Hey everyone, I joined the site because I've recently been looking in to buying a Katana. I've found all kinds of useful information digging through here, but now I'm making a post seeking advice from people on the forum, as you seem to be the most knowledgeable group I could find regarding this bike in particular! I'll try my best not to make this super wordy, so here's the lowdown-
Came across a guy who has a 2001 Suzuki Katana that has been wrecked. It's soon to be winter where I live, so I won't be riding it until 2017 regardless, and I was kind of thinking a project like this could be fun. I have plenty of previous wrenching experience, but I've never worked on a bike before, nor ridden one for that matter. (Have ridden dirtbikes) So i am pretty much 100% noob across the board. (And I've read pretty extensively postings on this board about Kats as beginners, I think it would be a good fit for me.)
So anyway, I don't have a lot of info on the bike, I asked him how it was wrecked and what the damage was, and what he was asking for it. Here is, more or less, what he told me-
"Hit some gravel at 30mph, rear tire slid out, bike went down on left side."
He also said that he for sure knows the stator cover, left handlebar, clutch lever, plastics, and shift lever needs replaced, and he suggested the stator may need replaced as well. He then goes on to say that he wasn't really sure how much he wanted, he was going to strip the bike and make it a stunt bike, but he'd be willing to work something out, so make him an offer.
(I should mention that the information on the Katana was not even in its own listing, but rather at the bottom of another motorcycle listing, something like "oh yeah, and I also have a wrecked 2001 Katana." The other bikes listing is 2 months old, I think dude must have forgotten it was on there lol)
I replied to his email with some additional questions, such as weather or not the title was clean or salvage, and weather it was a 600 or 750 (Any way to tell from pics?), but for now I only have this slightly vague information, as well as the pics he sent along with his response. I would wait to get the information before posting on here, but it is in a city i don't go to often, and I will happen to be there with a truck and trailer over the weekend, so I need a little help!!
HERE are the links to PICS.
So I may be asking a lot, but here are my key questions for you guys.
(TL;DR)
1. If I've never worked on a bike before, but am mechanically inclined, is there any reason not to take on this project?
2. You guys have the eyes for this. Does anything in the pictures seem off, or give any cause for alarm?
3. If there's no problem with question 1 and 2, then the third question would be, what would you guys think a fair offer would be? I do not want to offend the seller. Rather, how much would you be willing to pay for this bike? What would be your clean title price, and what if it is salvage?
I really appreciate any and all feedback, and thanks for the time yo!
-Krom
Came across a guy who has a 2001 Suzuki Katana that has been wrecked. It's soon to be winter where I live, so I won't be riding it until 2017 regardless, and I was kind of thinking a project like this could be fun. I have plenty of previous wrenching experience, but I've never worked on a bike before, nor ridden one for that matter. (Have ridden dirtbikes) So i am pretty much 100% noob across the board. (And I've read pretty extensively postings on this board about Kats as beginners, I think it would be a good fit for me.)
So anyway, I don't have a lot of info on the bike, I asked him how it was wrecked and what the damage was, and what he was asking for it. Here is, more or less, what he told me-
"Hit some gravel at 30mph, rear tire slid out, bike went down on left side."
He also said that he for sure knows the stator cover, left handlebar, clutch lever, plastics, and shift lever needs replaced, and he suggested the stator may need replaced as well. He then goes on to say that he wasn't really sure how much he wanted, he was going to strip the bike and make it a stunt bike, but he'd be willing to work something out, so make him an offer.
(I should mention that the information on the Katana was not even in its own listing, but rather at the bottom of another motorcycle listing, something like "oh yeah, and I also have a wrecked 2001 Katana." The other bikes listing is 2 months old, I think dude must have forgotten it was on there lol)
I replied to his email with some additional questions, such as weather or not the title was clean or salvage, and weather it was a 600 or 750 (Any way to tell from pics?), but for now I only have this slightly vague information, as well as the pics he sent along with his response. I would wait to get the information before posting on here, but it is in a city i don't go to often, and I will happen to be there with a truck and trailer over the weekend, so I need a little help!!
HERE are the links to PICS.
So I may be asking a lot, but here are my key questions for you guys.
(TL;DR)
1. If I've never worked on a bike before, but am mechanically inclined, is there any reason not to take on this project?
2. You guys have the eyes for this. Does anything in the pictures seem off, or give any cause for alarm?
3. If there's no problem with question 1 and 2, then the third question would be, what would you guys think a fair offer would be? I do not want to offend the seller. Rather, how much would you be willing to pay for this bike? What would be your clean title price, and what if it is salvage?
I really appreciate any and all feedback, and thanks for the time yo!
-Krom
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