Buying first bike & have specific newbie questions..

[Jerel05]

I began talking to a fella about buying his son's 2002 GS500 for my first bike.
I just have a couple of questions for you guys and gals here.


First of all,  I noticed the rusty exhaust pipes, and have noticed it in the other pics of GS's I've seen.
Is this common to all GS500's/motorcycles, even one that's just a couple of yrs old?

Secondly, he mentioned that it's been sitting in his garage for 6 months (it has about 6,000 miles).
Is there anything specific I should ask about or be weary of relating to it sitting for that long the
next time I call him back?

Thanks.

[luksi]

I have an 02 and my pipes are just alittle less discolored at 4000 miles.  Sitting for 6 months might mean a little trouble starting up...battery, old gas...search this board and there are many suggestions on gas additives and carb sprays that will get it going.  The seller should have been starting it periodically.  Previous owner of mine let it sit about 3 months.  A little extra cranking, some battery charging and mine fired right up.  I changed oil and haven't stopped yet.  Sounds like a good find...check to see if anything's been modified from stock and check the tires for nails...if it's been reasonably maintained and the price is right...jump on it.

[scratch]

The pipes look like the normal road dirt/surface rust <-very minor. The exhaust mounting flange bolts look like the typical rust red surface rust.

Sitting for six months - I'd look to see if the battery has fluid. Ask him if he prepared it for storage. Tire pressures (and what are they now) and general tire condition. Full tank? Drained the carburetors? Did he squirt some oil in the cylinders to keep the rings from rusting to the cylinder walls? Did the brake pads rust to the disk? Rust on the chain? What color is the brake fluid? Ever change the fork oil?

If the tank was not full, look to see if there is rust in there.