Buying an older R1

Question for all the sportbike squids out there...

I had a friend randomly text me this morning about a friend of his selling his R1. He knows I'm in the market and wanted to let me know it was for sale. I've been looking at 600s but if this one works out I wouldn't be opposed to a liter bike. He has a 2001 Yamaha R1 Champions edition (some kind of anniversary edition of it, it's number 555 of 1000 built) Brand new tires and chain/sprockets and 25000 miles. I've only seen one picture of it and it looks pretty good, he says there's minor scratches on the fairings but clean non-rebuilt/salvage title. He needs to pay some bills so he said he'd take $2k for it. The only catch is that he has to have the thing gone within 2 weeks and I can't go check it out. I know him personally, not super close friends by any means but we've had classes and hung out together and he seems like a good guy. He races motocross and I know he's a gearhead so I'm sure it's been relatively well taken care of while it was in his possession. He just needs cash fast from what I'm gathering.

So, have any of you guys owned one of the same vintage? I'm aware they have transmission issues with second gear blowing up on you so I'll walk if my "unbiased third party test rider" notices anything (he is actually biased but I'm sure would side with me over the seller on anything. he's my roommate who also rides and is pretty handy with a wrench himself). I'm just looking for stuff to have him check out for me. If I end up buying it and not liking it I could probably resell it for a profit in the spring if nothing else. The seller doesn't really know its history so I'm guessing it's changed hands a lot and that kinda worries me.

Anyone care to weigh in? I'd appreciate it.

 

I'd want to know a lot more about that salvage title if it were me... you don't end up with a salvage title from just a few scratches. Unless I knew the guy who fixed it personally and would literally trust them with my life, I wouldn't buy a bike with a salvage title.

 

No I meant the title is clean and not a salvage title... sorry

 

Pass on it dude. Something else will come and you will be better off for it!!

 

yeah, that's pretty old and a lot of miles. personally, i'd pass.

 

Different story now.

 

I'll stand on the side of giving it a chance. Power wise, it will probably be on par with a modern 600cc sport bike. Would be kinda neat to have a limited edition bike. Hard decision without being able to go check it out yourself. Like you said, you could probably turn around and sell it for more than you paid for it.

 

I don't think 25k is a lot of miles, the bike is 8 years old. That's only ~3k/yr. I've had several bikes with over 20k including a Honda with 55k.

If you are able to validate it has been maintained properly, I'd buy it and ride the wheels off it. Insurance will suck though on a liter bike.

 

That changes things. For $2k, double check to see what NADA or KBB says but that's not bad as long as it runs well and is tuned up. Keep in mind, at 12 years old, things will start to need replacing. I wouldn't go for it unless you don't mind doing minor repair/maintenance as things come up.

Do you know for sure that it was never raced?

 

To me that's a red flag. Anything used (especially a sportbike with that kind of mileage, that belongs to a guy who races motorcross) that I can't look at and inspect before I buy it, I'm not interested in.
Maybe he's a good honest guy who hasn't beat on it, but if you can't verify it before you make the purchase, you should pass.

 

Crap, missed that part. Don't buy anything you can't look at personally or have a trusted mechanic go look at on your behalf.

 

NADA says low retail of $3k , average retail of $4k

KBB says excellent retail $3800.

It also has some kind of aftermarket exhaust. Mileage doesn't scare me on something like this (I would think y'all would agree the Japanese build shit to last, this is a Toyota forum ) and I realize it will need parts at some point, being my age and income level means if you want toys you gotta buy old shit and keep it running haha. I've found a lot of various forum posts from the last few years of people talking about how they used to have one and loved it and wish they never sold it. Sounds like they have gobs of torque from anywhere in the RPM range and it has carbs, which can be a good and bad thing.

My "trusted mechanic" is my roommate, the seller has agreed to let him check it out and ride it.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/arizona/169158-az-classifieds-162.html#post7577501

If you are interested send me a pm.

 

25k only sounds like alot since most sport bikes get wadded up before than.

Is this your first bike?
Any experience with dirt bikes?

Even though it may be on par withmodern 600cc a 600 is still a lot of bike for a new rider.

A SUV 650 or similar bike would be the ideal starter bike.
Doesn't have as steep or costly of a learning curve.

Take the MSF course too don't let your friends teach you.
Get some gear too the road hurts.

 

^Little outta my price range. To clarify, I know the seller personally and go to school with him. I am just not at school this semester, so would have to buy him out of it for him to pay his bills and then find a place to store it for the winter sight unseen. We're somewhat friends I'd say so I don't think he's trying to pawn it off on me and then disappear.

 

Yes I've had my Ninja and license for 2 years, just ready for some more cc's

 

I won't buy it unless I can look at it. I have only One friend i know that i would trust in checking something like this out. If you truly trust your friend, then go for it.

$2k is a good price. The bike is scary fast. I had a friend with a '99 and some of the things I saw him do on it was nuts. The power everywhere will depend on how it was jetted after putting the exhaust on it. If it wasn't jetted, it will be fairly dead down low in the RPM.

 

Yeah I've heard the front tire likes to get some air time

 

what ninja do you ride and why are you just ready for more cc's? If you're just looking for more power, I'd hold out for a modern 600 with FI and some modern tech like a slipper clutch. It will be lighter, more easily tunable, and probably will be faster than a 12 year old bike.

 

I was looking for a newer 600 but I figured as old as it is the performance is probably about on par with modern 600s, albeit a bit more scary. I just have a 250 now