Buying a 2nd hand gs500, what should I look for?

[cyno]

Hi all,

It's my first post here, which is normal has I don't yet own a GS500!
After a bit of research I've found this is the bike for me, I'll be doing a LOT of miles and I need something reliable and with low running costs.

I'm going to buy a 2nd hand one (I don't have the cashflow right now to go for a new one has I'm buying a house and all that comes with it... ) and what I need to know is what I should look for as signs of problems or future problems, I've noticed some of them have serious rust in some spots!

Any of your shared wisdom would be quite wellcome!

P.S: sorry if the english/sintax/grammar isn't perfect but him portuguese!

[bosozoku]

I'm going to buy a 2nd hand one (I don't have the cashflow right now to go for a new one has I'm buying a house and all that comes with it... ) and what I need to know is what I should look for as signs of problems or future problems, I've noticed some of them have serious rust in some spots!

Unless it runs 100% fine, if some bonehead has been into the carbs for a "rejet" or "adjustment", run like hell if you don't have experience with that sort of thing.  It took me two months to get my bike sorted after a bad Dynojet job.

-b.

[sledge]

A bit of surface rust on the frame is cosmetic and nothing to worry about on a GS5. Your ears and eyes are the best tools, start it up from stone cold on full choke, it should catch within about 5 seconds. Any blue smoke from the `zorst or bangs, thumps, clanging or ticking sounds from the engine walk away unless you want to spend money and get intimate with the service manual. Let it warm up on tickover for about 5 mins and take it for a good 20-30 min run, thrash it to the redline in every gear, if it hesitates or bogs down at any time in the rev-band someone has messed with the jetting/mixture settings. Check for oil leaks around the cylinder base, the valve and both side covers. Pull the dipstick, if the oil looks dirty chances are it hasnt been maintained. Check the tyres chain and sprockets, if they are worn start bargaining. After the run let it cool down for 5 mins and try it again on the starter, if the battery or charging system is shot it will be sluggish to start.

[Jarrett]

questions you should ask depending on age, and mileage:
When was the last scheduled service?
who performed the services on the bike?
When was the last valve clearance check?
Has the bike ever been used on the track/drag raced?
Has the bike ever been in an accident/dropped?
How long ago were the fork seals/oil changed?
How long ago was the engine oil changed?
When was the last time the bike was run on a regular basis?
Have the carbs ever been rebuilt? Have they been rejetted?
Does it have any oil leaks?
How many miles are on the chain?
Are all the body plastics original?
Ever had any major engine work done to the bike?
How many miles/years are on the tires?
Are there any after market parts on the bike? ie: handle bars, rear sets, shocks, fork springs...
How old is the battery?

Do a google search for "first time motorcycle buyer checklist" or something to that affect.
Here is a good one:
http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html

Don't know if I'm suppose to post that, but whatever!  Good luck!

[ohgood]

+1 on what sledge said.

I wouldn't rev it to redline in every gear on an unknown bike, but you get the gist.

Check the head bearings for wheelie-esqe.

Check the UNDER side for signs of lay-downs.

Check the UNDER side for oil drippings before and after the test ride.

Check the oil, chain, wheel bearings, brakes (you can inspect both with a flash light and mirror), fork seals, tires (PRICE NEGOTIATION POINTS), electrical, battery, lights, cables, clutch slippage, and overall comfort.

Check the sellers attitude: Do you trust he isn't selling you something that the swingarm will fall off of ?

Check all the bolt heads for signs of some idiot using channel locks on it. (Check tightness while you're at it)

Like sledge said, rev it and listen, smell, see for signs of nasty engine trouble.

The GS is known for odd sounds (chain tensioner/noisy valves) but if it sounds bad to you, it probably is!

Is the chain slack ? Are the cogs shark-toothed ? Do the brakes feel FIRM and un-yielding ? Do ALL the fluids look clear, without signs of leakage ? (That means the battery also)



Above all, if the seller disagrees with you poking your finger and head ALL around his bike, thank him and WALK AWAY.

Remember, it's just a motorbike, and the wrong one can kill you.We all want you to have a blast on your GS, and not get a lemon.

Welcome, by the way, and trust no one

[CndnMax]

don't forget to check the headlight and blinker fluids 

[ops_south]

No apologies are necessary!  Your English is better than most people that live here in the States.   

P.S: sorry if the english/sintax/grammar isn't perfect but him portuguese!

[cyno]

Thanks you guys, I'll probably be seeing the first one today and I'll try to take into account all that you said + I'm taking a experienced friend to check it out also!

I'm truly glad to see you guys have a great community here, quite honestly I didn't expect as much help/support on my first post! Once again my thanks!

And as soon as I get my GS500 I'll be sure to post some pics of it here!

Above all, if the seller disagrees with you poking your finger and head ALL around his bike, thank him and WALK AWAY.

This one apllies to everything in life... Even women! 

[pandy]

This one apllies to everything in life... Even women! 

Bah!  Welcome to GSTwin! 

[sledge]

If you, as suggested earlier, ask the owner questions about the bike dont expect honest answers. People tend to lie, particularly when there is money involved or they want to offload a liabilty.

[sanjay]

Also, see if the forks show any signs of leakage or have any nicks/scratches.   The PO did not tell me he had leaky fork seals (though to be fair, they could have started leaking on my ride home).   

[cyno]

the bike is almost chosen... I'm now looking into the rest of the gear.

one other thing, is anyone using a 140 tire on the back? I've read somewhere that the stock rim supports this!

[Jay_wolf]

it does indeed ,some people put 150's on , it can be run , but some tend to pinch on the rim