Forget buying a clunker off eBay-it just seems too risky. Purchasing a bike based on a few pictures posted by somebody across the country sounds like a headache waiting to happen. Plus, you still have to pay to ship it. Forget that.
And then there's Craigslist. For buyers who need something more tangible before handing over their money it's the only way. But isn't it just full of scammers and rip-offs? The "too good to be true" deals are everywhere, and usually are exactly that; half of the bikes for sale seem to be from somebody who lives in a far away, distant land with an offshore bank account who urgently needs payment to complete the transaction.
But it's not all bad, and if patience is one of your virtues you could very well come across the deal of the decade. Impulsive buyers, on the other hand, could get burned worse than a plump English sunbather in Miami.
SSB's goal was to score a beat up sportbike with lots of "haggle-able" maladies from the realm of Craigslist, then resurrect it into a gleaming "new" ride without exceeding $3,000 (including the bike).
The purchasing prerequisites? Relatively low miles (under 12,000), a clean title (not salvaged) and fuel injection for under $1500. That would leave an equal amount for mods and repairs to get it both road and praiseworthy.
After months of dead ends and overpriced clunkers, a haggard 2001 GSX-R600 turned up, and happened to be just what the doctor ordered.
The taped headlight looked...
The taped headlight looked terrible, especially because it was framed by a bent fairing stay, no windscreen and a cracked upper cowl.
The tail section must have...
The tail section must have owed the bookies big time considering how badly it was beaten.
A bent fairing stay and worn...
A bent fairing stay and worn grips both proved to be hand hazards.
The ancient graves exhaust...
The ancient graves exhaust was in decent condition-it just needed a new badge.
It met all of our criteria, and after discovering in person that the bike needed a lot more than just some bodywork-as the owner claimed over the phone-we knew we had some wiggle room on the price.
The bike had been wrecked on both sides, several times, and fairly hard. But most of it was cosmetic damage; the engine fired up perfectly and all the major components felt straight and true. On the downside, everything from the tires to the taillight was shagged and would need to be replaced. After noting these faults in the deliberation with the owner we walked away with a $1200 project bike. Had our patience paid off?
Badly bent and worn down sliders...
Badly bent and worn down sliders indicate more than one crash.
For shame...who uses a swingarm...
For shame...who uses a swingarm spool for a rearset bolt?
The chain and sprockets looked...
The chain and sprockets looked a little past their prime.
With the Suzuki back at SSB HQ it was time for the strip show, but it was to be much different than the kind we enjoy during our lunchtime outings. As the appalling bodywork was pulled away we discovered more issues that expanded our replacement parts list significantly. A wasted stator cover, bent and busted frame sliders and numerous missing bolts were just a few of the issues we'd missed during the initial shakedown with the owner, and they were going to add up. Had we purchased wisely, or was the seller laughing on his way to the bank?
Crashed, rashed and bashed;...
Crashed, rashed and bashed; the stator cover had kissed the concrete several times and had consequently sprung a slow leak.
The severely cupped tires...
The severely cupped tires may have had something to do with the bike's numerous crashes.
While it might be tempting to dive into new bodywork or a replacement exhaust right off the bat, it's important to go with the most obvious upgrades first: tires, oil, air filter and brakes. They aren't glamorous items, but the most crucial for a safe and enjoyable ride.