What to look for when buying a used '08-'09 gsxr-750

[TKonaCafe]

Hoping to buy a used '08-'09 gsxr-750
it has 27k miles seems nice and taken care of. mostly a commuter
it was dropped at very low speed so theres a small scratch on the exhaust but plastics were either not damaged or replaced.

I basically want to know what kind of things i should be looking for when taking it for a test drive. Because there are higher miles on the bike id like some advice from folks who know more/have more experience with the 08-09 gsxrs. What might indicate damage form it being dropped? how might i tell if the engine is tired? any advice would really help!

Thank you fellow barfers and speed safely
TKonaCafe

 

[mrmarklin]

It’s a ten year old bike. All fluids should be replaced. Check all rubber seals. Likely most need replacement. How old are tires?

This is not a high mileage bike. Unless its been abused the engine etc is likely OK. The chain should also be checked.

Good luck. :thumbup

 

[mototireguy]

Any non-OEM non-original plastics/colors, paint, stickers over rash, etc would suggest it has been down.

As far as other advice on what to look for there's lots of nuances, if you don't know and can't find an experienced eye to go with you then you should pay a shop half hour of labor time for pre-purchase inspect and advise.

 

[shouldnthave]

So much to look for in an older GSXR. I would start by looking for a better bike...

 

[TKonaCafe]

It’s a ten year old bike. All fluids should be replaced. Check all rubber seals. Likely most need replacement. How old are tires?

This is not a high mileage bike. Unless its been abused the engine etc is likely OK. The chain should also be checked.

Good luck. :thumbup

Thank you! i guess you're right it isn't high mileage quite yet. I don't think its been abused.
When you say rubber seals are you talking about gaskets?

Any non-OEM non-original plastics/colors, paint, stickers over rash, etc would suggest it has been down.

As far as other advice on what to look for there's lots of nuances, if you don't know and can't find an experienced eye to go with you then you should pay a shop half hour of labor time for pre-purchase inspect and advise.

I have a lot of mechanical experience. With old motorcycles especially. So I totally understand how much a subtle difference can mean. I was more asking if there are any gsxr specific or general modern Japanese inline 4 tricks or pointers to look for/use

 

[TKonaCafe]

So much to look for in an older GSXR. I would start by looking for a better bike...

by the repsol in your profile picture I'm guessing you'd recommend a cbr600rr?

 

[shouldnthave]

by the repsol in your profile picture I'm guessing you'd recommend a cbr600rr?

Ha! I'd never recommend a Honda. That's a Marc Marquez (motoGP) joke. Depending on what your looking to do with the bike (type of riding) their are a hundred options better than a clapped out GSXR 750.

 

[TKonaCafe]

Ha! I'd never recommend a Honda. That's a Marc Marquez (motoGP) joke. Depending on what your looking to do with the bike (type of riding) their are a hundred options better than a clapped out GSXR 750.

I'm looking for a tough 600-750 class sport bike

 

[shouldnthave]

I'm looking for a tough 600-750 class sport bike

To do what with? Track, street fun weekends, commutes, touring, dirt track, what?

 

[TKonaCafe]

To do what with? Track, street fun weekends, commutes, touring, dirt track, what?

A little bit of commuting (very short commute), track/spirited street riding

 

[NeverSayDie]

Have you tried a solid wheelie with the bike in question?

 

[TKonaCafe]

Have you tried a solid wheelie with the bike in question?

I havent gotten to ride the bike yet but hopefully this weekend.
also have never done a wheelie on purpose before. only the "holy torque batman" wheelies on the freeway on ramp

 

[fubar929]

I'm looking for a tough 600-750 class sport bike

Sounds like a GSX-R to me... 750cc is pretty much the perfect displacement for an inline-4 sport bike and Suzuki is really the only game in town there.

The only thing I ever had fail on either of my two GSX-R750's was the cam chain tensioner, which is known to be a piece of crap. It's pretty evident when they're starting to go bad: you'll hear the cam chain flapping around for the first few seconds after the bike is started (especially when cold). Eventually, enough hydraulic pressure will build up to move the tensioner and things will quiet down. The fix is to install an APE manual tensioner; they're cheaper than the Suzuki part and far more reliable.

 

[Junkie]

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=528665 if you can swing a few bucks more than they tend to go for and want the nicest one around...

 

[gixxerjeff]

A little bit of commuting (very short commute), track/spirited street riding

The GSXR 750 is perfect for this.
The 750 is a fantastic "all-round" motorcycle. It has excellent manners for what it is.
The 750's kinda fell off the squid radar as soon as the literbikes came out.
The 600's and 100's are still big with the *Icon* crowd but adults like me gravitate to the 750. (I have a 1000 too)
Ignore the hate, chose a a good example and enjoy the bike.:thumbup

 

[ilikefood]

With any Japanese sportbike, I’d evaluate the seller as much as or more so than the bike. If the seller is squidly, the bike is likely to be abused and not maintained.

 

[gixxerjeff]

I didn't realize that was a *Japanese* thing. :nchantr

 

[afm199]

Any of the 750 from 06 and up are great bikes and pretty bulletproof. I consider 25k miles a bit more than desirable.

Weak points? The stock rectifier is mounted over the exhaust and needs to be moved to the side, easy job.