves freely, not a lot of "nothing" before the cable starts to move.. OR the color and level of DOT fluid in both the clutch and front brake res, and if you can see it, the rear brake res... if it's tea color, anything other then just the slightest yellow/straw tinge... it hasn't been taken care of... I change my brake fluid every other pad change or every time it looks tan (some times sitting over the winter will get it to darken)

these are some pretty quick, non-distructive things you can look at and check to see if the bike has been taken care of... If it hasn't, either pass, or push for a drop in the price as you are going to have to do all the "make up" maint.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Floki

@Sirref Do you know anything about the k5/k6/k7 stuff? I remember seeing somewhere that certain ones were garbage and broke down a lot. Does anyone know about this?

I have an 06 GSXR1000. The thing is a rocket. The 05-06 were the fastest right out of the box. They slowed them down (for safetly reasons I'll never understand) after that. I've had the valves done once. They haven't needed any adjustments since then. I change oil often, the tires often, and ride the snot out of it. The bike is a legit 200mph missile.

[Finesse]

No because it's a gixxer 750 and it's probably been trashed, like they all are...

[subxero]

Originally Posted by Floki

Offered 636 3,500 and he declined. lol KBB low retail is 3500

Some sellers, myself included find it offensive and annoying when people make offers much lower than listed price with out even seeing the vehicle. Can you do it with basic things? sure, but a vehicle should be seen in person IMO before negotiations start otherwise you just come off as a cheap, ignorant, undependable, "A" hole who probably doesn't even have the money in the first place. Obviously if list price is pipe dream high, you can ask about wiggle room ect... before you waste your time going to look at it, but generally if the list price is that out of line I would not even waste my time any further.

It is also all about how you deliver the offer, that can make a big difference. People have made me offers I would have taken on things, but I tell them no just because they come off as assholes.

By going to see the vehicle ect... in person you can talk with the guy and get a better idea of their attachment to said vehicle and where you can go with your offer. You should be able to get a read on the person and how flexible they are, and then you decide to completely low ball them, walk away, ect...

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Finesse

No because it's a gixxer 750 and it's probably been trashed, like they all are...

Most intelligent statement I've ever read, besides all Harley riders are morons!

[SteveL]

Originally Posted by Finesse

No because it's a gixxer 750 and it's probably been trashed, like they all are...

Do you realise just how fast you are going even in first and second gear to red line a GSXR 750 so when you talk about thrashing one it's not often possible unless you are on a track.

Steve

[TnNinjaGirl]

Originally Posted by subxero

nada or KBB doesn't mean ****

Street value is what matters.

It's impossible to convince a buyer or seller otherwise. KBB comes from a combination of sources. Mostly CarMax (KBB consults them to get values) and what the vehicle was REGISTERED for. Now, I know I am a completely honest member of society and would NEVER lie to the government but some people do to save on registration fees.

Just under 10% where I'm at. Let's say they actually bought a bike at $6,000 and listed it on the title as $4,000. DMV finds it acceptable amount for that vehicle but the buyer just saved enough money to buy new tires.

Do that a few times and the average for the vehicle has gone down by a fair amount.


Everyone wants to sell high and buy low. Never ending cycle and it gets more difficult as the average IQ drops.

[capt_bugaloo]

Originally Posted by SteveL

Do you realise just how fast you are going even in first and second gear to red line a GSXR 750 so when you talk about thrashing one it's not often possible unless you are on a track.

When he writes 'thrashed', he's not talking about the occasional redlining. I'm sure what he means is that many a GSXR is owned by a squidly rider, and is not properly maintained. Sure, the engine is nearly bullet-proof, but has the squid owner kept up maintenance on things like cables, seals, chain and sprockets, etc? Has the bike been properly stored when not rode, or has the squid just left it sitting out in the rain to corrode? How old and worn are the tires and brakes?

I think when most folks say 'thrashed', they mean the bike hasn't been treated with respect, not necessarily that they are zipping at redline from light to light.

[Rifleman]

Thrash.

has to show buddies how bad his bike is... starts bike, straddles, does a rev limiter burn out, turns off engine.

changes oil, cuz all his friends are doing it and seems like a good thing but doesn't waste money on a new filter, cuz the old fiter is good... looks like anyway.

his chain is louder then his pipes...and his pipes are damn loud.

doesn't use the back brake because it make a weird noise, so just don't use it.

owns 17 different cans of rim cleaner, mirror polish, chrome polish, leather conditioner, paint wax... and yet not a single can of WD40 or Chain lube.

See also, "Squid"

owns 23 pairs of +$100 sun glasses... and still has the helmet that they gave him when he bought the bike, strapped to the tail

[Floki]

What about this R1 for $3,700?
http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/mcy/4530680952.html

It was wrecked but fully repaired. The guy liked the upright streetfighter look so he went that route. I carfaxed it and it has no wrecks reported. I just have to wait for the guy's title to come in the mail.

[subxero]

Originally Posted by Floki

What about this R1 for $3,700?
http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/mcy/4530680952.html

It was wrecked but fully repaired. The guy liked the upright streetfighter look so he went that route. I carfaxed it and it has no wrecks reported.

I just have to wait for the guy's title to come in the mail.

How are you taking this carfax thing?

good? or bad? and please explain.

and you have to wait for title to come in mail? don't know how they do title transfers down there but that no fly where I'm from.

[Floki]

Well.... I bought the R1. The wreck was a simple low slide at 30 over train tracks. The guy sold the bike because the roads around Baton Rouge, Louisiana are total ****. The bike is in great shape so I couldn't pass it up.

[Bob2010]

Originally Posted by Xtina

I'm from Ontario where prices are higher than Florida. And even I think that's too high a price. Those years are notorious for eating regulator/rectifiers (which in turn destroys the stator). If those go not only are you stranded but looking at $500+ for parts plus labour. Not worth it.

This x2. Saw this first hand from a buddy, same bike
3k tops