Trying to get back on a GS!

[jbeaber]

Well, after a year away from riding GS500s, i have decided that my commuter bike needs to be replaced with one I actually like.  Last year I grabbed a Nighthawk 650 that didn't run for nothing and I have since gotten it running happily.  I will be selling it soon (anyone interested?).  i will be replacing it with a project or running bike that i actually like, a GS500!!  I commute across the Bay Bridge everyday from the city and the nighthawk is too fat for comfortable lane sharing.  So, i have a lead on a GS.  The price isn't too bad but I am definitely going to be negotiating it down, or at least trying.  I have not seen it and if it is in crap condition, I will likely walk away.  This is the note I received from the owner today....

The GS belonged to a friend of mine.  It's complete (I think) but the front end and some other stuff has been separated.  From what he's told me it needs a new stator and will be back up and running.  If you want it, I'm asking $550. 

So, negotiation points....
1.  Dude, it doesn't run...
2.  What is the current registration status?  (in California you have to catch it up to current if the bike is behind in any registration.  Yes, you have to pay EVERY years worth of registration....)
3.  Please tell me you have a title.
4.  Man, i need a truck to get this home...  Front end isn't even on!
6.  I looked into  stators...  Not cheap (have to verify this one)
6.  Dude, it doesn't run...
7.  What's been going on with the battery?
Any other ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.  I'm not going to be able to try to start it up.  I'll check the condition of the interior of the gas tank, etc...  Thanks.  Look forward to returning to the fold....

[dgyver]

...
2.  What is the current registration status?  (in California you have to catch it up to current if the bike is behind in any registration.  Yes, you have to pay EVERY years worth of registration....)
...

Even if you just bought it?
That is just wrong. 

btw...I have several stators if you do need one.

[jbeaber]

The only way you can be spared is if someone registers it non-operational.  The nighthawk I have right now had ont been on the road for 5 or 6 years when i got it, not registered.  But the guy had registered it non-operational.  When i went to register it all I had to do was pay the current.  My first GS, however, was four years out.  The owner dropped the price $200 because of all the back registration I had to pay.  California can be annoying...  But we can lane share....

[pandy]

Welcome to GSTwin, jbeaber! 

[jbeaber]

Bite me, Pandy    good to be back for such antagonism... 

If i choose to grab this bike i will be in touch, dgyver.  It is a 1991 GS and $550 is a lot of money for that when it doesn't work and is in pieces. 

[pandy]

My '90 ratbike was $200.00....and she runs...and is all in one piece...one of these days, I need to do something with her (such as catch up with her registration!  ). 

[jbeaber]

My last two rat/project bikes cost me a total of $210 to the owners to acquire, both fully registered...  $200 for a 1989 GS500 and $10 and a six pack of beer for the Nighthawk.  We won't discuss the cost of the Triumph.....

[pandy]

 

[Chuck]

Haha, when I leave New York State for being lame and corrupt with red tape and rediculous taxes and stupid laws, I definitely won't go to Cali.

[pingpong]

How much are you thinking of selling the Nighthawk for? I have a friend looking to replace his Nighthawk 650 with...another Nighthawk 650.

[vbad_ben]

Hi i'm new here

i read the post at the top about spare stators. I am in need of one, would you be willling to sell and if so how much?

[sanjay]

You still riding the Triumph?  How's she holding up?

Edit: didn't know how old this thread was...    

[jbeaber]

Well, the Triumph had a few problems.  In the end, under warranty, Triumph ended up replacing the entire fuel injection system.  Now, however, she runs like a dream and is more fun than anything else I have ever ridden.  not that I have ridden a lot of bikes, but i highly recommend the experience.  I also had the first year of the model, really early after they released it.  You sort of have to expect that to be true for a first model.  Minor problems but it has been worth every one of them 

[Prafeston]

Pandy, you have a rat bike? Please do post pictures!

[resistor]

I will have a 94 for sale very soon in the LA area if interested!  48HP at the wheel, full fairing, etc. 

[jbeaber]

One bit of happiness is, consistent with the title, I will soon be back on a GS, just not a 500.  I have been restoring at 1985 GS550ES, an early supersport.  The carbs are all clean and happy.  The gas tank has been Por-15'd (that is a task...  tried other things as wel to de-rust it...).  i'm waiting on a new petcock to finish restoring fuel delivery to the carbs (right now it is working off of a funnel and tubing for fuel).  I changed the oil a few weeks back, brake fluid this week.  Ahh, the fun of projects.  Once i have the fuel system back together, I take it for the first test ride to make sure the whole thing actually works.  Then fork seals and new tires. 
And, since we were on the registration topic a long time ago in this thread....  This bike hasn't been registered in CA since 2000.  Normally this would be a disaster.  But the DMV has no record of the existence of the bike!  I have no title or any documentation.  I will simply get a letter from the previous owner (who was also given the bike DOA from another owner, no title provided) and get the cops to inspect the engine and frame number.  Then just pay the current registration and replacement title fees.  Not too bad....  I also got lucky because this GS550ES is the fully faired version, most are just half faired.  It's a pretty little bike that will hopefully be up in running soon, right before the Bay Area rains come....

[Garethbourne]

Brought 1993 GS 500 E, as a winter bike, but it needed work doing to it and it needed to be registered in the uk, and as so needed a current MOT, Insurance and road tax, but as the bike had no Ignition switch, headlight, Speedo and a bald tyre, they all had to be replaces before I could even get an MOT. This is what it as cost so far-:
£220-: to buy the bike.
£20-: to collect bike.
£35-: to buy head light fairing.
£100-: to buy dash board.
£10-: to get new tyre fitted (tyre was free).
£15-: to get an alarm with remote starting (in place of new ignition switch).
£68-: Insurance.
£28-: M.O.T.
£47-: road Tax.
£50-: Registration fee.
£10-: oil change.
Not to mention about 20 hours of my time to get it all fixed up, but the bike did come with a set of Kappa luggage, which I sold for £100.
That's like just over £600, less the £100 I got in return for the luggage, that's £500, $1000 bucks. That's a lot of money for a 93 GS.
But i like it.

[Prafeston]

Quit complaining, I bought my '90 GS for $1500US and I'm about to put a bunch into it redoing the seals, valves, and gaskets. Not to mention a new paint job...haha.

You got a deal on that thing buying it for less than 500 bucks US.

[Garethbourne]

lol I wish $500, it was £500 UK pounds, thats around $1000 dollors, in US money.

[Prafeston]

oh...still beat my deal!