Bigger, better, older?

Have the "opportunity" to swap my YZF-600R, 2001, 12000 miles, slight cosmetic
damage, plus 750 quid, for a YZF-1000R, 1999, 32000 miles, no cosmetic damage.

Shit, good, or somewhere in the middle?

 

Depends on whether the gearbox is fucked or not.

 

Thundercat to Thunderace?

At that mileage the 'ace is about to start drinking oil on a regular basis.
But is a great bike of its time.

 

If it's not fucked, it's a decent deal? Any way I can easily check for
fuckedness on a test ride?

 

You'll have to excuse me knowing not a lot. Drinking oil due to gasket leaks,
valve stem seals, piston rings, or something else? I thought they were
reliable as ****.

 

They drink oil (as many Yamahas) and are reliable. Mine is getting close to
100.000kms with no problems except that 1litre/1000kms that Yamaha reckons
as within tolerances. At the end you just add oil every X miles and even
like that feeling of "running on fresh oil"

I never heard of problems with this bike but heard horror tales with Hondas
CBR1100XX, for instance.

 

Really? The bike has issues[0] but holds the reputation of being
mechanically robust[1]. A mate who does 20+ thousand miles a year as an
escorted tour guide rates them. He has had several over the years and tends
to sell them on when they are 3 years old with 60-70000 miles on the
odometer. 1 main service a year with an oil change every 4-6000 miles. He
might have to replace a clutch and some brake/suspension components in that
time but these would be normal wear & tear items over that sort of mileage.

[0] ponderous handling, dull, a huge appetitie for fuel and a propensity to
go ditch surfing
[1] apart from Honda's signature faults across the range: a rattly camchain
adjuster and melted voltage regulator

 

Yes, exactly that. May be "horror" was exagerated, sut several issues
divided by no issues (except oil) gives a very large number ;-)