[mcyclefan11]

Hi every1! I have joined the fourm to greater my knowledge and meet other motorcycle fans!

I am looking to buy a used '98 zx6r

"yes sorry it took so long to respond. miles @ 24k. theres a 3in crack/gap under the left mirror. the bike was laid down on the left side, the plastic was scraped pretty good. the bike runs good, i just had the carbs cleaned in july and the fork seals replaced. the tires are newer."

seller asking 2000$ OBO. Blue book is $1900. . .

I have no idea about prices, what would be a fair price? $1600, $1700?

What else should I ask? This hopefully will be my first bike, if members think i should go for it! I don't want to spend more than $2000.

I don't care about looks, I just want it to function w/o putting much (if any at all) money when if I get it. . .

It's my first bike, i have no experience other than the saftey course!

Thanks for all the help in advance!

 

[scox636]

Welcome! with the bike having 24K miles (which is not bad for a 98) and cosmetic damage to it, i would start out by offering him $1500 or $1600, but would't pay more than $1700. Ive seen better bikes for around that price...

 

[ZX-7_Rich]

Do you have any pictures or have you seen the bike personally?

 

[ZX-7_Rich]

If you have never looked at bikes before, check for cracks in the frame. Bring a flashlight.

Check the forks for oil on them (on the shiny, smooth chrome bits), if they leak... it needs seals.

Make SURE the bike is cold before you start it. Most people start their bikes and let them run before you get there to hide problems.

Check the tires for cracks, and look at the date on them. If they are more than a couple years old you probably have to replace them.

How many miles does it have? Bluebook that shit for your area and go down in price by roughly the cost of parts for everything that is wrong with it. Of course, helps to have an idea how much that stuff is...

You can open the brake reservoirs and see if the stuff in there is clear/slightly yellow or if its as black as mud.

Sit on it, bounce it up and down. It should not BOUNCE. The shocks should slow the return. Front and rear.

Pop the seat off and look for corroded ass wires and terminals.

Cosmetic damage can be expensive to fix. Very expensive. If that is something you cannot do, or dont like halfassed spraybomb jobs then stay away.

Make sure ALL of the lights work. Turn the key on with the bike not running. There should be a red oil pressure light. Start the bike and that should turn off. Check the high and low beam.

Be as anal as you can possibly think. Then stand back for a second and look at something else. You will almost always miss something.

Check the chain for stretch, pull the chain away from the sprocket. If it pulls away more than I think 1/4 or 1/3 (or was it half? Or maybe "the whole tooth"? I forget, someone can correct this) of the tooth height, the chain is worn and needs to be replaced.

Check the sprocket to see if any teeth are missing, bent, or if they are all stretched in the direction of the chain pull.

Check the pads if you can manage to see in there.

Make sure the fuel pump is working. Its very expensive, and the bike will run above reserve without it working at all - ask me how I know. The fuel pump is pretty damn loud, but not as loud as the bike usually. I can kind of stick my finger through the hole in the frame and feel it working, but that was an acquired skill. It is a solenoid type pump, so it clicks like a solenoid on a starter.


Lots and lots of things to check before buying a bike. Most of the problems are fairly simple to fix if you are a DIY type.

I am sure I am missing a lot of things.

Do all of that^ , especially this --> Bluebook that shit for your area and go down in price by roughly the cost of parts for everything that is wrong with it. Of course, helps to have an idea how much that stuff is...

 

[mcyclefan11]

if i can get a response from seller, i will take pics (if he allows. if he doesn't, won't buy) and post to see what you guys think

 

[mcyclefan11]

ok so actually that guy never responded back, so I found a 1996 Zx6R Streetfighter (what is the streetfighter part?). guy is selling for 2200$ and blue book is 1700$. This is the email:

I gave it new brakes, a new clutch, new front forks, new front and rear tires (now about 70% left on them) and cleaned the carbs this past season. Also just the other day I gave it an oil change to some lighter winter 10 w30 oil. She idles and starts up like a champ if its over 45 degrees.

I didn't ride it more than 3000 miles last season but I absolutely never had any issues with overheating, or knocking, or anything weird. I checked the fluids very often and kept it running well. The only issue with this bike is that it slips out of 2nd gear over 5000 rpms just like all the other ZX6Rs from around this year. I took it to a local shop around the corner to get an estimate on how much it would cost and he told me about 500 and it can be fixed in 5 hours or so. Its simply just an issue with one of the shifting forks slightly out of place in the transmission. I always rode off of lights slowly (since this is was my first year riding) and I usually never had an issue with it. Because of this problem it is a little hard to find neutral but after a while you get the hang of it. The only other issue is that there is a tiny crack in the frame next to the gas tank. I would still trust it even though it is slightly The past owner laid it down on its left side and its slightly scraped but otherwise not affecting anything else.

Its obviously not the prettiest thing, the past owner thought it would be a brilliant idea to spray paint it green so feel free to repaint it. Also the front rim is beginning to chip off all the paint. But there is a full Micron exhaust on it and she sounds beautiful.

Do you think this woudl be a good beginner bike? it has 17k miles.

What do you think is a reasonable price? I really have no idea about motorcycles, and i am trying to learn more. . .

 

[ZX-7_Rich]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=96+zx6+streetfighter

Many people make streetfighters of their after they trash the plastics, its cheaper than replacing all the plastic, but personally I don't like the look.


Regardless, I wouldn't buy it just because the crack in the frame, potentially very dangerous. And the slipping out of second gear doesn't sound like fun either.

 

[ZX-7_Rich]

From the prices you've been looking at and you say you're a new rider I would try a 500.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/mcy/2830366343.html

 

[mcyclefan11]

ok that sounds good..im gonna ask the seller and see what you guys think, is it ok if i post about the 500 here, even though it is a zx6r fourm?

Also, blue book is 1100, and he is asking 1200. .

 

[Shifty1]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[ZX-7_Rich]

ok that sounds good..im gonna ask the seller and see what you guys think, is it ok if i post about the 500 here, even though it is a zx6r fourm?

Also, blue book is 1100, and he is asking 1200. .

Its hard to say price without seeing it in person and knowing the mileage. Email him and get as much info and detailed pictures as you can.

No one's going to ostracize you for posting, you started out asking about a 6 anyway.

 

[mcyclefan11]

ok thanks. what should i ask/look for when buying a used bike? the bike has under 20,000 miles ('99 ninja 500).

I'll ask what kind of maintenance/parts will it need soo?
Has it been in a wreck/layed down?

what else?

 

[mcyclefan11]

ok so i talked to a seller...he said it has been dropped at low speeds a few times (but is it my first bike, so i prob wil drop too). He said people who have ridden his bike claim it needs a front stabalizer bar, but he said it is not necessary. It has under 20,000 miles. He also says that the front tire will probably need to be replaced be end of summer.

No frame damage or crashes

Here is the link for the pics
http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/mcy/2836219593.html

i really want a bike, and this is the price range i am willing to pay, but what should I ask? i prob will need it professionally look at. . .what do you think price should be? Like I said, $1400 Blue book for Excellent condition

it sounds like $1200 is reasonable. . .

 

[ZX-7_Rich]

Originally Posted by Masta Squidge
If you have never looked at bikes before, check for cracks in the frame. Bring a flashlight.

Check the forks for oil on them (on the shiny, smooth chrome bits), if they leak... it needs seals.

Make SURE the bike is cold before you start it. Most people start their bikes and let them run before you get there to hide problems.

Check the tires for cracks, and look at the date on them. If they are more than a couple years old you probably have to replace them.

How many miles does it have? Bluebook that shit for your area and go down in price by roughly the cost of parts for everything that is wrong with it. Of course, helps to have an idea how much that stuff is...

You can open the brake reservoirs and see if the stuff in there is clear/slightly yellow or if its as black as mud.

Sit on it, bounce it up and down. It should not BOUNCE. The shocks should slow the return. Front and rear.

Pop the seat off and look for corroded ass wires and terminals.

Cosmetic damage can be expensive to fix. Very expensive. If that is something you cannot do, or dont like halfassed spraybomb jobs then stay away.

Make sure ALL of the lights work. Turn the key on with the bike not running. There should be a red oil pressure light. Start the bike and that should turn off. Check the high and low beam.

Be as anal as you can possibly think. Then stand back for a second and look at something else. You will almost always miss something.

Check the chain for stretch, pull the chain away from the sprocket. If it pulls away more than I think 1/4 or 1/3 (or was it half? Or maybe "the whole tooth"? I forget, someone can correct this) of the tooth height, the chain is worn and needs to be replaced.

Check the sprocket to see if any teeth are missing, bent, or if they are all stretched in the direction of the chain pull.

Check the pads if you can manage to see in there.

Make sure the fuel pump is working. Its very expensive, and the bike will run above reserve without it working at all - ask me how I know. The fuel pump is pretty damn loud, but not as loud as the bike usually. I can kind of stick my finger through the hole in the frame and feel it working, but that was an acquired skill. It is a solenoid type pump, so it clicks like a solenoid on a starter.


Lots and lots of things to check before buying a bike. Most of the problems are fairly simple to fix if you are a DIY type.

I am sure I am missing a lot of things.

^ All of that stuff. If you know someone that knows bikes or is at least mechanically inclined ask them to check it out with you, if not ask the guy if he'll meet you at a motorcycle repair shop to have the bike checked over before you make a final decision. I see the front brake lever is very bent. I would start at 900 and 1050 max from looking at the Craigslist post, depending on what needs repaired.

 

[ZX-7_Rich]

Bump for any other opinions...