Hi Guys, Noob needs some price opinions!

[Johnny5]

OK, so I've looked at quite a few bikes.  Found one I really like, I rode it for a few minutes, started right up from cold, brakes felt good:

1998 suzuki GS500e, Azteca Orange, 14,000 miles.

The Good:
Very good condition , just had carbs rebuilt, oil changed, full tuneup, inline fuel filter installed,  new front tire put on at the end of the summer. It is in perfect running condition, starts right up, no leaks.   Cosmetically it's very good, no rust on the frame that I could see.

Vance & Hines exhaust and a K&N air filter.
Steering stabilizer.
Battery tender, windscreen, and gear net.

The Not so good:
The dealer that did the full tune + carb rebuild did say there was a tiny bit of rust coming from the tank, so they installed new fuel lines and a new inline fuel filter (just in case) to catch any sort of rust; after 600 miles the filter does not have one speck of rust or anything in it.

The headers are a bit rusty.

There is one very small ding on the tank, paint chip about 1/4 the size of a pea with some rust.

He had it listed for $1800, got him down to $1500, and he's pretty firm at that price.  What do you guys think of the price?

Thanks,

J

[scottpA_GS]

Hey! Welcome to the board!

Not a bad price.. I would pay 1500 but you may be able to go a bit lower or get them to throw in a helmet and gloves or some other gear. 

I say print out the NADA .They say 1200-1600. take it in w/ cash and offer 1400 out the door 

http://www.nadaguides.com/Values/ValueReport.asp?UserID=a563c843-1da6-449b-b73e-e1d213091b43&DID=39031&Type=MC&GCode=MC&wPg=1107&wSec=3&Letter=S&Com=0241&Year=1998&Model=1200012412

[TragicImage]

you can dismiss the "Steering Damper"... a GS500 seriously doesn't need one. at all. ever.


that might knock the price down a bit.

[Chilly Willy]

That's a good price, especially with all of the mods (exhaust, filter, windscreen).  If you can get him down to 1400, great.  If not, you're still getting a good deal.

Chilly

[starwalt]

You are right in the sweet zone according to my ebay stats.

CLICK HERE

[Johnny5]

Thanks guys!  Very MUCH appreciated!

Starwalt, that graph is awesome!  Hell Ebay has to be a better indicator(or at least as good) than Kelley or Nada at this point...

[rob1bike]

+1 on the stabilizer, no need. The vance and h pipes rust on the gs, you'll need to repaint it every few years, but he may not know that. But that's not too bad of a range. The pipe new is 300, pods and carb, depending on who did it, 75ish, more at a dealer. If you likr it buy it! 1st bike? Can't go wrong, 3rd or 5th still pretty cool!

[Johnny5]

+1 on the stabilizer, no need. The vance and h pipes rust on the gs, you'll need to repaint it every few years, but he may not know that. But that's not too bad of a range. The pipe new is 300, pods and carb, depending on who did it, 75ish, more at a dealer. If you likr it buy it! 1st bike? Can't go wrong, 3rd or 5th still pretty cool!

Good points Rob, Thanks! 
This will be my first bike in about 17 years.  I rode Enduros up and down my street as a kid(had an old Kawi 100cc), I had a streetbike (Yamaha Special II 400cc) just out of High School for a year or two.  I sold the Yamaha to buy a Quad, which I had for a couple of years, and that's the last thing I rode with a hand operated clutch in 15 or so years! 

I was a little nervous when I took this one for a spin in the lot, but once I got on and released the clutch it was like I never stopped riding LOL.  I love the GS500 I think it's absolutely the perfect bike for me to start back out on.  And I LOVE naked streetbikes above all else.  I considered an SV650, but the price is higher (as is the seat height - I'm strong as an Ox as a powerlifter but short as hell LOL).  Plus I was worried it might be to much for me to start back on.

[starwalt]

Starwalt, that graph is awesome!  Hell Ebay has to be a better indicator(or at least as good) than Kelley or Nada at this point...

The commercial price setters get most of their data from participating dealers, though I am sure they survey other sources. The problem with the second method is that you never know if or how much the item sold for.

I've got a huge spreadsheet -- that continues to grow with every ebay GS listed -- and probably the largest personal collection of GS VINs in the world. With the VINs I can see the same bike sold/listed multiple times. Once in different colors!

As I've said before, that and $1.09 will get you a bottle of Dasani Grape at the local convienience store. 

[scratch]

Welcome!

I'd get it for $1500!

[pandy]

Welcome! 

And post pics of your new baby when you pick her (him?) up! 

[Johnny5]

Welcome! 

And post pics of your new baby when you pick her (him?) up! 

Thanks Pandy, will do!