[AstroturfHead]

Hey guys.

So I'm finally buying my first real bike (THe Honda Elite 250 didnt count lol). I'm buying a 1989 GSXR750. Its green.

Im buying from a local dealer and it has a blwon engine. The engine is already out of the bike. I need to do a rebuild on it (1200 or so is my guess) but I'm clueless of where to buy parts.

Can anybody help me out with parts? Any input on my purchase? I'm buying it for 750 dollars, and it is low miles.

Also, is this an interference engine? I'm wondering if I'm going to need to completely replace the head.

Thanks!

Bill

 

[AstroturfHead]

Bump to the top please
Cmon guys I'm gonna make a payment tomarrow. I need some info

 

[87gsxrnut]

DON'T DO IT! They made the Slingshot motors for TWO years. Yep, that is it. Even though some of the parts will change over from the long-stroke bikes, many will not. There is NO WAY IN HELL you will be able to rebuild any blown O/C motor in that shape for $1,200.

How did it blow? How does the crank look? A new crank is in the neighborhood of $900. How are the rods? Were they measured for straightness? How are the Pistons? Oil pump? Cams? You say you need to replace the head? Man, unless you know of a running used 88/9 motor around, forget it. Take it from someone who had to learn the hard way.

Get something that runs. Shop around. You can get into a decent and clean running '86/7 for $1,500 - $2,000 usually. It will retain it's value better than a ratty green blown POS '89. Motors are a hell of a lot easier to get parts for too.

You could also look at a '90-'92. Those are fairly cheap as well, and they have the long stroke motor. They have the shim adjusters too, making the top-end much more reliable.

Believe me THIS IS NO DEAL! We have found ratty but RUNNING 1st gen Gixxer 750s around here for $200 - $500 in the past year. And I live in the SF Bay Area.

- Nut

 

[AstroturfHead]

well i dunno. I found a shop that says they can completely rebuild the bottom end for 900. He says hes one of the very few that canget every park for that bike.

 

[87gsxrnut]

How can a shop quote a price without looking at the motor?!?!?!? There are so many factors in what causes motors to fail, and unless they have . . . ahh . . forget it. Sounds very odd to me. Do whatever you want. You wanted advice, and I gave it to you. I have owned these bikes since 1991, and own six right now. I race one of them, and have another as a backup. I have more seat time on these than anyone I know. But, hey, you will learn too I suppose :lol: Don't let your emotions judge come in the way of your wallet. I guarantee you, by the time you are done working on this one, you could have bought a mint example, or put a huge down payment on a new bike.

He says hes one of the very few that can get every part for that bike.

WRONG. That is BS. You can still get most of the parts through Suzuki, especially bolts, gaskets, bearings, cranks, cams, pistons etc. It can get VERY expensive though. Wiseco makes aftermarket pistons still I think. Vesrah makes aftermarket gasket sets, and APE makes aftermarket cam-chain tensioners. NRC still makes the heavy-duty side covers, Factory makes an advancer, and Dyna makes an aftermarket ignition. Several companies make morrors, turn-signals, headlamps, chain, sprockets etc.

In my experience, blown motors are something to RUN away from regardless. The dealer is just burdening you with their headache.

I still wouldn't touch that bike with a ten-foot pole.

- Nut [/quote]

 

[AstroturfHead]

now I understand that I cant just switch engines with another year on these bikes. It looks like I may be able to find parts for the 89, but I'm not commiting to purchasing it yet. I need to be 100% sure thats its not going to be, as you put it, a headache waiting around.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=35595&item=2461566742

Will a 750 from a later year GSXR fit? I mean, could I do a coversion or anything of that sort?

As it stands right now, unless this bike is cherry with a blown engine, I'm going Katana 750

Bill

 

[87gsxrnut]

The Kat is another GREAT bike. Can't go wrong there.

I was trying to stress the point that in most cases, blown motor bikes are best left alone, or purchased as parts bikes. I have bought a few to supplement my 1st Gen. parts supply. Cheap and plentiful right now. I'm sure with a little searching, you could find a nice running example for less than the $750 + $900 + whatever else the bike needs dollar-wise.

You will be surprised what is out there.

- Nut