Should I buy this R6?

[JustSaying]

I was aiming to buy an R6 ('06-'07) anywhere around $4,000 - $4,200.


The owner of this ad agreed to sell it for $4,500. It has 19,000 miles.
06 r6 for sale


This guy agreed to sell it at $4,800. 6,000 miles & upgrades. (Not buying his gear/jacket).
Yamaha R6


What do you guys think? *Should I wait another month for prices to drop instead?
Thanks!

[Claudius]

Buy the second one.

I own one of these, a 2006. I love it. However, let me tell you a couple of things about owning one of these. They are without a doubt very hardcore. They are racebikes with lights. They suspension quality is fantastic relative to most of the other bikes that I have ridden - which are predominantly 600SS bikes. The thing turns on a dime and the top end is massively addictive.

However, the bike can be uncomfortable. I don't find it that way, but I am in very good physical condition with significant core strength. The riding position can be tough. The engine is pretty much all top end. Riding it around and getting it off the line on a hill requires a deft hand and clutch slipping. They are love it - hate it bikes on the street.

If you are looking for a mental bike and are willing to deal with the issues that come with it - then this is the bike for you. But the reality is if this is a bike that you are going to street ride and "learn" on it, my vote is for a GSXR or CBR. They are flat out better "street" bikes and are way more comfortable to ride around.

[JustSaying]

Thanks for you post! Im heading out to buy the 2nd bike in 45 minutes!

I purchased a 08 250R in April as since then put over 9,000 miles on it. I road my friends GSXR750 since and felt really comfortable with the power an handling.

I did a ton of research on the R6 and I'm more than ready to ride it. I'm aware of all it's pros and cons.

I'm excited


Sent from my iPhone using Motorcycle.com Free App

[kevin_stevens]

Good luck! Don't forget the forks will need servicing!

KeS

[JustSaying]

Originally Posted by kevin_stevens

Good luck! Don't forget the forks will need servicing!

KeS

Appreciate it!

What servicing needs to be done at 6,000+ miles?

[serpentracer]

yeah the 2nd one appears to be the better deal because of the miles but the 1st one has a much better exhaust. he said it's a full exhaust. you're looking at a grand upgrade right there. which eliminated the cat that is in the headers not in the pipe. which a normal slip on doesn't replace.
so now you're probably going to want to find a real slip on in place of the chrome exhaust tip from autozone lol. (I would get rid of that squid pos asap but that's me) and to get rid of the cats that's built in the headers isn't cheap.

those things sound like poop too.

the service on the yamaha is pretty much what any bike is. the valves don't need looked at till 26,600.

[pickpocket293]

Originally Posted by Claudius

Buy the second one.

I own one of these, a 2006. I love it. However, let me tell you a couple of things about owning one of these. They are without a doubt very hardcore. They are racebikes with lights. They suspension quality is fantastic relative to most of the other bikes that I have ridden - which are predominantly 600SS bikes. The thing turns on a dime and the top end is massively addictive.

However, the bike can be uncomfortable. I don't find it that way, but I am in very good physical condition with significant core strength. The riding position can be tough. The engine is pretty much all top end. Riding it around and getting it off the line on a hill requires a deft hand and clutch slipping. They are love it - hate it bikes on the street.

If you are looking for a mental bike and are willing to deal with the issues that come with it - then this is the bike for you. But the reality is if this is a bike that you are going to street ride and "learn" on it, my vote is for a GSXR or CBR. They are flat out better "street" bikes and are way more comfortable to ride around.

Must agree with all of this. I've only ever owned R6s (but I've had 4 different ones of various years) and this pretty much sums them all up. They're TONS of fun, but that addicting top end can get you in big trouble in a hurry.

Originally Posted by kevin_stevens

Good luck! Don't forget the forks will need servicing!

KeS

This. After 19k miles that fork oil is probably sludge. Good thing changing fork oil isn't too hard.

Originally Posted by JustSaying

Appreciate it!

What servicing needs to be done at 6,000+ miles?

The only servicing that really NEEDS to be done on these bikes is oil changes and filters up until 26k miles, when the valve clearance needs to be checked (and shimmed if they're out of spec). The fork oil and rear shock don't NEED to be serviced ever really, but they function a lot better when they've got fresh fluid in them.


Check the condition of the chain and sprockets, make sure the lower fork tubes don't have any oil or residue on them (because that means you need to change the fork seals, and those aren't fun), and make sure the tires aren't weather-checked or too worn. If the seller can't be bothered to maintain the chain, then it'll make you wonder what else they skipped out on. :fact

[kevin_stevens]

I just mentioned the forks because some people don't have the stands/tools to do them theirselves, so it's a significant extra expense.

Any bike six years old should have all of its fluids done, regardless of miles. Forks in particular tend to get ignored.

So did you get it?

KeS

[HiSpeed48]

Hmmm, the seller of the 2nd bike basically said he only changes the oil once a year (6 year old bike, 6k miles, "changes oil every 1,000")

[boner]

Originally Posted by HiSpeed48

Hmmm, the seller of the 2nd bike basically said he only changes the oil once a year (6 year old bike, 6k miles, "changes oil every 1,000")

sounds fine to me. i only ride my monster a few thousand or less per year and i only change the oil in fall before i put the bike away for the winter

[pickpocket293]

Originally Posted by boner

sounds fine to me. i only ride my monster a few thousand or less per year and i only change the oil in fall before i put the bike away for the winter

Word. I changed my oil ever 5k miles on the street, or every 4 dry track days... Elapsed time has nothing to do with it for me.

[HiSpeed48]

Originally Posted by pickpocket293

Word. I changed my oil ever 5k miles on the street, or every 4 dry track days... Elapsed time has nothing to do with it for me.

I guess I'm a bit too obsessive. I change mine at least twice a year and only put on about 1,000 a year. Once in the spring and once around july.

[serpentracer]

Originally Posted by HiSpeed48

I guess I'm a bit too obsessive. I change mine at least twice a year and only put on about 1,000 a year. Once in the spring and once around july.

while I share your attitude about keeping it changed and well maintained, it's a total waste of money.
today's oils don't need changed that often.
synthetics can easily protect an engine over 7500 miles.

[HiSpeed48]

Originally Posted by serpentracer

while I share your attitude about keeping it changed and well maintained, it's a total waste of money.
today's oils don't need changed that often.
synthetics can easily protect an engine over 7500 miles.

I completely agree. I definitely don't need to change it.

But the transmission shifts so much more smoothly with fresh oil. I love that feeling, its like a hot knife through butter.

[pickpocket293]

Originally Posted by HiSpeed48

I completely agree. I definitely don't need to change it.

But the transmission shifts so much more smoothly with fresh oil. I love that feeling, its like a hot knife through butter.

My tranny shifts pretty damn smooth too, even while being absolutely abused on the track.. Even on the last of my 4-day oil rotation. No false neutrals, no fck-ups, no nothing. Amsoil FTW.