Need advice on Suzuki GSXR 1000

suzukisocal · 10-16-2009, 05:09 AM

I have saved up around $10K to purchase a nice used Suzuki GSX-R either 750 or 1000. I am 6ft2in, 200lbs, and never ridden a Suzuki. Used to have a 1999 Kawasaki ZX-9R, but need something better, that feels bigger. Would I want to go with a GSXR 1000 over the 750 considering my height/size?

Also, could I get you advice on which of these Craigslist deals seem like a better deal?

2007 GSXR 1000

OR

Custom GSX-R 1000 + $3800 in extras, FULL package!

Thanks in advance.

RayOSV · 10-16-2009, 11:33 PM

Welcome to SBN! Won't comment on your need for a gsx-r 1000, but both bikes have tons of aftermarket parts and sellers are trying to get their money back. You'd be better off buying a stock bike and adding only the parts you want.

rockscaler · 10-17-2009, 12:13 AM

no racer reps are bigger feeling than the 9r better go with a busa or 12r or zx14

suzukisocal · 10-17-2009, 05:12 AM

RayOSV, thanks for the friendly welcome! And thanks for your advice. I see where you're coming from and that was my original goal, but the local bike shops seem to be selling the same year bikes stock for the same or even a little higher price, so I figure why not get a better deal from a third-party sale then from a dealership.
I don't feel I'm necessarily a beginner rider since I had my ZX-9R for 2 years and rode it daily as a commuting vehicle, and always felt I could upgrade. I guess you might not see a gsx-r 1000 any kind of upgrade, but I have never ridden or sat on one, but thought I might try one out and see what all the hype is about. From what I've read, for the size/weight of the bike, they have somewhat better power than what I'm used to from my old 1999 carburetored ZX-9.
Rockscaler, thanks for your reply. As for getting a busa or 12r or zx14, I would love to be able to afford any of those, but for the size/price range, it seems the gsx-r is the affordable alternative?
As for the 2007 gsx-r, I called the seller today and have setup a plan to see the bike next week, but I am wondering if the 2006 has better upgrades since I don't think I would be doing any upgrades myself. Still unsure of what I'll do...thank you both for your feedback.

RayOSV · 10-17-2009, 01:28 PM

I missed the "bigger" requirement compared to your zx9. I once (2006 maybe) sat on the Suzuki 600, 750, and 1000 at the bike show. I was astounded to see (feel) that the 1000 actually felt the smallest of the three. Scary small is the thought that came to mind.

A newer gsx-r 1000 will be a hell of an "upgrade" in power from your zx9.

Asking prices for used bikes at dealers will be higher than private sellers.

Justice06RR · 10-18-2009, 05:55 AM

I'd grab the 07GSXR if I were you. The S-DMS is a good extra, and I believe the bike is a tad lighter than the 06, not to mention that its still under warranty. try to haggle and get it a few hundred dollars less.

The 06 is a great bike also, but those "upgrades" aren't worth $hit due to depreciation and aftermarket.

suzukisocal · 10-21-2009, 08:11 PM

Hey Justice06RR, thanks for your recommendation. I'm really glad to get your feedback. I am supposed to call the seller sometime this week and arrange to take a look at the bike.
Before I commit to this bike, could I get your opinions on one other bike in comparison, the same model, but a year older(2006) and more than a thousand dollars less, but more miles.

2006 Suzuki GSXR 1000

How do you think this one compare with the 2007 you saw listed?

Your advice is greatly appreciated as I will be making my purchase thanks to your insight.

RayOSV · 10-21-2009, 11:52 PM

The last ad states that it's a 49 state bike. Make sure the seller has a clean CA title which shouldn't be a problem if it was registered in CA after it had 7500 miles on the clock.

XB12R · 10-22-2009, 12:08 AM

If you have $10k you can easily get a ZX12, ZX14, or a Busa. Any of these bikes will be a huge step up from your ZX9. The newer 600cc bikes make about the same power as your 9r and they weigh less. Current 1000cc bikes are nuts, trust me as I just bought one about 2 weeks ago. I picked up a stock 06 GSXR 1k for $5,500, and I feel like I got a good deal, but I also know enough about the guy that had it to know how well it was maintained.

If you're looking for a bigger bike than your 9r as far as raw size, none of the late model sportbikes are going to be as big as that bike. They are smaller, lighter and more powerful by tons if you are looking at litre bikes. If you want big go with the flying couches like the ZX12, ZX14 and the Busa.

This time of the year deals are out there to be had, you just have to look and not fall in love with any particular bike so you get the best deal.

Just a random question, how many miles did you put on the ZX9R in the 2 years you had it?

A couple pics of mine.

suzukisocal · 10-22-2009, 09:28 AM

RayOSV, thank you for mentioning the point about the 49 state bike, when I read that on the posting I was a little confused. If I contact the seller soon I can confirm what he means by that, and ensure that it's got a clean CA title, etc.

XB12R, In the 2 years that I had the ZX9 before it got stolen, I rode it daily as my only vehicle everywhere, including roundtrip to work daily 20 miles. I bought it with around 6K miles, and before it got stolen, i think I had around 23K miles on it. That's just a guess, but I do remember doing oil changes around 18K and after.

I have the 10k or so saved up, but I don't want to spend that much on a pre-owned bike if I can get powerful and good sized one for a much more reasonable amount. And the thing is, I'm trying to be realistic and not overstep my growing into a bigger bike. I feel like a step up to a busa ZX12 or 14 might be a little too much at first. Even though newer bikes are far more improved on their old makes, I would prefer to try something different from the Kawasaki.

The old ZX-9 was so big and heavy and sluggish feeling (granted it was a 1999 year and carbureted). I hated how my knees would come up to my elbows. Yet I met a guy that had a busa and he said the turning radius on it handled, as you very well described, as turning a couch.

Another thing is I've lost 40 pounds since I last rode. I think that the gsxr-1000 would be the right balance of size-to-power ratio that I would enjoy without having a huge busa or ZX12/14 until I feel i've outgrown(probably never gonna happen

) a gsxr1000, I want to feel confident that the throttle will respond and there will be power in the engine, unlike my old carburated ZX-9 that bogged down and chugged to speed when I gave it gas.

XB12R, great looking bike you just got. Thanks for sharing the pictures, I'd be a proud owner if I can find me a good deal like that.
I just gotta decide and get back to riding again. It's been too long and I miss it, and I'm only getting older (35 years old this year!

). So again, any advice before I hopefully make the decision is greatly appreciated.

XB12R · 10-22-2009, 10:48 AM

Sounds like you've got a plan, and I'm sure you'll find something for well under the $10k that you've saved up. I would say that if you are looking for something that is 3-4 model years old you should only have to spend around $6k tops for any sportbike.

However, I'm a cheap ass when it comes to buying vehicles and I usually offend a bunch of sellers with my offers before I finally find someone that realizes things are only worth what someone with the cash is willing to pay for them. I started looking for a bike about a month ago and within 2 weeks of looking on Craigslist and ebay I found a bike I wanted for the price I was willing to pay. Prior to finding the bike I bought I probably emailed 30 other people about their bikes, and out of the 15 that even responded to my offers 10 or so of them were completely offended and basically said I was an asshole. The other 5 just politely declined my offer. What I find to be pretty funny is that I have received emails from about 10 of the people I sent offers to in the last 2 weeks asking if my offer still stands. Just be patient and wait for the right deal. The better of a deal you get the less you'll lose when you sell the bike later......

Here is how I came up with my price offers:

Used Motorcycle and Powersport prices, specs and options at NADAguides.com

I found the average between the high and low retail and then removed 20% from that figure based on the time of year and the low demand for bikes in general because of the economy.

I never add any value to a bike for aftermarket parts, and even though the seller thinks that stuff adds value in the open market it doesn't mean anything.

I would also add to the 20% discount if the bike had higher miles than I wanted, rash, unknown miles from a sprocket change, a salvage title, or any other issue that made the bike less desirable. I really wasn't even seriously considering salvage bikes becuase they are such a pain in the ass to sell. A lot of them are mechanically and physically just as good as a non-salvage bike, but that stigma will always follow the bike and make it harder to sell. My first street bike was a salvage and even though it was a great bike, I'll never buy another one unless I get it for less than 1/2 of what it would be worth with a clean title.

Here is some examples:

My bike-

2006 GSX-R 1000, 7,800 miles, clean title, no damage, well maintained (Asking $6,500)

High Retail- $8,265
Low Retail- $6,285
Average- $7,275
Max Offer (80% of average)- $5,820

Actual Offer $5,500 (75% of average) so I could come up to my max, but he accepted.

I think the 06 in Santa Monica looks like a pretty good deal. You may even be able to get it for less than I paid for mine depending on how much they can deal. It looks like this is a used bike dealer, so I'm sure he bought it at auction or just completely hosed someone for it. Make sure the title is clean!

2007 GSX-R 1000 The one of the bikes you were looking at (Asking $7,700)

High Retail- $7,985
Low Retail- $6,070
Average- $7,027
Max Offer (80% of average)- $5,622

In my opinion that 07 is a terrible deal and you should be able to find something much better. He is adding way to much money for aftermarket stuff that doesn't really add value, and since he didn't do a speedohealer the actual mileage of that bike is unknown and you're going to have to buy one right away if you want it to be correct. I would be concerned about the validity of the low miles after reading how much he changed the gearing as well.... You might throw out the $5,600 and see if he bites. The bike does have low miles, but I wouldn't pay any more than $6,200 for it. His last statement about needing to sell it pretty much says everything. He needs you to buy his bike, you don't need him to sell it to you unless it is exactly the deal you want.

So the model change between the 06 and 07 years must not have been well received because the 07 bikes are actually selling for just a little bit less than the 06 bikes. From everything I've read the 05-06 GSX-R 1000s are still regarded as the best 1k Suzuki has ever made, so that is probably why they are holding their value up against the 07s.

I'm so anal retentive that I made a spreadsheet with the bikes I was interested in to track my offers and whether a bike was really a deal I was interested in or not. I go in to everything like it is a business deal at work.

suzukisocal · 10-23-2009, 12:48 AM

XB12R, you really know how to do good research on getting the best deal for your bikes. I'm quite impressed. I thought I was meticulous and particularly anal when it comes to getting good deals and not exceeding my means or costs. You, however, definitely showed me how to think like a professional and from a business point-of-view and have a sort of economics perspective on things. I appreciate your thorough advice, including the reference to the Nadaguides website, which I had never seen before, and breaking down some of your own examples of how you assess buying a vehicle. It really helps to see someone else's thought process, and I appreciate you taking the time to share it with me.

As for the 07, thanks to your advice, I've not pursued it, realizing what you said about the aftermarket stuff not adding any real value, and the need of a speedohealer, (which is new to me, you're teaching me a lot of stuff I've never thought of or heard of before, and I'm glad to this now). Perhaps offering him $5,600 to $6,200 would be worth trying, but after talking on the phone with him, he said he's bought a new house, just had a baby, and still was making payments. Originally I believe he said he paid around $10K for the bike, which when the bike store sold it to him, he said they talked him into having them install all the extra add-ons like the Bazzaz, traction control, custom paint rims, etc, etc, which out-the-door he paid i think around $12K total. He's still making payments on the remainder of his loan of 7700, which is why he said he picked that price, since it is what he still owes the bank, he'd cut his losses and have it paid off. Anyways, I felt bad, but it makes sense that he just wants out of the payments, and of course his wife is pressuring him to get rid of it for understandable reasons. But hopefully someone will work with him and have a nice bike.

As for the other 06 in Santa Monica for 6000, I tried calling the listed phone number and left a message, they called back soon after, i missed the call and have yet to call them back. I read your advice and opinion and am working out the math calculations as I write this so I can have a good idea of what I'm going to offer him if I can go meet him and see the bike.
Until you turned me on to the Nadaguides website, I had only been basing my vehicle appraisals on Kelley Blue Book listings, but it seems Nadaguides have a more thorough analysis and lower, possibly more realistic numbers.

I'll keep all your advice in mind as I keep searching through bikes I find for sale. I went to some local dealerships, and repair shops both with new and used 1K's, and surprisingly none of them would allow just sitting on the bike in the store, with no key, just to see how my height and size felt sitting on one. So, until I go and actually get to sit on a suzuki 1K and possibly try riding one I won't get my sites off a 1K or another make until I try it out (fortunately the guy selling in Santa Monica is willing to let potential buyers with collateral).

Thanks again for all your thorough and insight, I couldn't do this without you help and experience.

RayOSV · 10-23-2009, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzukisocal

RayOSV, thank you for mentioning the point about the 49 state bike, when I read that on the posting I was a little confused. If I contact the seller soon I can confirm what he means by that, and ensure that it's got a clean CA title, etc. ...

A 49 state vehicle means that it wasn't originally intended to be sold in CA as it didn't pass our emissions standards. Once a vehicle has 7500 miles on the odometer, that doesn't matter any more and it can be legally "imported" into the state by a resident, registered, and titled. As longs as this was done, there are no issues. As an aside, if someone is moving to CA from out of state, they can bring any vehicles they own, regardless of mileage, with them as long as they passed the federal emissions standards when built.

I suspect that the seller is "bragging" that the bike doesn't have all the CA emissions equipment on it. On bikes this really doesn't matter and isn't a big deal.

XB12R · 10-23-2009, 11:05 AM

Your welcome SoCal. Just remember that you are the person with all the power because you have the cash. They have a bike to sell you, but a bunch of other people out there do too.

On the NADA versus Kelly Blue Book deal, the NADA actually uses the selling prices for vehicles that have sold so their numbers are more realistic. The Kelly Blue Book is basically dealers saying how much they think their crap is worth and funding something to trick consumers in to buying it.... I like things that give prices from actual sales, like comps in real estate. Just because an appraisal says a house is worth $300,000 doesn't mean the comps in the area agree.

I didn't used to always attack things in my personal life like I do in business, but I started doing things this way a couple years ago and I'm much better off for it. Nothing gets past me at work, and I never let anyone take advantage of me or my company, so why in the world would i do anything different in my personal life. I've learned that information is power, and even though some people are offended by the way I do things I just move on to the next opportunity to find someone that will be realistic and listen to my sound reasoning.

XB12R · 10-23-2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzukisocal

I went to some local dealerships, and repair shops both with new and used 1K's, and surprisingly none of them would allow just sitting on the bike in the store, with no key, just to see how my height and size felt sitting on one.

BTW, that is total BS. I wouldn't let that fly. I would make sure that they know I have $10k sitting in my savings waiting to be used for a bike, and if they don't let me sit on one I will not even consider their dealership for purchasing or maintaining the one I buy.

Some stealerships amaze me. I don't understand how they stay in business treating a potential customer like that. When I get the stuck up, we have something you want and we aren't going to let you do anything we don't want you to attitude at a stealership I let them know that I will never be back and I'll be taking my disposable income elsewhere.

My advice, is to pretty much not buy anything at a stealership. They mark their bikes, gear, aftermarket parts and labor way up. Go to those places to try on, and get a closer look at the stuff you want, and then go buy it online. Look around online for all that stuff and find a local motorcycle mechanic shop that isn't a dealer to do your maintenance.

Here's a good place for gear.

Motorcycle Closeouts :: Motorcycle Apparel - Motorcycle Jackets - Motorcycle Helmets - 7 Years of Closeout Deals!

I just bought a Shoei X11, Leather Firstgear jacket, and leather Teknic gloves from there for about $500. The Shoei X11 alone has an MSRP of $609 on the Shoei website and you can bet the stealerships have it listed for at least that.

If you want pipes, power commanders and that kind of stuff you can search online for good deals on that stuff too.