Awesome bike deal! I think...

[warpzone]

First off, hello! I'm a new rider (24/m) in north NJ looking to carve some curvy roads without ending up a tree ornament. After spending many hours searching for various used EX250s, a more proficient rider friend of mine introduced me to the GS500e, which through my constant comparisons of multiple bikes I somehow managed to completely miss. One glance through the spec sheet told me that it was everything I'm looking for and more. 

Now I've got to find one.

After a little under two weeks of searching, this little tidbit appeared on craigslist, which I am going to check out and possibly purchase:

"The bike is a 1994 Suzuki GS500E. It has a little under 5000 miles on it. I just had the fork springs and fork seals replaced, the gas tank treated, the fuel lines replaced, the carburetor cleaned and an oil change (all less then a month ago). The battery is about a year and a half old and doing fine. It runs great. I would love to keep it but I am heading out west and don't want to tow it. It is a great starter bike.

I would like to get $1600 but I am open to reasonable offers."



Compared to the few other GS's I'd found, this one seems like a steal, especially with the low mileage! However, I was hoping for the opinion of more experienced GSers. What do you think? Does anything in the description throw up any red flags? Any assistance is appreciated, as I'll be doing the purchasing alone.

Thanks for the help! Hopefully by this weekend I'll be a part of your crew. 

[pantablo]

I think thats a good deal if the bike is in as good condition as stated. I dont know what the market is for this year, but would imagine its close to that price. I'm sure you can get a better deal, but it may not be as "ready to run" as this one.

[warpzone]

Really? In NJ this is the cheapest I've seen by far. Older bikes with 18k+ miles are getting asking prices of at least 2k.

From inspecting the picture, though, I think the front fender is awol. Should help with the creative bargaining. Just gotta make sure it wasn't lost in a crash. 

[510]

Wow, that's pretty low mileage for a 94. Heck, my 05 has more miles than that.

I would be pretty suspicious of the combination of its age, and its low mileage. It may be a sign that (one of) the previous owner(s?) just let it sit around for long periods of time without much maintenance. I guess that the stuff that he did recently (change hoses, cleaned carbs, oil change) kinda offsets that suspicion a little...

It's a good deal, but take a good look at it (or get someone to do so) before buying. In my opinion (whatever that counts for), it's a "SUSPICIOUSLY FANTASTIC BIKE"

[warpzone]

Good point! so another question...

What kind of damage can occur to a bike left sitting for a while? I'm thinking at worst:
-chain replacement
-spark plug replacement
-carb cleaning required
-damaged seat
-rusted fuel tank
-brake and throttle cable replacement
so I'll make sure to check all of these out when I go to inspect. I'll also inquire as to the # of oil changes. Is there anything else that I ought to search for? I've got a 10-page guide off of www.ninja250.com that I'll be bringing with me, as well.

Again, thanks for all of the help.

[flyingmachine]

don't forget to check the tires carefully for dry rot.  The threads may look ok, but the rubber itself may have hardened