What to look for in a bike.

[Aro]

Heh first post ever.

So I just turned 18 recently and decided that now that i'm an adult i'm free to follow my dreams. I have ALWAYS wanted a bike so i was directed here for guidance.

I'm also hella poor so I can't afford an awesome bike, but still a beginner, I'd be more than content with a Ninja right now. I've always liked them and I've heard some great things about them.

Well basically I've been looking around for a bike i can buy pretty cheaply, was looking for under 2 grand. On craigslist, i found this:

I have 2 (yes two) 1985 Kawasaki Ninja 600's

The first one is a complete bike (with clear title) and a new front tire, new chain and sprockets, etc. I've had it started and running, but it needs a good tune up and carb synch before it will run well. Needs a little work to get it road worthy.

The second one does NOT have a title, it is mostly parts: including frame, engine, swiswingarm, etc. I have lots of spare parts as well, 2 sets of fairings, wheels, and a box of misc. parts.

Would make a great project or track bike.
Asking $1000 obo for everything!

Well, it really did catch my eye. a 1985 kawasaki ninja 600 would be a perfect starter bike for me. It's not HIGHLY valuable, yet it still has a lot of power, a lot of fun, and looks sharp. I e-mailed him inquiring about it a little but I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for.

So one of my questions is that, when i go to look at this bike, what do i look for and what should i ask about?

Also, I'd kind of like to fix this bike up myself. I'm pretty mechanically savvy and i've kept up with maintenance in my past cars (especially my jeep) and I have access to a pretty nice garage. I'm just kind of concerned about the reliability and safety of riding around on a bike that i basically put together.

What kind of shape does it sound like this bikes in?
Is this a good deal at all?
Any other tips and tricks of the trade

Thanks guys. Looking forward to be cruising soon and becoming a prominent member of this community.

[Aro]

oh and the reason i chose the Ninja 600 over like a Ninja 250 is because i weith 180 pounds.

Plus i'm 6'4" tall. I don't even know if i will fit on a 600.

[Ninja Geoff]

you'll fit on the 600. you probably won't fit very well in the 250. Try the 500, safer than the 600.

[9000white]

usually when you see an add that states "needs a little work to be roadworthy" you can expect to spend $1000.00 to $2000.00 to get it roadworthy.

[storysunfolding]

It must be great to feel that tall. Truth be told that 6'4'' is below average height in my family, though you can imagine my dismay at my 6 foot even. And at 180 pounds I bet your kinda lanky. I wouldn't worry about fit on any bike unless it was a 250 rebel, ninja, virago etc. To me it seems like all the sport bikes are the same size.

Now to answer your question, if you are mechanically savy it's possible to get the bike on the road. But to echo 9000white it's going to cost some extra money. What kind of work did you do on your jeep? If you're talking about oil changes, toe ins, new tires, new plugs then be prepared for frustration. If you replaced the axles, regeared it or rebuilt the engine then I'm sure you'll be fine.

At teh same time, working on a bike will teach you alot about them. They are different enough from cars that it makes a difference. But if you rebuild everything and test them, you should be fine. If you doubt yourself pay a mechanic $50 to check it out for you.

[jmillheiser]

Was there even a ninja 600 in 85? thought the ninja first appeared around 88 or so.

to be honest I would not go for this one. For what it would cost you to get that titled bike back on the road you could probably buy a much newer used bike in good shape.

Im a firm believer in NOT buying a basket case for a first bike. For your first bike get one in good shape that you can ride without worry.

And I would stay away from a 600 for your first bike. Even an old one pushes 100hp or so.

I would look for a ninja 500 for suzuki GS500. Both are good bikes to learn on that you wont get bored with for a long time. You will probably fit better on those than you would on a 600, both of em are much more comfy than the typical 600. Both can be had for 2000 or less if you look for an early 90s model

[Sev]

Sounds like he wrecked the first one, and bought the second to scavenge for parts.

I'd stay the hell away from those listings.

Look for a reasonably priced ninja 500, those are actually pretty big bikes, and great to learn on.

[Aro]

hmm, maybe you guys are right. It sounds like a little more work than i'm inclined for or ready to do mechanically. I did more than oil changes, but i didn't rebuild a transmission or anything.

This is the e-mail he sent me back

Cory,
Let's see. I was able to get it started and running but it won't run
long. Carbs probably need a good tune and synch. I put the front end on
but i don't think I ran the cabling correctly because they are too snug.
Little things like controls and signal wiring still need to be sorted out.
I never got it on the road to test out the tranny but as far as I can tell
the shifter moves fine. I hooked up the brake calipers and started to beled
the brakes but was having some trouble. There was a strange anti-dive
system on this year bike that used the brake fluid, I figured I would try to
bypass it but never got around to trying. It's mostly time and a few small
things that it needs.
AJ

Ok, well with that said, then where's a good place to look for relatively cheap, used bikes. I'm in the Washington D.C. area (Frederick, MD 21701)

[Ninja Geoff]

Ok, well with that said, then where's a good place to look for relatively cheap, used bikes. I'm in the Washington D.C. area (Frederick, MD 21701)

http://www.cycletrader.com/
http://www.craigslist.com/

[storysunfolding]

Aro-

I'm in the same area (DC metro but Va side). Craigslist is the best place to find a bike for this area. Put a wanted ad on there and you'll get a ridiculous amount of replies. If you need help with anything you can PM me.