1998 ZX6R (ZXR600) Edit: Now a KLX250

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I've been offered a 1998 (I believe) ZX6R project for the price of about 50 pints. I haven't seen it, I've known the guy selling it for about a decade and it's never been in one piece in that time. According to him the engine was rebuilt some time ago (but not run since) but will need to be dropped to install some mounting bushes (his words).

Besides that, the frame and plastics were all resprayed and have not been used since, everything else is either loosely assembled or marked up and boxed.

The only parts he knows need changing are the forks. He even mentioned that the wheels have been refurbished and were fitted with new tyres before the project ground to a halt.

Worth a go, you reckon?

It doesn't seem too much of a gamble, as it's surely worth more in parts than he's asking, but if I take it on I'd really like to get it on the road again. Does anyone know what parts availability is like on the old G ZX6Rs and whether there's a dozen different specialist tools required to disassemble and reassemble them?
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[dydey90]

I haven't struggled to find parts for my 1991 ZZR600, so I imagine you'll be fine.

Wemoto seems to have a good enough stock of bits.

I'll have it if you don't want it though :p
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[.Bishbash.]

Even at the price of a London pint, I'd say yes. Good project and parts would be pretty easy to get, I had bikes older than that and found parts easy to find.
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Current bike - GSX-R1000 k8

[P.addy]

Can't see why not, G models are alright, J model bits can fit. You won't have issues with parts.

[Ste]

Sounds alright, subject to it not being a POS upon inspection.

Frame has been resprayed... this isn't to hide repairs?

(which wouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker)

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From what I know, it was taken off the road due to an engine failure and he decided to spruce it up while the engine was being rebuilt. The forks are buggered due to excessive corrosion, rather than accident damage.

He's got too many bikes, GSX750R, RD350LC, KMX250 and the ZX6. Only the GSXR is roadworthy and that has some bumps and bruises where he dropped it on his drive.

I think he's clearing out to buy something new but, unfortunately, he's keeping the LC.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Weigh up what it's actually going to cost to do. How long has it sat for.

Will it need tyres? C&S? sounds like at least fork seals +oil. Has the engine been rebuilt? Has it been run since it's been rebuilt? What state are the calipers in, will they need new seals or replacing?

All that would add up, plus the time and motivation to do it. A quick look on ebay suggests £1k-1.5k will buy you a reasonable condition one then is it still worth it?
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

I've never had a problem getting parts for my '99. I am now refurbishing the 65,000 miler, mainly by having wheels and swing arm shot-blasted and repainted, plus new bearings, chain and sprockets, one fairing panel replaced and a refurbished Ohlins shock. As an amateur bodger I can say it's not difficult. However, me and this bike have a long history which makes it worthwhile, and it has been a reliable, daily ride. It's a passion. As Irezumi says, you can get a reasonable one for £1500. If it isn't green...
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'93 Yamaha XJR400 grey import (p-ex’d), '99 Kawasaki ZX6R (nicked), another '99 ZX6R (still got it) and '03 Yamaha YZF-R1 (still got that too.)

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[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Fair play, if it's essentially a job of putting it back together then go for it at that price. Worse case sceario you can sell the parts and make some money.
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[wr6133]

[Ste]

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On the downside, there do seem to be a few unfinished projects in his garage.

On the upside, he does sit next to me at work and is a top bloke who I've never known to rip anyone off or pass off bullshit.

I can't see this as much of a risk, tbh. I think I just wanted reassurance that the 98 ZX6R wasn't a complete dud in general.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[Ste]

I'd be amused and impressed if it turned out to be worth less than £200.

Go kick the tyres and see what falls off the bike.

Have any finished project left his garage?

Find a PDF workshop manual for it to download.

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[Irezumi aka Reuben]

With reagrds to the engine do you know what caused it to be rebuilt?

Those engines were known to fail to gain oil pressure after an oil change. This lead to main bearings going. Happened to my J1 and required a couple of them to be replaced and the whole engine to be cleaned out, great bike and ran fine after that.
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

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[P.addy]

Get it running and rideable. Lob some plastics on it and just track day it. What's a few hundred quid.

[andys675]

buy it, photo it and ebay it

ebayers go mad for a "project" , easy £500 profit
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Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

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[Ste]

If it's been getting in the way in his garage as an unfinished project for ten years and he sells it to you for £200, I'd hope that he'd be pleased for you if you make a tidy profit on it one way or another.

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It's gone!!

He apologised to me this morning but he let it go last night to an electrician who came round to price up rewiring his garage and installing a new distribution board. The guy said he'd do it for the ZXR and so the deal was struck.

He has offered me his KLX250 project instead, for... wait for it... £80.

It's a runner, although it needs a new kickstart and shaft and a bracket manufacturing upon which to mount a front brake caliper.

I'm actually more excited by the KLX than the ZXR. All I have to do is arrange collection.

Hopefully he won't have a bartering painter and decorator in before I can do so.
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Greetings from Shitsville!