So, I'm going tomorrow to check out two different bikes, with the possibility of buying one:

2007 GSX-R 600: http://rochester.craigslist.org/mcy/1418169804.html

2005 R6:  http://rochester.craigslist.org/mcy/1412002766.html

I'm leaning towards buying the R6, but I want to make sure I have all of my bases covered:

- checking to make sure it is running and rideable (and will be listening for any odd noises)
- looking at body, suspension, wheels, tires, undertail, framel and radiator for damage
- asking about oil changes, gearing, other general maintenance

So other than these, what should I look for?  Also, what do you think I should offer? I'm thinking 4500 for the R6 and 4300 for the GSXR.  I'm ready to walk away from either if I'm disappointed by any of the responses I get from the owners.

my buddy got an 03 or 04 R6 and loves it. 

Quote from: NF11624 on October 14, 2009, 02:53:09 PM
I'm thinking 4500 for the R6 and 4300 for the GSXR.  I'm ready to walk away from either if I'm disappointed by any of the responses I get from the owners.

I'm confused. The R6 is 3 years older and has twice as many miles, why are you going to offer $200 MORE for it??

Any brand bias aside, the GSXR is clearly a better bike, considering how fast technology moves with these things, and how much less the gsxr has been ridden.

I would just give them a good look over for signs of abuse. Some people sell bikes because they barely rode it and got bored, they scared themselves to death, they need to keep up with the newest bikes, but some people beat the hell out of bikes and move on before the bike shows too much wear, that's not meant to scare you, just to say that with newer low mileage bikes, I'd just look for anything random that might suggest any kind of abuse. Even any missing/stripped bolts could mean someone was wrenching on the bike who had no business doing so. Start checking out details and see if the seller starts to look nervous, see if you can get a test ride just down the street and back.

Good luck with it, they both look awesome, but again, go for the GSXR.

I think tt_four overblows this just a little. Neither one has much milage on it, really. When I was commuting most of the year I'd put more than 9000 on a bike in one year. It's (not quite) twice the milage - it's also not a significant fraction of the total miles you should be able to get out of it...

...and a 2005 bike is only 2 years older than a 2007 bike.

I don't know how the bikes normally compare in price. If the newer bike for less money is well below market value, I get all suspicious. Look for scrapes, new parts, things that don't quite sit right, etc.

+1 gsx-r

google "r6 transmission" for a who/what/when/where/why-not-to-buy

Good point ohgood.

'07 R6:

Yup +1 on paulcets pics, ive done MANY trans jobs on the r6, made me some good money tho. BUT lemme ask this, what is your riding experience, and the intended use of the soon to be new bike?, think ergos here. sit on it a while then imagine doing that for an hour or more

Quote from: tt_four on October 14, 2009, 07:16:27 PM
Even any missing/stripped bolts could mean someone was wrenching on the bike who had no business doing so. Start checking out details and see if the seller starts to look nervous, see if you can get a test ride just down the street and back.

Good luck with it, they both look awesome, but again, go for the GSXR.

great tips.  

This will be a stablemate to my GS - it will be for the weekend rides or rides with friends (and eventually possibly track usage as well) - I'm not planning any 2000+ mile journeys (yet ).  As for experience 10,000+ incident free miles, 60/40 city/highway.  I know that is not a lot of miles compared to many, but I feel that I have enough skill to safely ride a 600cc machine on the street.

Thanks for the info about the transmission.  After some searching it doesn't appear to be a problem on the 03-05 models, which this R6 is.  Good to have a heads up though.  The GSXR I think is under priced for the miles - that makes me wary of it, but I will look for any signs of poor maintenance.  As far as tech goes - the Yamahas are usually a year or two ahead of the others, but I would like the slipper clutch that appears in the 06+ R6 and is also in the GSXR.

As to preference, I would like the R6 more (personal preference and 3 HP doesn't mean much to me) than the GSXR, but I really don't have anything against Suzuki (other than manufacturing the GS500 )

Luckily, I am checking out the GSXR first, so if it is a quality bike, I will use that as leverage on the R6 and offer less. 

Thanks for all tips, keep em coming if you have them.  I will bring my camera with me to get more pics of both bikes when I check em out.