Buying an old GSXR750 - reliability?

[MarkH]

Just looking at cheap sports bikes on Trade Me and I see some '85, '86 & '87 GSXR750 bikes selling under $4K. Would these be relatively cheap to keep running? How reliable are these 22 year old gixxers?

I am thinking about a weekend ride here - I have only been back on 2 wheels for a month after almost 20 years break, but I am really enjoying being back on a bike. I kinda want to get something for a weekend fun machine, but am on a tight budget.

I have seen one that I could probably get for under $3K, but needs a re-vin & warrant. What sort of cost for that if the seller is correct that it can easily get the WoF?

[ajturbo]

i was riding with a guy up your way, last weekend... he had a GSXR750.. 87 ( i think).. the oil cooled one, i KNOW that it gets and oil change once a YEAR, even if it doesn't need it!!

he rides this thing HARD MOST weekends... he has had it for 12 years...
this bike seams to still ok!!!... no smoke, it would be a good bike to get, and to restore it,

not much help for your question i suppose, all i'm saying is, THIS one, even though it was a "rat bike".. there was nothing wrong with it and it was not well looked after...

[FJRider]

As long as they haven't done 3 million k's... and raced (on or off the track) they are would be ...usually... ok. Check the bits that hit the deck first and see if they're new. Often a good indicator of bin's.

[MSTRS]

A lot of these older gixxers have had the kid of remedial work done that old equipment needs. They are still fast, even by today's standards and if you get a good one, it will do you proud.
The thing to watch for is tyres are not always readily available for the outdated rim sizes.
And be aware that the prices for these bikes are on the increase.

[MVnut]

Okay so they're still fast but also the suspension is now 20 odd years old and may need a bit of work. Very unlikely to find one that doesn't need something.

[Kickaha]

Orangeback had a tidy one for sale
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=81804

[MarkH]

Just looking at this:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-176005376.htm

I'm thinking: new tyres, WoF, Reg, runs great - OK, it's a bit old and has a small split in the seat. But if I could own something like this for under $2.5K and look after it and have some fun on the weekends then it isn't too bad a deal is it?
I would have to spend some money on petrol + $300 for flight down and ferry back. But then again it would be fun to ride back to Auckland from Dunners.

If I did this I would probably boot the car out of the garage and put the scooter and the GSXR in its place (the car is worth less than either).
Would I be inviting trouble buying something this cheap or would it be a pretty decent buy for a cheap weekend ride?

[honda929]

My mate brought a 86 just as a hack bike, looked in good condition ran well for about 3 months then threw a rod out.

[MarkH]

My mate brought a 86 just as a hack bike, looked in good condition ran well for about 3 months then threw a rod out.

I would like the 3 months of running well, but wouldn't be happy with a bike that needs expensive engine work to get going again. Does anyone know if this sort of problem is likely with a gixxer of this age?

[MarkH]

What about this:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-176967075.htm

It is close by, but I would have to fork out to get the WoF & Re-Vin done - anyone know what sort of cost for this?

[imdying]

I'd definitely hit one... Needing new supension, bearings, tyres, and all the major service items is just something that you'd need to do and should be accepted. Say $4k to buy one, plus that again to bring it up to standard.

[gmh]

Just my 2c worth, i rode one of these for about two years before i came to nz, had no problems with it at all. It was ridden at high speeds most of the time, and stood up well, i believe the engines are fairly bullet proof. I have seen both these bikes on TM, the red one looks a good buy, the yellow one has been for sale for a very long time - i considered it before i bought my bike, so thats at least 8 months. Good luck.

[FJRider]

Just my 2c worth, i rode one of these for about two years before i came to nz, had no problems with it at all. It was ridden at high speeds most of the time, and stood up well, i believe the engines are fairly bullet proof. I have seen both these bikes on TM, the red one looks a good buy

I believe the same... either buy one cheap, and be ready to spend more... or spend a bit more, and not...

[MarkH]

To be honest I am not too sure if I can buy another bike at the moment, I will have to see how a couple of things pan out this week and I have some expenses in October to consider. I'll probably end up putting this idea on hold till next year. I wonder if it is worth buying in the middle of winter - I might get a better deal at that time of year.

But what I am getting from your replies here is that a cheap old gixxer might go OK without costing much or I could be in for some expensive servicing - it's a bit of a crap shoot with 20+ year old bikes. Maybe I should just win the lotto and buy a nice new bike (or, if it's the powerball then several new bikes).

[Jerry74]

I used to ride an older GSXR 750R was pretty reliable and stupidly fast

[orangeback]

they are good old skool suzk , they are a lot ove work to ride fast, but alot of the later model bikes won't shake them if your on the game , i ride mine with 1000 and busa at times, with ease. they are hard to find in good nick (OME) as most people have owned one, at some stage and floged the arse out ove it, 85 are shorter wheel base and 86-87 longer and more stable ove the 200km mark. the one in dun loks good for the money ( but its not a true gixer if its not blue ) youll see a lot ove TQ still run the motors or have so that it self should tell that they are a stong old skool suzuki. :niceone:

[FJRider]

To be honest I am not too sure if I can buy another bike at the moment, I will have to see how a couple of things pan out this week and I have some expenses in October to consider. I'll probably end up putting this idea on hold till next year. I wonder if it is worth buying in the middle of winter - I might get a better deal at that time of year.

But what I am getting from your replies here is that a cheap old gixxer might go OK without costing much or I could be in for some expensive servicing - it's a bit of a crap shoot with 20+ year old bikes. Maybe I should just win the lotto and buy a nice new bike (or, if it's the powerball then several new bikes).

Life is a lottery... just make sure you out last the bike, whatever... whenever... winter is the best deal / time to buy...

[Creeping Death]

I had a 91 GSXR1000M for about 7 years,only probs in that time was brake pads and fork seals leaking but that's part n parcel of owning a high powered sportsbike...oh and rear tyres...anyhow,have you looked at this one on Trade Me http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-177399806.htm looks fairly tidy and a bit later than the one you are looking at.Cheers!

[T.W.R]

The F,G,H models are good enough engine-wise, but check thoroughly for stress fractures around the headstocks & the wheels (the 6 spoke set-up was brittle) and a few that got crashed actually snapped the front end completely away from the rest of the frame. H models had updated rear shocks as earlier models over heated quickly.
J series 750 (1st of the Slingshots) are better again with better frames & beefed up motor and also better wheel combination for better a selection of tyres.

This would be worthwhile looking at though :niceone:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-176356306.htm

[slopster]

And as far as the re vining etc goes from memory it costs $350 all up and that includes the tech check which is same as a wof but a bit more pedantic. I went through the process early last year and it wasn't too much of an issue. You will need the paperwork to show it was previously registered.

[Geemsee]

I had a couple of these a few years back, the early ones (slab side) F to H models were the lightest.... but weave all over the road if you have the wrong (or worn) tyres on and the anti-dive on the forks was well er.....lethal, believe me I found out a few times!! Reliability (engine wise) they're pretty bullet-proof, but the frames are not the strongest so check for stress cracking (particularly on the swing-arm bracing) or any crash damage. If i were you i'd pay that bit more and go for the L (or M) model (easy to spot as they have USD forks!) these were the best handling of the oil cooled models and they'd ironed out all the weak spots by then, they were also a lot faster and much more stable over the bumps! Happy hunting!!:niceone:

...thats a 750 M on the pic btw!!

[GSXR_BIKER]

Hi, have just finished restoring one of these beasts, (check my threads for a pix) absolutly love the thing, I advise buy one, tidy it up, have fun and keep it. These are such a classic bike, voted the 2nd best bike ever made by Superbike Mag... Youll love it!

[MarkH]

Hi, have just finished restoring one of these beasts, (check my threads for a pix) absolutly love the thing, I advise buy one, tidy it up, have fun and keep it. These are such a classic bike, voted the 2nd best bike ever made by Superbike Mag... Youll love it!

Very nice - how much money did you sink into the project? I am guessing that you devoted a hell of a lot of time into it - not so bad when it is a labour of love.

[FruitLooPs]

I purchased an 87H from down south for $2k a year or so ago.

Was good, went great when it was running on 4 cyl. In the end the bugger bent a rod just after i'd sunk $500 into the head which had it running on 4 reliably (for a week.. dammit!). The valves can start to leak, as an age related problem rather than from abuse not super common but does happen (mine had 1 leaky valve hence 3 cyl). The rod on mine bent because of a bad carb on no.1 cylinder I think.
I've got it in the garage, in bits being reassembled right now - Just need the odd part and i'm back on the road, with a different set of carbs this time! :angry2: Oh yeah, they don't like over-revving either, no limiters on them so watch it. :sweatdrop You'll be smiling when you open the throttle tho :woohoo: Met a TQ fellow who had blown 3 of them running an aftermarket rpm limiter set at 14,000rpm (redline is 12.5) jump sprockets on the cam chain - later ones (early 90's) have shim heads that can spit shims if you overrev it too.

Mine had 80'000kms on it, so pretty well used. However the bores and pistons are pretty mint still - so yeah they should go for quite a while if properly looked after. Old shocks on them are pogo, front with new oil would be okish fine for general use. The rear on mine has just got a 2005 R1 oem shock (nearly a straight swap) which should sort things quite a fair bit

[breakaway]

I'd save another $1000-$700 and pick up a 1995 or newer.

[MarkH]

I'd save another $1000-$700 and pick up a 1995 or newer.

I'm sure you meant 1996 - the 1995 is a year I would avoid. In 1996 they added 12HP and dropped 20KG.