Hey all

I originally posted this in the new members section, but i figure I'd get more exposure to actually F3 owners by posting in this section.
I'm 27 years young and relatively new to riding...been riding for about a month ago. I passed the MSF course, got my license the next day, and picked up a bike about a week later. The bike I got is a Suzuki GS500F, and so far its been pretty fun. The thing is that I feel I will outgrow it way to soon bc aside from it being pretty nimble, it's an absolutely dog when it comes to acceleration. I dislike like having to to twist the throttle wide up to accelerate in order to keep up with or pass cars. I have a WRX with a turbo swap, and can easily notice the car is exponentially faster than the bike. I'm not a crazy speed demon and have more common sense than I did when I was younger, but I know when I will be dissatisfied with something enough to change it. I would preferably something along the lines of an easy going 4cyl bike to grow on. And from my research, easy going sportbikes for mature beginners are:

1. YZF600R (not the R6)
2. ZZR600 (not the ZX-6)
3. FZ600R
4. F2, F3, F4 Honda 600s
5. GSX600 Katana (laughing stock of sportbikes) A.K.A. Can-O-Tuna
6. Daytona Triumph 600

So I have posted the bike back up on craigslist asking 3k as a start, and now I am currently looking at a 1996 CBR 600 F3, and I would like a little advice before I move forward with the purchase. This bike has 5,8xx original miles on it and the guy is asking for $3500 and will throw in 2 helmets and a jacket (not that I really need the accessories bc I already have that stuff).
Overall the bike looks great. It was dropped from the previous owner, but the current owner used touch up paint. The drop only seems to have affected the left side fairing and apparently the mirror cracked off too, but it has been re-attached and touched up on paint (I plan on changing the body anyway). It can use new tires definitely (I'm on a budget - are Shinko Ravens any good for these bikes?). And lastly, the owner recently change the spark plugs and the oil. When I went to look at the bike yesterday, the headlight bulb blew out (it was stock oem from 1996 lol) and he said since that happened and if he couldn't get another bulb throw in by the time I picked up the bike, he'd knock another hundred off the price. Other than that, its been sitting in his garage for the last 9 years, only being ridden a few hundred miles a year. Every thing else is stock as came from the factory on the bike. So this can be a good and bad thing I'm assuming.

Now I am curious to know if 3500 is too much being that this 96 cbr has less than 6k miles and looks pretty good or should I try to get him to knock more off the price, say down to 3k?

Thanks in advanced for your help. ATGATT

 

I bought my 98 F3 with 4,5k miles for 2500 in Chicago too where the economy is getting to be as bad as California.

3500 is a bit much, especially if it's been dropped.

 

I agree the price is a little high, it might be worth it it was a97 98 version or if it had never been dropped. I would try to talk him down some more if you can. Then again prices vary greatly around the country so it might not be too outrageous. Ask him if he has used stabilize for the past 9 years, if not tell him the carbs might b dirty and you want some more off the price. I would just show up with as much as you'd LIKE to spend in cash and then mention all the things it needs and you might get a deal

 

i think i will just back out of that one...i'm already scheduled to check out an 04 f4i which is an overall better bike i think. the girl wants 4k but i offered 3400. she said she'd think about it and offered me a chance to come out and look at it tomorrow, 1pm.

 

F4i is a great bike

 

Looks like it's been down at low speed.

 

i got my 98se for $3200 with 8k on it. new tires, plugs and fluids. i think it was a fair price for a bike with low miles.

 

i've learned that its next to impossible to find a bike that hasnt been down

 

nah, it's very possible.

 

well now i dont feel so bad, except that it needs tires, bad.