Tough call- Money issues

[Unnamed]

So I've been looking at GS's for a few months now and I definitely want one, but I'm having trouble finding them for sale within my price range. As a broke college student, my budget for a bike is only about $2000, and less would be better. At that sort of price I can't really find any GS's. So, knowing my budget, would you recommend trying to hold out and find an old, heavily used GS or would you suggest broadening my search to include almost any standard/ sport bike under 70hp and $2000? I can find EX500s occasionally and some Katana 600s, and while I don't really want to start on them I'd rather be riding something I don't like as much than nothing at all.

[My Name Is Dave]

Oh boy, $2K may get you a bike, but there's a lot more that will come your way for expenses. Gear, maintenance, and so on will cost a fair amount also, so I can't really tell you what I would do. Other than keep saving for a little while.

Regardless, good luck.

Dave

[TragicImage]

Be Stingy with your money.


The right deal will always present itself.  Be Patient.

Don't settle for something you don't want, just cause its there.

[RVertigo]

++ on the gear...

Minimum gear:

Helmet ($150 - $300+)
Jacket ($100 - $350+)
Gloves ($60 - $150+)

Then you have:

Boots ($50-$200+)
Pants ($80-$250+)

THEN!!!

When you get a used bike for cheap, there's a reason...  Will it need:

New tires? ($250+)
New Chain && Sprockets?  (I forgot how much)
Other maintenance?  (Depending on problems...  $40 - $1000+)

And before you even ride the thing...  Do you need MSF?  MSF in WA is $240...  

AND!!!

The cost of licensing the bike in your name...

You're looking at a minimum $500 investment, not counting problems the bike might have.

[BaoQingTian]

I got my '92 a few weeks ago for $900.  But...I've had to shell out about $300 in parts- a new rear tire, chain and sprocket set, carb rebuild kits, hoses, oil change, clymer manual, fork seals, and various other maintenance items.  I already owned the tools, so that didn't cost any extra, but figure you'll need a decent sized metric socket set and wrench set just to get started.  

I have spent about 20-30 hours of wrench time on the bike spread over a couple weeks, but that's really just a weekend if you're single and don't have to spend time with your family.

So anyways, if you're buying a used bike from the 1000-2500 dollar range, I'd be prepared to budget about $500 in maintanence (if you do it all yourself).   Also, don't be afraid to try to talk people down.  The bike I bought was listed for $1500, he was willing to go down $600 and deliver it 200 miles for $50 more.  Craigslist, ebay, word of mouth, and local classifieds are your friends.  Good Luck!

Edit: Sorry for slow typing...doubleplusgood to what he said above.

[RVertigo]

I got my '92 a few weeks ago for $900.

Great deal...  I got my '01 for damn cheap and had to do the same sort of stuff...  New tires, valves (two were burnt), chain (rusted and stretched), sprockets (looked like chewed up saw blades), rear brakes, air filter, replaced the bent bars, semi-broken mirrors.

Except that I don't have the tools, talent, time, or location to do the work myself.    I had to pay someone else...


And there's a whole bunch of other crap I still need to do to it...  (I'm just lazy, broke, and stupid ).

[BaoQingTian]

Don't sell yourself short on the stupid thing man.  If the guys down at the garage can do it, then you can too (for about 90% of the jobs that don't require really special tools or knowledge).  I've never seriously wrenched before.  Most advanced thing I've done was put a CAI on my car a few years back. 

I was nervous about the very 1st thing I tackled with the GS- cleaning the carbs.  But with the manual, and this board, it wasn't too bad.  I did it again 2 weeks after that when my rebuild kits came, and it only took me a fraction of the time it did the first time.  It's really a great bike to learn on- both wrenching and riding.

[Queso]

I was looking for a bike in the same range, ended up getting a good shape 2000 GS for $2k. After registering it, paying for MSF, buying a full set of gear, buying several new tools, several new parts, and getting a new tire, and getting a few extra goodies for it, I had about 4 grand into it all together... I sold my car to get a bike, though. DEFINITELY worth it. Wouldn't trade back for nothing.

I've never worked on a bike before in my life, though I did a little maintenance on my cars, and a bit of electric work (not going to even try putting a sound system on my bike...) And the GS is real easy to work on once you get past seized bolts I don't think you could really go wrong as long as you find one that runs and just tune it up.

[Phaedrus]

Are you in Chicago now or around here? If you are around here, I can keep my eyes open. I've heard Pastrami mention a few times she sees them down toward the city for good prices; well within your range. So it can be done. I wouldn't buy something you won't be happy with, though. I bought my '04 brand new, and I am still happy with it. The "you will outgrow it" is only if you need high speed acceleration in straight lines or you are a serious track junky or something.

Keep your eyeballs on craigslist, too. I saw one on there the other day priced reasonably.

I don't know about Chicago, but if you ride in NY, you don't NEED the MSF but you do need a class M. The MSF is around $300, last I knew, FYI. Insurance is another consideration. And if you get one around here, I'd be willing to lend whatever knowledge I have to help get you up to snuff.

And +1 on what RVertigo and TragicImage said. 

[corndog67]

Sit back and wait, with money at the ready.  Sometimes, people will be really, really hurting for money, and if you come along at just the right time with some green at hand, you can get killer deal.  I also watch tow truck company lien sales, and repossession sales.  The deals are out there, you just have to look for them. 

[makenzie71]

jesus $2k should get you  great GS.  If you can't find a GS, let me know...I can find you even more EX's.

[GeeP]

$2k bought me a 96 GS pre-modded just the way I wanted it and paid most of the cost of custom leathers to boot.  It took a year of waiting in the shadows, but it was worth it.  Sit back, relax, watch the papers, craigslist, the board.  Hold on to your cash and wait for a deal to come your way.  Don't get in a rush!

RVertigo's figures are good.  There's a whole lot more to motorcycling than buying a bike...

Welcome!

[hmmmnz]

the katanas and bandits are good bikes also, id broarden your search a little, dont get a smelly ex. stinky twin shock dog that they are you could also look into a 4 cylinder 400 most of them are generly quite good bikes if not harder to work on than the gs. id try to go for some thing with no fairings, as it makes it easier to work on. and every one loves a street fighter
good luck

[shik]

++ on the gear...

Minimum gear:

Helmet ($150 - $300+)
Jacket ($100 - $350+)
Gloves ($60 - $150+)

Then you have:

Boots ($50-$200+)
Pants ($80-$250+)

THEN!!!

When you get a used bike for cheap, there's a reason...  Will it need:

New tires? ($250+)
New Chain && Sprockets?  (I forgot how much)
Other maintenance?  (Depending on problems...  $40 - $1000+)

And before you even ride the thing...  Do you need MSF?  MSF in WA is $240... 

AND!!!

The cost of licensing the bike in your name...

You're looking at a minimum $500 investment, not counting problems the bike might have.

Hehe, yeah. I hadn't thought of that when I bought my bike - and damn, did I get surprised.

I was lucky though - I only had to get a helmet and new reartire and pay 70$ to transfer it to my name. The rest was already taken care off.

I would say to wait for a bike - or be aware of "unforseen" expenses. They always seem to come with used stuff.   

[hmmmnz]

man all you guys get shafted on prices, i can get a gs over her for under £500 cost like £2 to change ownership over, a brand new helmet for under £50 a armoured jacket and pants for under £100, but i find the pants frustrating and only wear them if its raining. so all up over here you can be blasting around for under £650 about $1200 and thats if you really cant be bothered searching for cheaper deals or buying second hand stuff.

[Kasumi]

Well having just bought a bike i was on a tight budget - thankfully i already have gear but in desperate need of some new stuff however it will have to wait.

I looked at getting a GS but i really wanted an 04+ and that came right to my budget of £2k without a restrictor kit/insurance or whatever. Getting demoralised i kept looking around - SV's were good but i wouldn't suggest to anyone with no riding experience. They were about 2K and didnt have the finish issues of the GS's. I went to a motorcycle dealer to look at the bikes and talk to the guys there and fell in love with a bike they had in for service. A zxr400. Old - yes, but modern. It must have been the absolute edge of motorcyling when it came out meaning it was still fairly top these days. I bought one thru ebay after test riding for 1K! 15 years old yet, 4 cylinder 4stroke, USD forks, fully adjustable all round suspension all sorts of trick bits at standard. Plus the one i bought had a custom paint job and polished frame and swingarm and powder coated wheels! Fantastic deal. The only work ive had to do is oil and filter change, gearbox oil change, sparkplugs were lovely and clean, its just had new sprokets and chain and sport demon's front and rear. Its beautiful and damn cheap. If you can get a 400 over in america i would heavily suggest it - try ebay. They are all imports from Japan, usually 99.9% of the time have had conversion kits already fitted. They are wonderful. It puts out 65bhp so more than the GS for half the price. Plus styling is so modern people keep asking me if its a brand new one 

[hmmmnz]

i had the zxr 400 as well brilliant bike to have when your 16, i thought i was so cool, got to love nz motorcycle laws. 

[Kasumi]

You were allowed one when you were 16?!?! bloody hell lucky sod. I have to have it now im 17 and still have to have it restricted but i think il just rip it out after half a year or so. Why did you (hate to say it) but downsize to a GS?

[Unnamed]

THe $2000 price I gave counts for the extras. In reality I can spend closer to $2500 and I'm planning on putting the extra $500 into gear and other expenses. In Illinois the state pays for the MSF (equivalent) so that baby is free at least. I found this 2002 on ebay ending tonight and if the price doesnt go too high I'm seriously considering it. The price seems a bit low now, does anyone have any helpful input? The auction looks a bit sketchy but I don't mind putting in some wrench work if I can get a black, unfaired bike for less than 2k.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4648709948&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

[Kasumi]

Look's good to me. However reserve hasnt been met so see if you can get him to tell you what it is. if its low enough download auction sentry use the free trial. www.auctionsentry.com

Use help files to work out how to use it. Put in your max bid and let it do its magic.