FZRSupport: the FZROnline Archive

Im looking at buying a 1990 fzr 600. the guy said all that needs changed is the gasket which he is including and a new head which i looked up and was only around 80 dollars. he wants 600 for it. 11k miles. seem like a good deal? and is that an easy fix?

First off, welcome to the site.

Secondly, just from experience, when someones tell you that "all that needs changed" - they're lying. It is never that easy. I'm getting too old and darn sick of people saying stuff like that still.

1990600yamaha wrote:seem like a good deal?

$600 is a good deal, because you could probably part it for that, if the fairings are there and in good shape as well as other components. Is the bike all there or is it missing parts? Are the tires new or close to it? There's an easy $250 if you need new tires.

1990600yamaha wrote:and is that an easy fix?

Yes, if you know what you're doing, have the ability to deck (flatten) the heads and motor and have the proper tools for re-installation. Plus a new head gasket can run $50+ dollars. And, yes, you need a new one.

The guy is lying to you, I just bought my first bike and it was a bust it was DOA. I would rather had given my money to a homeless guy rather than to a sneaky guy throwing out lines like "it just needs ----".

well its not thathe said thats all it needs he just said he just got back from a long ride and the guyhe bought it from forgot to mention he needed a new head and it blew on his ride. and yes it has all the fairings and all.

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/1863329287.html heres the link if that helps...

Hmmm if you don't get it, for 600 I will talk him down and part it out for my bike and a build. Haha just kidding. I would talk him down and go for it.

Chris.

"currently does not run due to a blown head from a long ride"

You should ask him why it needs a new head, is it warped, leaking coolant, has it dropped a valve, cam chain snapped.
It could need a replacement engine!

If you do go and see the bike, crank it over before you decide, also check the cylinder block, Dropped valves, snapped cam chains can do serious damage to the engine. I've saw holes in cast iron cylinder blocks with con rods poking out.

I always check the documents match the VIN and engine numbers, and ensure they have not been tampered with. Buying used vehicles is risky especially non runners.

Be careful with your hard earned cash.

Are you going to street fighter it? It doesn't appear to have fairings and a new set will cost $400+ used.

I would take it on as a challenge, if:
- You already have another bike to ride and this is only a project bike
- The seller would take $350-400 for the bike

darrin

ragedigital wrote:Are you going to street fighter it? It doesn't appear to have fairings and a new set will cost $400+ used

darrin

In a later post he said that it had all the fairings. But I concure about the project bike or a secondary. You should buy it Darrin and get back in the "IN" crowd.

Chris.

kilika2 wrote:You should buy it Darrin and get back in the "IN" crowd.

I still have an FZR400 frame and parts. May look at building that up someday. It would be hard to go back to an FZR from the 05 GSXR.

I too have a 400 frame on standby. I was going to rebuild my 600 with it but decided the project was already too far advanced to waste all the work I'd put into the steel frame. I'm planning to use it for a 600 engined Rossi rep once I finish the current project.

Speaking of which, I paid £425 for my sound and mechanically well maintained, if slightly scruffy 600. Allowing for exchange rates etc then that's about the same as 1990600yamaha is being asked to pay for a non runner. I'd buy it, but I'd want that price down by a coupla hundred beer-tokens first.

This is a much nicer bike for the price: http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/1891293168.html

You can probably talk him down another $100 as well.

I failed to see "11k miles" never trust the mileage unless their is documentation to back it up I.E. service history, and/or (dunno what you call it there The MOT here) previous certificates. The speedometer is easily changed, I've renewed many in my time for legitimate reasons faulty units. There are other methods, to alter the odometer.

A dead give away on cars is the foot pedal rubbers, If a low mileage car has very worn pedal rubbers, ITS NOT a low mileage car. Maybe the gear lever rubber on a bike could give the same indication of high mileage, that Im uncertain about though. My FZR600 has 23k I've just checked the rubber Its worn, but mines an import and the odometer is in miles, the PO told me it had been changed, cant remember if he said it was lower or higher mileage, I do have previous MOT certificates (in kilometres) to back it up, can't find them.

@ 11k it should not even need the valve clearances adjusting, so if it is 11k id say it's been badly maintained, or that head was a faulty casting waiting to fail/crack leaking coolant, and overheating the engine which would quickly mar the white metals pistons, big end, and main bearings, causing it to be a non runner, or very noisy if it did run.

Always remember trust is earned, not assumed. I trust no one until it is earned, I've seen so many cut and shut bodge up jobs (2 halves from different cars same model welded together) and ringers (stolen cars with VIN plates obviously swapped and chassis numbers welded in) Some were supposed to be a certain year when they were either several years older or newer.

Be careful, I got ripped off by a biker on ebay, no paypal account (didn't know until I won the auction) I don't have a cheque book, so sent a postal order, never saw the wheel nor my money again! I reported him and he had ripped off three others, he was quickly removed from ebay. I also got caught for a mobile phone, it looked in amazing condition in the photo. When it arrived it looked like someone had kicked it from pillow to post. His responce was "I don't have a cam what do you expect me to do" he was using other members photos. I discovered his friend was bidding on his auctions, If the friend won, the item was relisted the next day. They where both removed, 2 days later he was back with a username with 1 character difference.

Sorry for waffling on, I don't know what its like in the states but here there are many unscrupulous people.