Personally I’d spend a bit more and get a good clean runner, the bills can be huge and that’s probably why these bikes are being sold as “projects” plus you don’t know what other myriad of issues are lurking beneath the skin.

Over here in the UK £1000 will buy a slightly tatty but good running bike with no major issues, that’s the route I would go.

 

I'm by no means an expert in bike pricing....but I'd fully agree with everything posted. Spend a bit more and get something as a good runner. cosmetics are not important to something you WILL drop. All new riders do....with more frequency than those more experienced among us.
Pretty sure that 88 CBR was listed when I was looking last year. I passed on it and I'm a sucker for projects. Might make a wonderful bike for parts if you find another like it that needs fairings. Its sat a long time.

OR

Do what I did. Buy a "deal" and ride it over the weekend to find out everything it needed. Then tear it down and spend more than the "too spendy to purchase" nice bike I contemplated at the time I found the "deal".
I learned my lesson and spent more on the next one. All it needed was gas and a new rider. Best money I spent not working on something. just riding nearly 1K miles now since end of june. I'll keep riding until ice or 0*F...which ever is first.