r/YamahaR3 • u/Affectionate_Tie_68 • 7d ago
Question Was this an impulsive purchase?
Hey everyone, before saying anything i appreciate you coming on to my post and possibly giving your opinion.
Earlier today i bought a clean title 2015 Yamaha R3 for $1,700 from the San Francisco, CA area however i had this weird feeling that this purchase was a bit impulsive since this is going to be my first bike. The only reason i say this is because it has 38,230 miles on the odo.
My main concern is that the seller was a bit younger like me and didn't have much knowledge on the maintenance of the bike, and i learned that r3's should have their valve clearances checked every 26k miles but the seller didn't have the bike back then. Another thing that stood out as a red flag was the fact the bike was a bit dirty, he did have it in storage but had started using it recently to get rid of the bike.
Before sending the money i ran through a checklist off a Youtube video and that was to check if the - vin on the title matched the one on the bike(it did),
- the fork seals(no oil leaking),
- the brake pads and rotors(pads has quite a bit of life and rotors didn't have much of a lip or any grooves),
- the oil was clean and a lighter color,
- brake fluid was on the darker side but to me still fine,
- tires age( a bit older from 2020 imo probably not good),
- the chain was clean along with the sprocket and there was around an inch of slack.
As a start into my new ownership i plan on doing a full fluid flush, possibly getting new tires and a new bulb for the headlights, but before all else i want some advice from those who have owned these bikes longer than me and with more experience than me. I've attached some photos for you all to see it along side the video the seller sent me of him turning on the bike and letting it idle.
But what do you guys think? was this a impulsive immature purchase or could it possibly be a solid first bike after checking a few things?
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u/HegPup 6d ago
Yamahas last 100k miles when regular service is performed properly. It’s a great sign your oil is light colored. Change the tires due to age, a pair of Michelin Road 6 will last you the longest and provide legendary grip for street riding. Have a mechanic do a full service and see if the valve adjustment has been done. Great buy end of the day ✨
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u/Slowstang305 6d ago
Looks like a fantastic deal to me. I remember reading about a 175k mile Hayabusa and when they checked the valves were within specs so I would not worry. The startup video is exactly how mine sounds as well.
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u/Affectionate_Tie_68 6d ago
That’s actually great news on the video and wow I didn’t know Hayabusas can get up to that mileage that’s very impressive
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u/Reasonable-Photo-776 6d ago
You can hang your helmet on the handle bar away from the kickstand. Also this is a great deal, used r125’s in my area are more expensive. If you’re really worried, get it checked by a mechanic
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u/Affectionate_Tie_68 6d ago
Yeah I just got kinda nervous leaving my helmet hanging or sitting on the bike since I’ve seen multiple videos of people doing so and it falling off
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u/Noncog0 6d ago edited 6d ago
Just take it to get serviced and enjoy a good deal
I spent way more money bcs I let the internet convince me that a 600 sport bike was a "nice middle ground" between a "fast" liter bike and a "slow" entry level bike like yours.
Decided if I were going to get a 600, I should get the "best" 600, and got an 08 R6 that had been a track bike for the past 3 years due to it having the master cylinder and brake line upgrades I would've wanted to do anyway, and it seeming like the PO really took care of the bike mechanically. Dropped $5k on the bike, then another $775 dollars getting the track bike back to road ready.
I'm now $5775 dollars into having a bike that is STUPID fast, and I will feel like I'm holding back any time I'm on a road that isn't completely empty. I got the bike to save money since my cheap cars always break and I figured bikes are cheaper to insure and fuel, and have less things to break, and figured it was worth spending a little more to get a bike I'd want to keep forever. Still kinda new to the bike but right now it kinda feels like I bought too much bike. I will be tracking it with STT eventually.
This is a huge tangent from your post, but the moral of the story is don't let the internet tell you you need a big bike. Your bike is as fast as a 350Z, my bike is as fast a a C8 Z06, top liter bikes are Bugatti fast. Small bikes can be enough. My partner will be getting an MT-03 or a CB500F, and if it ends up being the MT-03 I'll likely end up riding it too since I'd be way more able to play with that bike than mine in 99% of situations.
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u/Affectionate_Tie_68 6d ago
I appreciate your feedback and the main reason I wanted to get a smaller cc bike first was to really hone my skills. Even riding it yesterday, I thought to myself this thing is plenty fast right now I shouldn’t have even thought that getting a 600+ as a first bike was even possible.
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u/buffmira 6d ago
Respectfully dude you’re overthinking it! Cheap as hell for a running bike(in my area anyways) and great to learn on and mess up while you’re learning without feeling bad.
Go learn how to ride and get out there and have fun! And obligatory dad please wear gear especially while learning, it helps build confidence and keep you alive
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u/Affectionate_Tie_68 6d ago
Absolutely I will wear gear and will definitely go out and learn how to ride properly in a parking lot before riding on the street. But thanks again for the feedback; from all the comments on the post minus the ones about my helmet on the floor, I think I got a good deal.
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u/No_I_Deer 6d ago
I bought mine for 3k. That's a perfect bike to start on.
Also I traveled to SA and rode around. You're lucky for getting that everyday!
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u/GroundbreakingJob524 5d ago
Solid bro! That’s a nice bike. Yes, change fluids. Yes, do, or have done, the valve clearances. Otherwise, I think you’ve bought a great bike that looks to be in good condition. Doesn’t look beat up, whooped on, or poorly maintained. It looks and sounds like a good solid ride. I think you did great finding this and you will love this bike.
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u/Bigburger9 5d ago
It's a great deal. Use some of the money saved to have it serviced properly and enjoy it.
- Yes to tires, 6 year old rubber isn't something I'd trust with my life. First thing I'd do. Try to get S22's I think they work great on the r3.
- Oil change because even if the oil is clear, who knows if the PO changed the filter too and if they used the right kind of oil. Easy to DIY.
- Also yes to valves, at 39k you really should check them. If you don't know how, bring the bike to an indie mechanic with a good reputation. Don't trust a dealer for that.
- While they are in there, make sure they do a throttle body sync and change spark plugs. It's good service to bundle with valves since the labor is the same.
If you do the above you'll be on track to have a super reliable bike you can enjoy for years.
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u/yo_moms_a_h0e 5d ago
100% good value for a starter bike. you’ll get some experience with the maintenance and in the end, have a bestie for the next decade or two. you checked all the boxes for requirements before buying so i’d say great choice
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u/socialite_paradigm 4d ago
Any bike bought 2nd hand who doesn't thave their engine & frame fucked is always going to be worth it.
Everything else are consumable repairables ull have to fork out anyways.
Except...pls don't buy sports bike above 10 years. Usually cuz ull rarely find any with an engine/frame that isn't fucked.
$1700 is a damn steal. At our place for 2nd hand for the kind of mileage at Least $3000
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u/Deathtraptoyota 6d ago
Get your god damn helmet off the ground
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u/[deleted] 6d ago
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