96 gsxr750 - new bike...any problems?

[h20boy]

Its a bit late asking now but I've just picked up a 1996 GSXR750 SRAD with about 47k on the clock.

Are there any issues with these bikes that I should look for and correct before some drastic failure?

Its in good condition, with pretty low km's for its age. Rode it from Taupo to Rotorua this weekend and ran perfectly.

I've just traded down from a new Kawa 650R and theres a pretty big power difference with my new gal. :)

[Zoolander]

Nah they're pretty bulletproof really. Just the finish thats a bit fragile so take a bit of care to keep looking nice. I chucked mine down the road and into a kerb when I came over a blind rise too quick and couldn't avoid a car pulling out in my path. Also threw the same bike down Adelaide road in front of all my workmates! Anyway the bike stood up to the abuse much better than my pride!

[Robert Taylor]

Its a bit late asking now but I've just picked up a 1996 GSXR750 SRAD with about 47k on the clock.

Are there any issues with these bikes that I should look for and correct before some drastic failure?

Its in good condition, with pretty low km's for its age. Rode it from Taupo to Rotorua this weekend and ran perfectly.

I've just traded down from a new Kawa 650R and theres a pretty big power difference with my new gal. :)

Yes, the worst and most overly progressive rear link ratio in living memory. Pick up a soon to be released copy of Bike Rider Magazine, to save me repeating myself there is an article in there that eludes to it.

[breakaway]

Cam chain? I looked at 3 GSXR SRADS of this era and they were all rattly as hell.

[h20boy]

Yes, the worst and most overly progressive rear link ratio in living memory. Pick up a soon to be released copy of Bike Rider Magazine, to save me repeating myself there is an article in there that eludes to it.

Thanks for that...I'll grab a copy.
Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly does that mean in terms of riding? I haven't clocked up many miles yet, nor have I opened it up to see what it can do...

[Katman]

The cam chain tensioners can be a bit of a weak spot - but only under race track caning conditions. A manually adjusted tensioner is a fairly common replacement for a track bike SRAD.

But having seen the bike the other week it certainly looked very well looked after.

[CookMySock]

I've just traded down from a new Kawa 650R and theres a pretty big power difference with my new gal. :)Tell us why the trade down?


but what exactly does that [highly progressive link ratio] mean in terms of riding?Translated from boffin-speak, it means that the more the suspension compresses, the more it ramps-up it's lever effect on the suspension, so that the spring and shock alters its' gearing/ratio to the swingarm.

The swingarm to link to shock movement is not a linear response, and it varies from bike to bike.

It's good for touring riders, as you can put lots of weight on the bike and will squat just a little and re-gear the suspension against the extra weight. It's a bitch for racers and suspension tuners, coz it imposes a shitload of maths for the shock to filter out. :pinch:

I think the triumph street triple is in the same category.

Steve

[h20boy]

[QUOTE=DangerousBastard;1129249986]Tell us why the trade down?/QUOTE]

well it free'd up some hard earnt/easily spent cash for other things...

Other than age...its not really a trade down...bike seems to be in pretty good nick...

[h20boy]

The cam chain tensioners can be a bit of a weak spot - but generally only under race track caning conditions. A manually adjusted tensioner is a fairly common replacement.

But having seen the bike the other week it certainly looked very well looked after.

Did you know the bloke I bought it off...or view it on TM?

[Katman]

Did you know the bloke I bought it off...or view it on TM?

I was the miserable bastard who failed it on it's rear tyre.

[h20boy]

LOL! :buggerd: fair enough too! Since been replaced and WOF'd. :)

I think he armouralled the seat cause It was %$#!'n slippery riding home I can tell you...what a damnd nasty trick :)

[Robert Taylor]

Thanks for that...I'll grab a copy.
Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly does that mean in terms of riding? I haven't clocked up many miles yet, nor have I opened it up to see what it can do...

DB has answered that very well.

[h20boy]

DB has answered that very well.

Lol...I'm still a little non-plussed about it :)

I need to clock up some more miles and a bit more experience before I really know the difference I guess.

[rebel]

You lucky bugger I've had my eye on that one on TM for a few months now. THe week I sell my bike that one nice gixxer gets snapped up. She looked pretty good in the pics, never got to see it in person as I wasn't a cash buyer until my 250 sold, which was too late. I'm guessing this is the one from Taupo.

[driftn]

They are a fantastic bike. I miss mine ike crazy. The rear shock is fine for riding on the road but when you get to the track it has a tendency of eating rear tyres. Best thing I done was put an ohlin's in the rear.
Motors are bullit proof dont worry about cam chains and tensioners. Mine had 60k on the clock when I got rid of it and it was still going very bloody hard and it had been through all 3 of the mairs and mikey. If that cant kill a bike nothing will. bit of horn blowing.
1.13 round manfeild
257kph over a flying 1/4 mile still pulling so would definatly do 260+ real speed.
11.2 standing 1/4 with most of that spent on the back wheel.

Great bike and would have another in a heart beat. check out profile for a pic of mine.

[h20boy]

You lucky bugger I've had my eye on that one on TM for a few months now. THe week I sell my bike that one nice gixxer gets snapped up. She looked pretty good in the pics, never got to see it in person as I wasn't a cash buyer until my 250 sold, which was too late. I'm guessing this is the one from Taupo.

Yeah thats the one...The guys at Mt Eden thought it was in pretty good nick & everyone else thats seen it seems to agree so I'm pretty happy overall.

The only thing that annoys me is the clear plastic screen is a little hazy...might replace with a tinted version.

[h20boy]

They are a fantastic bike. I miss mine ike crazy. The rear shock is fine for riding on the road but when you get to the track it has a tendency of eating rear tyres. Best thing I done was put an ohlin's in the rear.
Motors are bullit proof dont worry about cam chains and tensioners. Mine had 60k on the clock when I got rid of it and it was still going very bloody hard and it had been through all 3 of the mairs and mikey. If that cant kill a bike nothing will. bit of horn blowing.
1.13 round manfeild
257kph over a flying 1/4 mile still pulling so would definatly do 260+ real speed.
11.2 standing 1/4 with most of that spent on the back wheel.

Great bike and would have another in a heart beat. check out profile for a pic of mine.

Looks like a nice bike!

Someone spent a bit of time adding a few bits of carbon-fibre cover to things like the ram air pipes...kinda a cheap and nasty mod but it actually looks pretty cool.

I'll post some pictures shortly.

[driftn]

Looks like a nice bike!

Someone spent a bit of time adding a few bits of carbon-fibre cover to things like the ram air pipes...kinda a cheap and nasty mod but it actually looks pretty cool.

I'll post some pictures shortly.


The 98 model came with fake carbon ram air tubes and the 99 had a fake carbon front gaurd I think.

[h20boy]

The 98 model came with fake carbon ram air tubes and the 99 had a fake carbon front gaurd I think.

Guess they must have plucked them off a wreck or something...unless mine was wrecked and they needed replacement :(

I did notice the bike was first registered late-ish 1996 (August) and the reg sticker carries the model designation 'v'. I think this is the 1997 model yes?

[MSTRS]

The 98 model came with fake carbon ram air tubes and the 99 had a fake carbon front gaurd I think.

Mine sure does.
As for higher kms etc - Gixxer4Ever had Craig Shirriffs' 96 race season SRAD 750. When G4E sold it, it had close to 90,000 on the clock. That is road kms AFTER an entire season on the track. The bike still went like it was meant to...

[DEATH_INC.]

I just had to reply to this even though it's a few days old.....
I've had my 99 SRAD for years, two years the first time, then the same bike 18 months later for about 6 years, in that time its been thrashed, wheelied to death, raced, trackday'd, dragraced and crashed all over taupo and minefeild and down the road, hardly maintained and generally abused. It's done around 55k on the speedo, but for the last two years or so it's had a different one on there, so it's done well over 60k. As far as I'm aware it's never had the cams adjusted or even new plugs. It's even still got the original battery in there. The only thing I've ever replaced is the clutch, they don't like the way I launch it at the drags, but never killed one on the street.
It can still hold it's own around taupo against all but the faster thou race bikes, run an 11.0 flat 1/4 and wheelie for km's on end.
The camchain tensioner isn't really a problem, mine started rattling and stuff, I pulled it apart and gave it a good cleanup and smeared a bit of high quality grease in there and it's been good as gold since.
These things have got to be almost the most reliable, toughest bike ever made. :Punk:

[driftn]

I just had to reply to this even though it's a few days old.....
I've had my 99 SRAD for years, two years the first time, then the same bike 18 months later for about 6 years, in that time its been thrashed, wheelied to death, raced, trackday'd, dragraced and crashed all over taupo and minefeild and down the road, hardly maintained and generally abused. It's done around 55k on the speedo, but for the last two years or so it's had a different one on there, so it's done well over 60k. As far as I'm aware it's never had the cams adjusted or even new plugs. It's even still got the original battery in there. The only thing I've ever replaced is the clutch, they don't like the way I launch it at the drags, but never killed one on the street.
It can still hold it's own around taupo against all but the faster thou race bikes, run an 11.0 flat 1/4 and wheelie for km's on end.
The camchain tensioner isn't really a problem, mine started rattling and stuff, I pulled it apart and gave it a good cleanup and smeared a bit of high quality grease in there and it's been good as gold since.
These things have got to be almost the most reliable, toughest bike ever made. :Punk:



Could not have put it better myself mate. indestructable! i sware by them.
J-Lo is for sale on trademe for 4k, primo track day hack and even hold its own on race day too.

[h20boy]

Heres some pics as promised...

[breakaway]

Fuck me sideways, that's the tidiest bike for its age I have seen in a while. Great buy!

[Hiflyer]

I agree that is BRILLIANT