Cheap GSXR 600 1996 - worth a look or stay away?

Chris750 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 08 Oct 2009 Karma :

A guy who I see in my local area on occasion, approached me today out of the blue as he knows I am a biker.

He said he bought a bike some years ago intending to take his test and ride it but his circumstances changed and he never got around to it.
He lent the bike to his brother who commuted on it for a while but he lost interest and the bike has been left unused for about 3 years now.

He said it starts OK and is started and left to run on occasion to try and keep it in working order. Obviously being off the road for 3 years the MOT has expired.

He said the millage is high for a bike at 60,000 miles and his brother has dropped the bike before so there is some cosmetic fairing damage.

He said he just wants rid now and would sell it at £400 to reflect lack of MOT and mileage.

Details:
1996 GSXR-600
60,000 miles
In classic blue/white GSXR colours
No MOT

I'm thinking of going for a look as at £400, it is not a huge outlay if it seems ok.
I'm thinking, if I can't get it through the MOT cheaply, I should be able to either make a track bike or get my money back from breaking it.

Would the risk of buying a bike without MOT outweigh the cheap price.

I asked the guy why he doesn't MOT it himself which would make it much more valuable, he said he just doesn't have the money as he is out of work.

This could be true or he may know it won't get through without spending a fortune and just wants rid.
Or he may know the engine is on its way out.

My mechanical knknowledges not great, it's alallotetter since I joined this site 2 years ago and I now do do most of my own basic servicing on my bike (gsxr 750 ws) such as oil/coolant/plug/filter changes, carb balancing, brake pads, checking valve clclearancesstill not sure if I would risk adjusting this myself yet) etc. etc.).
So I have some familiarity with these bikes but I'm still very inexperienced mechanically and could easily get caught out and miss some serious issues.

If it looks O.K (I am expecting a bit tatty having been dropped and stood for ages) would it be worth a punt. Would I have a decent chance of not losing out.
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Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

Got to be worth more than £400 in spares anyway.

Plenty of SRAD track bikes so the demand for wheels, engines and other components should still be pretty strong.
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Chris750 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 08 Oct 2009 Karma :

Gazz · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 May 2009 Karma :

Offer him £300 for it. Wink

Alex_B · Brolly Dolly Joined: 15 Jul 2011 Karma :

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

At 60k miles... thats hefty for a 96 sports bike.
Offer him £300... you'll possibly make it back in spares Thumbs Up

Chris750 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 08 Oct 2009 Karma :

Polarbear · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :

It doesn't cost anything to have a look. I wouldn't be suprised to find the brakes are siezed or not working after sitting that length of time and thats a few quid on its own.

If hes not in work and not mechanically adept I can see why he doesn't want to spend a penny on a bike that's done a high milage and been dropped. It could easily cost a way lot more than he will get back on it.
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garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

The miles wouldnt put me off.

Buncha pansies!
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Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

If it still runs well then someone will want it as a spare/for their track bike. Should be worth a couple of hundred alone. As I say if the wheels are still round someone will want them as spares for their wets. They're raced in pre-injection 600s and the No Budget Cup too.
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Seb · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Karma :

My ZZR had close to 50k on it when I sold that on, the motor was still an absolute peach and felt like it was good for double that. I suspect the old SRAD lump is as tough, if not tougher given what I've seen of them round here. I'd be more worried about brakes, bearings and suspension myself. As long as the exhaust headers and fork legs were not ruined I'd snap that up.
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Nixon · Brolly Dolly Joined: 23 Jun 2007 Karma :

Buy it for £300 put £600 into mechanical maintenance ie: Chain sprockets, callipers striped and seals, new pads, all the oils: fork, engine, brake, wheel bearings all round, new tryes, and you could have yourself a mechanically sound shitter! Remember though Suzuki perfected the art of making a bike entirely from corrosion.

boundy · Nearly there... Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Karma :

Ingah · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Karma :

I'd look over it carefully. Take a comprehensive guide, take your time (don't let the guy rush you!), find every fault. Check it's got the numbers in the right places and matching the documentation.

Then think about it, work out how much time/money it'll cost to get it on the road and safe - don't just buy it because it's cheap, buy it with a firm purpose in mind (i.e. don't buy a project unless you want one!) Else it'll likely turn into garage clutter.
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