Looking at a 93 GS500e

[chan]

Been browsing the boards for awhile but finally came across a GS that I think would be a good buy for $1200. Let me know what you guys think; here is the description:

CLean Title, Current registration. 17K odometer.
Fair running condition.
Fires right up, runs good when warmed up, but hesitates when cold.
bike is all stock, stock pipe, stock airbox-everything.
sitting awhile, needs TLC, battery is on the way out.
rough cosmetically speaking, but complete.
paint on tank is very faded

New Seat
tires pretty good
chain is lubed and adjusted
air filter good
plugs good
oil and filter clean and good
battery is old and due for replacement
no major dents
paint is faded on top
speedo housing is cracked

only 17K odo and clean title/current reg.

[fred]

Sounds like a very good deal to me. I'd buy it if I were you. I got my 1994 in pretty rough cosmetic shape with 82,000 miles on it for $1000. The bike runs great and I'm now up past 89,000 miles and I'll hit 90 in a couple of weeks... Sounds like the one you're looking at is just starting to get some real miles on it and there's a very good chance you could get 60,000 more miles out of it before it gives you any trouble at all, assuming you maintain it.

[brickerenator]

I'd be sure to take it for a test drive if possible

[chan]

I spoke to the guy through email and it appears the tank may be rusted as well. Should I drop my offer to 1k?

[DoD#i]

You can only get turned down or be lower than the next guy and not get the bike. Depending what else wasn't mentioned in the ad, not getting it can be a good thing, sometimes - there are others out there, though more often just after you bought one than when you are looking, of course...

Some internal gas tank rust is normal. Enough rust to cause leaks is a problem that needs fixing. Rust on the outside that's not connected to rust on the inside is not a problem - paint it with a rattle can until you can afford a "real" paintjob if you even want a "real" paintjob - the rattlecan (if you sand it well and use primer) will stop, or at least slow down, any external rust.

Price is fair.  If the tank has visible rust but is not leaking, leave it at that. If it has leaks or is shedding so much rust that it shows up in the fuel lines, you'll have to add in (well, subtract off from your offer) the cost and time and pain-in-the-butt of kreem or POR to sort that out. You already know you'll be buying a battery, since that's in the description, so dropping your offer due to that is not logical - but depending how much you must have this particular bike, dropping your offer for no reason at all is really just called bargaining - but it may mean you don't get it. Fairly low miles and we are still in spring, (higher bike prices) not fall or winter.

Put the tank on prime and drain off a cup or so of fuel from each carburetor using the drain screw on the bottom. See what it looks like.

[tripleb]

the cosmetic stuff is no big deal at all if you ask me.  Everything cosmetically, save for a dent in the tank, can be fixed with sandpaper and paint or replaced for a few bucks - even the tank.  $1000 is a deal if the bike is mechanically sound and runs well.

[fred]

I spoke to the guy through email and it appears the tank may be rusted as well. Should I drop my offer to 1k?

No, 1200 is already a good deal. I'd just buy it right away before someone else does. Deal with the tank rust by either using por or kreem or by just buying a tank off someone on the board. I got a good looking tank without any rust in it for $100 from the for sale section... If the rust isn't too bad, you might even get away with just adding an inline fuel filter and ignoring it...

[utgunslinger13]

I'd take 1200 with you to look at the bike, offer him 1000 to take it home right then.  You might end up dealing and walking away for 1100 when its all said in done.  If he wants to sell it he'll deal on the price.

Nick

[The Buddha]

I had one similar last year. I was asking 1700 it had kat FE and a bunch of powdercoated stuff ... but other than that it was similar  ... ran great too ... and one genius called the day after I put it up for sale, with this and that, never even let me say "hello" and what not and offered 1000 or something dont recall ... I said that sounds great, but the bike is sold. Man that silence was so cool ...
So dont just low ball over the phone, you're better off talking to the guy, showing him gstwin etc etc and showing him you're on his side, before you low ball ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[chan]

Hopefully its still available by Saturday when I'm finally done with my finals, the guy lives an hour away so can't make it out yet. He's posted his ad 3 times already on CL.