Years from now, when all motorcycles are turbocharged or electric and sportbikes of today are considered “old,” we’ll look back to simpler times. Times when you could make 176 all motor horsepower without the cage of traction control, and only a braided steel throttle cable stood between you, glory, and space. We will look back to the K5-K6 Suzuki GSXR1000. The long stroke engine of the 2005-2006 Suzuki came at a time when superbikes bore a strong lineage to world endurance racers. You know what other bike has an engine heavily based on its world endurance cousin? The BMW HP4 Race. Road racers, canyon carvers, and drag racers alike all seem to think the GSXR1000 was made for them, and that is no easy feat.
Many K6 GSXR1000s sold, but there were many abused as well. Reliability is not necessarily a problem, but finding a low mile example can be difficult on a bike that invites Hooniganism. I found this 10,000 mile GSXR1000 on Craigslist in San Diego. Most listings say that bikes enjoyed ‘adult owners’ and lived ‘gentle lives,’ while the pictures clearly depict abuse. I believe it here though, with the only modification being a set of upright handle bars necessary due to the owner’s age. The exhaust does appear to be titanium, but it looks to have been a factory option. There are some scuffs on the can, but there is not a single blemish notable on the plastic. The owner is asking $6,500, which might seem like a lot for a 13 year old bike. However, I would wager it is a sign of things to come as nostalgia for this era of bike grows. What is your favorite literbike from before 2010?
Find this Gixxer for sale in San Diego, California for $6,500 here on Craigslist.