1989 GS500 value?

[scott s]

  I know the GS's have a following and are desirable, but are the values listed in NADA and Kelly Blue Book true? Almost everything I see for sale goes for more than the books list them at. sometimes much more.
  I know, I know....they're worth what you will pay....worth what the market will bear...etc.
  What's an '89 with 10K worth? Pretty nice shape, clip-ons, factory chin spoiler and faring, one small dent in gas tank (paint didn't even flake). Supposedly mechanically sound, but let's assume I'll have to at least give it a good tune-up. (I would do that with just about anything I get anyway)
  NADA list and '89 at less than $800. Find me a few at that price and I'll buy them all!

[pandy]

Our starwalt  has some information on cost/pricing here. 

[scott s]

 Hmm, very interesting. That sorta jibes with the NADA guides. KBB list one at $1375. However, I just don't see them for sale, let alone at those prices. I've been searching for a good starter bike for months (not just a GS) and I'm having a hard time finding ANYTHING under $1500, except for 250 Rebels and such. Even vintage bikes are bringing over $2000 around here. Heck, you gotta spend over three grand around these parts for anything that's not a dirtbike or a single cylinder, small dispacement bike.
The guy's asking $2,000 OBO for this one...now I'm wondering if that's not way too high?

[The Buddha]

Find me a few and I'll gladly buy them all ... 800 for an 89 ... yea ...
Honestly, the books count in 3000 or 5000 miles a year. With that factored in 800 is stinking high. I had 48K on a 89 and in 05 sold it for 650. I'd ahve these clowns quote blue book and say my 92 should be sold for 800 cos blue book says so ... and I'd say Yea sure I'll sell you one at blue book price ... and ask them to show up with the book. then point out the 89's allowed miles, and price and say you can have that 89 for 700. Cheaper than book. And 3 of them bought other bikes instead of the 89 GS. Finally that was all I had and it went too.
2K is high, but 1500 is fair if its low (under ~10K) and in good shape.
In Charlotte NC I have a few bikes for 1500-3K. No GS'es but good starter cruisers etc.
Cool.
Srinath.

[pandy]

2K!!??!! 

[scott s]

In Charlotte NC I have a few bikes for 1500-3K. No GS'es but good starter cruisers etc.
Cool.
Srinath.

What kind of stuff do you have? Not really into the cruisers, but.....I'm having a heck of a time finding a decent starter bike.

[The Buddha]

I have a vulcan 750 and a virago 1100. That is the 2 real cruisers I have.
I got maxim 700s air and water cooled, and I have a suzuki savage which is a chopper wanna be more than a cruiser.
In 2 months I should have a GS though. I am planning to work on this guy's savage and fix it for the GS I sold him over the winter.
I usually mechanically sort them out well. Cosmetically they may be a good way down the food chain. ironically, the whole pack I have at this time, with the exception of the water cooled maxim is cosmetically great too. I just powdercoated them all in some shiny bright colors.
If you're local to charlotte and area, if you bought anything from me, I could show you how to fix/maintain it etc at your place.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Johnny5]

Wow... 2k?  For an '89?  That sounds crazy high... I'm the furthest from a GS expert that there is on this site but personally I would never pay that much for a GS that old unless it had a frame off restore LOL.  (Unless maybe I got the steal of the century on mine LOL).

You may have to be patient since it's close to spring, but you should fairly easily be able to find a good (and newer) bike for $1500 bucks... Keep checking Ebay and Craigslist.  Cycletrader usually has a bunch as well.

[Egaeus]

I've got a 99 for less than that, but it has a slight problem....

[scott s]

 Yeah, I told him $1500 max and that's without seeing the bike in person. It has low miles but some minor dents and dings. He has other offers and I told him to call me if they fell through.
 
Thing is, I've been watching bike prices for close to two years. I helped my girlfriend find her '85 Yamaha FJ600 and we scanned the internet, cycle trader, etc for quite a while and still do. I just don't see the kind of stuff I'm looking for in that price range around here. There are a LOT of riders in this area, I guess SOMEbody is gonna buy "that" bike and people can hold out for the higher price.

[Johnny5]

I think that guy is pulling your leg... here is an '89 on Ebay with less miles in good shape and the current bid is at under $1300 with about an hour left on the auction (with 26 bids). 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/89-Suzuki-GS-500E_W0QQitemZ280093483222QQcategoryZ133177QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

$2k for an 89' in the condition you described seems way high.  Honestly it seems like a fair price for a decent GS in the 8 year and older range is about $1500 bucks.

[Egaeus]

Well, the only way I'm going to come down from 1800 is if it doesn't come with the new body parts, suspension upgrade, and the other extras, all of which it desperately needs.  Of course, it's a bit of a drive from SC.

[Johnny5]

Well, the only way I'm going to come down from 1800 is if it doesn't come with the new body parts, suspension upgrade, and the other extras, all of which it desperately needs.  Of course, it's a bit of a drive from SC.

Haven't seen your bike but $1800 sounds pretty reasonable to me if in good shape and decent mileage especially with the upgrades. 

[Egaeus]

Click on the FOR SALE link in my sig.  There are pictures there. 

[spc]

I got my 94  for 800.  it had 14k miles and one fairing was a little rough but when it went to the local suzuki shop the mechanic said it sounded better than the 500f that they sell. 

[scott s]

  All of these deals sound great and I'd jump all over them. But they're all too far away, which is precisely what I'm dealing with. I'll keep looking. Surely something will come up soon.