To buy or not to buy...

[3imo]

PDX -  good point.

I, personally would buy this. of course I'd just throw a headlight and blinkers on her and be on my way. I rebuilt my first GS from the ground up.  So this one would be an nice toy.

If you have no experience wrenching on a bike and want a reliable commuter, steer clear.
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But man, thats a sweet bike.  I want the tail piece.  anyone know where to get em?

[JetSwing]

where were you a month ago? i know this is after the fact but it's a very nice deal. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=23606.0

as for people who are trying to get $2500 for a '91, is out of their mind. finding a good deal is all about timing really. instead of cycletrader, try craigslist.

i've sold a honda ruckus to a grad student. he, like you, didn't want to deal with parking hassles.

[JetSwing]

PDX -  good point.

I, personally would buy this. of course I'd just throw a headlight and blinkers on her and be on my way. I rebuilt my first GS from the ground up.  So this one would be an nice toy.

If you have no experience wrenching on a bike and want a reliable commuter, steer clear.
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But man, thats a sweet bike.  I want the tail piece.  anyone know where to get em?

only if you like wrenching more than riding. headlight and blinkers are no problem. in virginia, you don't even need to have the blinkers. but where's da taillight?? that won't be an easy fix.

[3imo]

PDX -  good point.

I, personally would buy this. of course I'd just throw a headlight and blinkers on her and be on my way. I rebuilt my first GS from the ground up.  So this one would be an nice toy.

If you have no experience wrenching on a bike and want a reliable commuter, steer clear.
------

But man, thats a sweet bike.  I want the tail piece.  anyone know where to get em?

only if you like wrenching more than riding. headlight and blinkers are no problem. in virginia, you don't even need to have the blinkers. but where's da taillight?? that won't be an easy fix.

I love riding and wrenching about the same. something satisfying about fixing something you can do somethin with, ya know.
I mean I could fix a clock as a hobby, but then what?  tell time all day?

I like the Idea of taking a buncha pieces and wrenching them together, then tearing down the hwy on it. makes my heart pump.

check out my project - http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=24409.0  (iam about to post a vid of me ridding her)

of course I keep one bike running all the time. One time I had my bike torn apart and the rain let up all a sudden. I about cried that day.

[wesleyg]

Dang, you all are quick to reply here.  Is that 88 Ninja in the for sale section on this board because I didn't find it when I did a search?  I'm definitely open to lots of options, but what I do is I go on craigslist, search for $0-$1000 and see what's left.  It's almost always only dirtbikes, mopeds/scooters, an old cruiser or two (nothing wrong with cruisers, but that's not what I want) or something ancient (like the CB you mentioned).  I'm not trying to be too picky about bikes, but I see '79 CB's and older a lot...those just don't seem like good buys to me because of their age.  Maybe I'm completely wrong, but I wouldn't even consider a 26-27 year old car so why a bike where I'm exposed at all times and a mechanical failure might mean I'm going to greet the pavement.

Basically I'm open to all sportbikes, regardless of generation,

Pandy, that link to one for $800, that goes to a different post here about a GS breaking down, is that where you meant for it to go?

[3imo]

I believe she was joking. although JAke D said he was serious.

[pandy]

Pandy, that link to one for $800, that goes to a different post here about a GS breaking down, is that where you meant for it to go?

I believe she was joking. although JAke D said he was serious.

Yup! GS's are finicky sometimes, so breaking down isn't a big deal. They're easy to fix, and the BEST time to get a GREAT deal on a GS is after it's pulled a pout session. Ask my stepson about that!   The difference is that HE's good at wrenching, and I just want to ride, so we struck a deal, and I bought my new SV605S.

You might also try CL between $500 and $1,400. It's not beyond the realm that you might talk someone down from 1.4K to 1K. It never hurts to ask! There isn't too much below $500 that's going to be ready to ride....

[3imo]

would you be willing to get your hands dirty? not that i am selling. just outa curiosity

[My Name Is Dave]

I'm sorry, by "here" I mean portland. I'm just making the point that there are deals out there, you just need to know what to look for.

A great find would be a newer bike (early-to-mid '90s) that has low miles and one or two owners. It ran last year but sat for six months and now won't start, much to the owner's dismay. Pick it up cheap, and you're in the money. Disassemble the carb and soak it in Berryman's chem dip and possibly rebuild it. New battery, clean and lube chain, clean gas tank, check tires...after that you should be ready to ride. I took those steps on the 1981 Honda C70 scooter I bought from my brother and took it from totally dead to purring like a kitten. Well, it was until I crashed it while riding a wheelie and killed it. But I'm hoping to have her running again this weekend...

Keep your eyes open and keep coming to the forum for help and advice. You'll be on a bike before you know it.

[GeeP]

PASS!

You can do a hell of a lot better on a GS, if you're willing to travel.  I bought mine from a guy in Indiana while I was in California.  Watch the for-sale section here, there are some good deals every now and then.

I bought mine for significantly less than that thing, and I got precisely what I wanted.  It was pre-modded!   

Depending on your state you may not be able to register a salvage title.  In IL you have to have it certified "rebuilt" by a dealer before you can apply for a "rebuilt" title.

Keep your eyes peeled and be patient.   

[wesleyg]

A salvage title can be registered in VA after passing an inspection. 

PASS!

You can do a hell of a lot better on a GS, if you're willing to travel.  I bought mine from a guy in Indiana while I was in California.  Watch the for-sale section here, there are some good deals every now and then.

I bought mine for significantly less than that thing, and I got precisely what I wanted.  It was pre-modded!   

Depending on your state you may not be able to register a salvage title.  In IL you have to have it certified "rebuilt" by a dealer before you can apply for a "rebuilt" title.

Keep your eyes peeled and be patient.   

A salvage title can be registered in VA after passing an inspection.  I'm not sure who does the inspecting, but it can be done according to DMV's website.

would you be willing to get your hands dirty? not that i am selling. just outa curiosity

I'd be willing to get my hands dirty, not that you're selling though.

You might also try CL between $500 and $1,400. It's not beyond the realm that you might talk someone down from 1.4K to 1K. It never hurts to ask! There isn't too much below $500 that's going to be ready to ride....

What is a CL? Who makes it?

I believe she was joking. although JAke D said he was serious.

Anyone know what state JakeD lives in?

[pandy]

CL = Craig's List www.craigslist.org

[3imo]

My point is that if you are willing to work on a bike.  why not go with the trackbike?

It may be labor intesive and it may not.  just my opinion though. if I had the dough, i'd snatch it up, he's offering a frame and extra motor. two rims with new wheels.seems like decent offer to me.

[JetSwing]

Anyone know what state JakeD lives in?

jake is in KC

[My Name Is Dave]

I'm willing to cook pasta for dinner, I'm just not willing to gather up the salt, flour, water, and whatever other ingredients I need to make the actual noodles themselves.

I think that we're all willing to put in some work, it's just a matter of how much. I look at old bikes everyday that would be good candidates for an overhaul. Of course I have a bike that runs like a dream and a scooter that runs every other week, so my demand is different than his. If I had nothing, I would want the one I bought to be as close to running as possible.

Not saying anyone's wrong, just throwing out my opinion.

[3imo]

good point.  but what makes this bike suspect of being high maintenance?

sure its a track bike that was more than likely ridden extremely hard.   But it may still be in tip top shape.
I don't see this as a problem bike. definitely not by going off looks and the fact that its a track bike.
I would definitely take a day to check it out. at least listen to her run and take her for a spin.

yes you can do better on a completely stock bike. (and maybe cheaper)  but I just think its a bit presumptious to be turned off just because it was a "track bike"

a running GS completely stock will go for 1300 easy.  with this deal you get a great looking bike and pleanty of extras to sweeten the deal. hell, the frame will sell for at least $100 on ebay even with the engine cradle missing.good rims with wheels will sell here for a pretty penny, as well.

If it wasn't such a long drive for the dude, I'd tell him to go and check it out at least.  I would. if the engine goes out in 6 months, you have a spare.

UNLESS he is trying to return it to stock. that would be stupid. 

[My Name Is Dave]

Well the conversion back to street legality will be a pain in itself. Obtaining and rewiring the lights and signals gives me a headache just thinking about it. Add in that the guy doesn't seem sure on the mileage of the bike along with the salvage title and you have what could be some major issues.

Buuuuuuut, that's just me. You really seem into the tail more than anything. That's like buying a mediocre house because there's a bar in the basement. You know you could buy a cool house and then build your own bar in there, right? As you could also buy a bike in great shape and put on a solo tail.

[3imo]

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f191/eimoytiana/wed004.jpg

This stuff was posted for sale not long ago on this forum. complete wiring harness is in there.   I think he still has that stuff.

you do not have to go back to stock headlight and turnsignals. you could go aftermarket. for cheap. EBAY for example.

if you can't install a wiring harness, you have no business with a wrench in your hand.

what more does that bike need.  a tail light? how hard would it really be to graft a taillight into that piece of plastic/fiberglass? 

[JetSwing]

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f191/eimoytiana/wed004.jpg

This stuff was posted for sale not long ago on this forum. complete wiring harness is in there.   I think he still has that stuff.

you do not have to go back to stock headlight and turnsignals. you could go aftermarket. for cheap. EBAY for example.

if you can't install a wiring harness, you have no business with a wrench in your hand.

what more does that bike need.  a tail light? how hard would it really be to graft a taillight into that piece of plastic/fiberglass? 

i have to say that this is not a sound advice given to a noob. i would not advise anyone to buy a salvaged title track bike to be used as a street bike. and it's not even a good deal straight up!

[3imo]

THe guy already said he wouldn't go for it.
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My point is that he was put off by the opinion that its a bad deal because its a salvage title track bike.

I simply suggest that he take a look at the bike and ride it a bit. listen to the engine run. get a feel for it.
If he doesn't trust his opinion, take a friend who mightknow a thing or two.

If he can accept the fact that he will most likely be getting his hands dirty. (he mentioned it in his original post)
and he is satified with the bike when he sees and ride it, then he may find a GEM.

YES, it probably has been tortured, and YES, it will require some elbow grease. HE knows that. But he hasn't ridden the bike, hasn't even touched it. It might be a great deal.  It even comes with a spare engine (which he should also check out as best he can).

I speak from experience as a wrench turner. I have bought an ugly vehicle a time or two.  And been lucky 9 times outa ten.

I am not saying he shouldn't trust his instincts, though. He is a Noob and admits his inexperience.  SO in that case JETSWING you are right he should steer away from a trackbike. that would be the safe bet.

of course a noob could also buy a perfectly rotten street legal GS also. inexperience is inexperience.
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we still buddies?