I'm THIS close....

[The Oily Rag]

(holds finger and thumb 1/2 inch apart) to buying a GS500.

It's a '92 model, black, with 69,000kms, and first impression is that it's tidy, given its age. No obvious leaks, doesn't blow smoke.

The dealer is asking $4000 (Australian - about US$2500)

Is this in the ball park?

What problems should I be looking for?  :lol:

Thanks in advancd for any help.

Cheers,
Peter

[spaz]

isn't that a bit expensive?

on motor-forum someone is asking 1600 euro for this one
with 26000Km
http://www.motor-forum.nl/forum/misc/34451

[vtlion]

I'm not sure what bikes go for on your side of the equator, but here in the US I just paid US$1,500 for a 97 in very good condition with 7800miles (12,500km) on it.


Good luck with your shopping!  

[Flash]

It seems a little expensive for a lot of miles. Here in the USA a brand new 2001 GS500 with 0 miles and warranty was going for $3499 on sale. It was marked down from $4399.

I ended up paying $1600 or $1800 (can't remember) for my '96 GS in very good condition with about 7,000 miles (11,265 km).

A good deal on a GS500 can be hard to find sometimes. I had to travel 900 miles (1448 km) one way to to Georgia to get mine (but it was well worth it!).

Maybe the fact that you are in Australia GS500s are even more rare. It could be just a matter of supply and demand.

Good luck in your search,
Flash

[Baker]

for the same price they are asking I picked up a 2001 with 3000 miles on it it like a month ago

[96gs]

that is a lil expensive. we only paid 1500 for my 96 and it runs fine. just sometimes it gets a lil scared at 9,000 rpms and acts like it doesnt want to go up that high. 7,000 miles on it to. i think it was a good price.

[bbanjo]

I remember a few Aussie folks saying that they were paying about 30% (ouch) above what we'd pay up here for a GS, but that's a bit above even with the exchange.

If we can get them to pipe up on what they paid to confirm. Otherwise just do the good consumer bit. Do you have something like kbb.com to use as a reference?

G'Day oily, I am from Sydney but in Brisbane at the moment dude....

That price seems a tad high, you can get a 2001 with 6,000 km for around $5,500 - so a 92' with 69K is over priced I think, look in the trading post, its a waiting game and be aware that the dealers always charge more!

I bought my 03' new for $7400, R.R.P was about $8700 (I know those who have paid anywhere from $8000-$8400 for it the suckers!) - I just played two dealers off against each other, and bought it end of the month :nana:

I have been told however that the GS500 holds it value best out of any of the Suzuki family... so you will pay a premium I guess.

I suggest you buy your gear - helmet, gloves, jacket, boots etc from the U.S - prices are so much cheaper even with the poor exchange rate at the moment. I remember the days in the late 90's when an Aussie dollar would buy .89 U.S cents! even at .60 cents you can still save a load of $$ by buying U.S - support their economy, Australia is a rip off!

Welcome to the board, you wont be sorry you got a GS500 - but if you have the cash, go with an SV650!!!

Stay Safe  

[glenn9171]

If you were in the US, I would sell you my 2001 model with 7900 miles on it for $2800.  Immaculate condition.

Thanks for teasing us Glenn!

Man you guys have it so good, you dont even know!

Stay Safe  

[The Oily Rag]

Thanks Guys,

I would expect that at 69,000kms, I will have to be prepared to spend some money on it - suspension, brakes, tyres etc, plus rego in January.  

The Red Book value (www.redbook.com.au) for a '92 is

Trade-in - 1,700 - 2,000

Private Sale - 2,800 - 3,100

So $4000 seemed a bit steep to me too, even considering it's from a dealer.....I'll string him along for a few days, and see if he'll play.

Maybe he will gave me a great deal on the postie bike!  

Cheers,
Peter

Dude I would not pay anymore then $3k for it... but at the end of the day it is up to you!

is this your first bike?

Stay Safe  

[bob]

Seems to me that bike & parts prices vary a lot from place to place.  Maybe the Brits on the list could weigh in, but from reading Brit mags like Performance Bikes & Bike, I've gotten the impression that bike prices are substantially higher in the UK than the US for basically identical bikes.  'Smatter of fact I seem to remember an article that I read (I think from PB) that they compared bike prices around Europe & came to the conclusion that Brit bike buyers were paying far more than their neighbors across the channel.
I also got the hot idea a few years ago to hop over to Canada (about 1/2 hour from here) to buy my bike parts 'cuz the US dollar was so strong against the Canadian dollar.  Wrong.  With their prices so high, even after the currency conversion, it was far cheaper to just buy in the US.
Mebbe bikes are just more expensive in Oz?  Mebbe, mebbe not - I'd guess what I'm saying is that I think that we in the US or anywhere outside of Oz will prolly be unqualified to judge what would be a fair price for a bike there.
I'd say keyzer prolly has a fair idea of what he's talking about & the rest of us are just shooting in the dark!!  

[The Oily Rag]

I looked at and rode a couple of bikes in the last few days.

250 Virago - niceish but hated the riding position - cruisers are not for me.

GN250 - I'm yawning just thinking about it. Hard to get to 100, impossible to keep there, and the wind buffeting at any kind of speed is terrific, most uncomfortable.

The above mentioned GS500 - LOVED IT!!!!!! Fitted like a glove, is that analogy makes any kind of sense. Quite fast enough to keep me amused for a while, docile in town, all the controls felt just right, never noticed the wind at 120,  what can I say? You guys know all this stuff.

Consequently, and in view of the fact that I am out in the bush and mid-sized bikes are not around in vast numbers and are popular because of the new LAMS rules, I have made an offer of 3.5k. A bit more than the 3k, but screw it, I have the money.

So I could have it by next week, if the seller comes to the party.

Cheers,
Peter

[kyzee]

Oily, sinc you've got the extra dough have you tried out the other Suzuki models like the Bandit or the SV650? These bikes are pretty swell. If you end up with the GS500 welcome to the club then.  Cheers mate.  

[The Buddha]

OK how does this sound...around here in winter (the next 2-3 months) prices take a nose dive...we could round up 2-3 GS's for ~3 grand USD for all and crate them up and send them over... Oh yea...bikes get nearly no use here...69K is what my bike has now, but all the ones I see are right about 2K per year max...
Cool.
Srinath.