'09 zx6r - 7k - $5200 - deal or no deal?

[austexjg]

I am looking at a '09 zx6r with 7k miles for $5200 from a 45 year old guy that has only got it pass 90mph once. It was purchased for Avant in San Antonio by the guy - it has a minor flaw, a small quarter size blue mark with scraches near the rear fairing bolt on the left side (maybe from tie downs), would you buy it?

[gogoKawi]

If all checks out... In a heartbeat!!!!

[Lil_Green_Demon]

Short answer to your question, OP:

Yes.

[Live2ride]

Sounds like a decent deal! The zx6r will put one of these on your face--->

[austexjg]

That's what I was thinking - Avant Motorcycles in San Antonio sells "hand-picked" used motorcyles - no bad reviews on the web - and have photos on their site of everyone who bought a bike from them. That was bothering me more than the minor imperfection, but I can't find anything bad about the dealership.

[austexjg]

Just about to leave the house and look at the bike, but I am a little sad because I put my 250 on craigslist.

[reaubideux]

Originally Posted by austexjg

...from a 45 year old guy that has only got it pass 90mph once.

How would he or you be able to prove/disprove this claim otherwise?

Not calling shenanigans or saying you or he is lying, I've just never understood people who make such claims that can't be verified either way.

Regardless, if the guy said he routinely got it up over 100mph I probably still wouldn't care as long as it was maintained properly. It's a SS, it's meant to be ridden at well over 100mph.

Now if he said he's done a multitude of track days, it's been down a few times, etc., I'd be a bit more concerned about longevity but even then, if he has proof that it was meticulously maintained I still would take a look at it.

[blink]

thats an amazing deall... even in the states

[alex.s]

makes you wonder what's wrong with it

[austexjg]

Best I can tell - nothing is wrong except the small area on the fairing. Meeting him at the bank at 2:30 - paying after I test ride it.

[alex.s]

bikes don't get wounds like that randomly... it was hit or he hit something. investigate thoroughly!

[k-os]

Looks like something just rubbed up against the fairing to me. Maybe another bike if it was on a truck with one.

[austexjg]

It occured as a result of him towing the bike back from San Antonio to Austin - it was rubbing against something the whole trip back. The scratches are not deep at all - if it went down it was on blue (color) grass and dirt that was spongy to take the weight of the bike and cause no damage besides light scratches and blue mark that will likely be an easy fix. Aside from that, I could not find a single thing wrong with it - So I bought it. He called me an hour later saying that if I had any remorse he would take it back, when I said no way, he told me that someone was offering him $5800 for the bike and wanted it BAD. Guy started mildly cussing and asking him for my phone number, he didn't give it to him. I was the first person to inquire, after me he said me got bombarded with emails.

Will say more about the bike later, for now all I can say is "Holy Sh*t this thing is bad*ss!"

[coolbreeze]

Originally Posted by reaubideux

How would he or you be able to prove/disprove this claim otherwise?

Not calling shenanigans or saying you or he is lying, I've just never understood people who make such claims that can't be verified either way.

Agreed. I was recently looking for a new auto, and would you believe that regardless of mileage, they always stated 'highway miles'.

Congrats on the new bike. This is on my short list for my next bike.

[Kevin2109]

Thats a great deal!! That ZX will give you so much happiness its not even funny

[Gurk]

Stop lurking forums and go buy it before someone else does!!!

[coolbreeze]

Originally Posted by Gurk

Stop lurking forums and go buy it before someone else does!!!

He bought it yesterday.

[austexjg]

Just spent the day cleaning the bike and boy does it look sweet all shiney - and I found a way to keep both bikes in the garage along with two cages.... not good as that was the main reason I wanted to sell the 250.

[DarC]

Good find, put a sticker over the booboo and ride the wheels off of it.

[austexjg]

Just sold my Ninja 250r ($3100 - probably too low considering all the extras I had for the bike) and I feel like a tear wants to makes its' way down my cheek. The first person to see it, took it and never looked back. Exactly 55 weeks after buying, it's gone. I feel like a small piece of my heart went with it - I think I need to look at the zx6r to turn my frown upside down.

Despite not having a 250, I doubt the forum will get rid of me. It's almost comforting to come to this forum and get the answers/help you need without any hassles.

[Kevin2109]

Originally Posted by DarC

Good find, put a sticker over the booboo and ride the wheels off of it.

I'm going to have to warn you against riding the wheels OFF of it, that seems dangerous. Wheels are important, ride with the wheels on it

[DarC]

Originally Posted by Kevin2109

I'm going to have to warn you against riding the wheels OFF of it, that seems dangerous. Wheels are important, ride with the wheels on it

I will remind the community that this is pure speculation and truly depends upon the type and amount of sensory modifiers present in your blood at the time of riding with said wheels off or about the motor bike.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by DarC

I will remind the community that this is pure speculation and truly depends upon the type and amount of sensory modifiers present in your blood at the time of riding with said wheels off or about the motor bike.

[austexjg]

Advice noted...

[blink]

when do we see more pictures with it being all nice and clean?!?!

[austexjg]

I was going to wait for a complete review and to cover up the small blue spot, but here is one...

[THE BIG SITT]

Can I borrow your new bike real quick?

[austexjg]

When in Austin, just ask...

[THE BIG SITT]

You might wanna watch what you say… depending on how if I can get a job here in Indy or not, I may come to Texas

[blink]

That is so nice!
What mods you have planned?

[scotty]

Congrats on the new bike! It's a whole new world on that thing!

[austexjg]

A different world to say the least.... I just need to take it buy a local suspension guy and get it set up properly my weight - too many damn things to twist in fine tuning the suspension, so I firgured I would let someone show me.

The only mod I have planned so far is a new exhaust, just not sure which one yet. And to get the steering damper re-valved - hear it makes a big difference. But mainly, just get use to the throttle.... - can't go WOT at every moment like the 250.

You don't want to come to Texas now - already overcrowded in the best places, and they are finally admitting that this drought could last 5-10 more years - LA NINA.

[coolbreeze]

Originally Posted by austexjg

You don't want to come to Texas now - already overcrowded in the best places, and they are finally admitting that this drought could last 5-10 more years - LA NINA.

I'm there about every 3 months. Last yr, I was pissed when the temp was 91* @ midnight...., was even more pissed the next morning when it felt like 95* @ 6am.

[austexjg]

The average temp (taking both night and day temps) for the 3 months of summer was 90. Near 90 days of 100+. It allows for some crappy riding weather.

[austexjg]

Well I guess it's time to update about the zx6r. I have had it for 3 weeks and put about 350 miles on it - mainly back roads with decent turns and the highway. The difference between the two bikes is too much too list - just about every complaint with the 250 I had was solved with the zx6r.

The main differences are power and riding position. The wrists have to be stronger on the bigger bike - you will notice it after getting off. I would same the vibrations are about the same condsidering the lack of rubber on the foot pegs. The gear indicator is great, but I have yet to look for 7th gear when on the highway and wanting to pass. There seems like more wind hitting my face and chest, but it sounds a little quieter when sitting upright - you really have to tuck to get under the stock screen. The ride is a lot better over the bumpy back roads, but I'm sure the adjustable suspension helps - I have the suspension set to the settings suggested in Sportbike Rider. The stability through the turns is awesome - it took some getting use to the steering damper when riding at slow speeds.

Though I am totally content with my decision to move up on the power, it takes a lot of self control not to ride pass your limits because this bike has very few. The 250 was a very forgiving bike in all aspects - you could make a mistake and correct it without much of a survival reaction kicking in. On the zx6r, the bike will not forgive a bad entry with heavy late braking - every corner must be approached with control and concentration.

I am totally content with my desicion to move up to a bigger bike, but I am still glad I had the 250r to start with - there was no need to move up, just couldn't pass up a great deal. The 250 was a fun bike that allowed every ride to be about the fun , with little regard to the dangers of being on a road with cars. The 250 forgave most rider errors, or at least the ones that could be forgiven. You could just think about the fun of riding, but on the zx6r the dangers seem all the more real - being able to hit 140 (so far) in a blink of an eye calls for a lot of self control. All of the engineering that goes into the zx6r requires a more attentive riding style - it wants to be on the track in the powerband. This bike will make you pay for not paying attention or not acting like you are riding a real sportbike. I would hate to give the impression that moving up to the 600 is something everyone should do, because it is NOT. Unless you are true student of the art and can keep you self under control in every situation - good and bad - the 250 can offer a lifetime of thrills and fun. The zx6r just does it on a totally different level.

Just my quick about the bike so far. I was going to do a more detailed review about the overall riding, power, pluses/minuses.... but there are a ton of them, so the world can go with one less about '09-'12 zx6r.

[coolbreeze]

Nice write-up. I have someone who was/is selling an '05 636 for a very attractive price. I'm trying to decide if I should jump on it or wait until Jan/Feb like I planned.

[austexjg]

Well, this bike is too smooth - Going down the road some high school looking kids in G35 start to tailgating me, so I move over, but they don't pass. As we approach a slower car, I moved back into the lane when I realize that the kids had backed off. But as soon as I get back over in the first lane to pass the slower car, the a-hole starts to tailgate me again. I decided to try to put a little distance between me and the a-hole to really determine if the kid is trying to mess with me- I barely gave the bike any throttle. I was only in 4th gear, saw the cop but didn't think I was speeding to a point that needed a brake check, but figured looking down costs nothing - damn, 45 in a 35. The first words out of his mouth were "Nice bike, have you taken Defensive Driving in the last year?". I knew were this was going, so I barely tried to tell him about the other car and just decided this guy could care less because I was wrong from a certain perspective - the law as written.

I guess I know what to expect with a bike that can do 80+ in first gear. As an update, I tried to paint over the small imperfection with some paint from ebay that claimed to be "color matched", but did not seem right even though it looked great on the test plastic piece I used. Decided a small, self-made memorial sticker for Marco (58) was a perfect way to cover up the area.

[coolbreeze]

I'm looking forward to the higher speeds in lower gears. I rode my friend's 636 and it was pulling hard from 1st-4th gear.

[austexjg]

So I went on a 200 mile group ride this morning on the '09 ZX6R, so I thought I would share some of my thoughts.

The postition was not bad - no wrist/back pain. The seat was slightly better than the 250R, but your butt will know you did 200 miles on bumpy back roads.

The handling over the bumps was decent, but at the next trackday I will get it set-up properly by a pro. The high speed turns were smooth as glass with minimal chassis movement over the bumps. I was on unknown roads so I was careful not to get too hot into the corners - the one time I needed to make some adjustments mid turn, the bike felt solid when lightly braking, but being in the proper position on every turn helped on a couple of SR (Survival Reaction) moments.

The power on the top end is amazing. On one straight away the bike in front of me (GSXR 1000) took pff, so I followed - the road was in a minor valley and on the downhill at about 116 mph there was a slight flat spot that allowed for a true IOM TT wheelie - for a split second I thought I saw my front fender. A slight lean forward with a minor throttle adjustment allowed the front wheel back on the road with no wobble - the stock ohlins did its' job.

The brakes were solid, even when quickly scrubbing speed for a turn off a high speed straight. I never felt them fade at all.

The pace was more advanced - mainly above the speed limit - with really experienced guy leading. I still averaged 40 mpg with a 40 mile highway trip back home.

Feel free to move this to "Ex-Lair" if you prefer, I am sure I will add more in the future.

[cuong-nutz]

Where did yall ride to? I am putting a trip together with some folks from to head out to Lime Creek Rd. and make way to Marble falls and back to Houston.