Opinions needed: to sell or not to sell with busted ignition lock?

[thirdman]

I am selling my GS500E, and it currently has a busted ignition lock.  It still can be turned on and off, it just doesn't require a key to do it... a screwdriver is all you need.

The question is:
do I sell it as is,
do I procure the new part and sell it with part uninstalled,
or do I procure a new part and sell it installed?

Laziness is a major motivator... I really don't want to install it unless I absolutely have to... But I don't want to drag out the selling process if noone is going to touch a bike with a busted lock.

And yes, I know, I shouldn't be selling it at all, but that isn't an option.  

[Norcon]

if $$ is a motivator, it sounds like you already know the answer and you just want some confirmation so here it is

It is my opinion that you will most likely get more money out of it you repair it yourself before the sale, as long as you get the parts cheap....


good luck with the sale bud

[bassmechanicsz]

I would say locate a new ignition lock and replace it.  It will definitely help with the sale and i would probably never buy a bike with a busted ignition lock.  It is always easier to sell a bike that doesn't need work than a bike that does.

[utgunslinger13]

Replace it.  As soon as I seen it had a busted ignition I'd start looking elsewhere.

[romulux]

For those that say they probably would pass on a bike with a busted ignition:

I'm curious why would you look elsewhere if it's a good deal?

Would you be worried it was stolen or something?  Can't you just call the DMV or state police with the VIN to see that it's not stolen?

[bombjack]

I would'nt buy a bike with a busted ignition. If it's cheap too, it's just even more suspicious.
Replace the ignition and you can sell it faster and at a higher price.

[Norcon]

Yup, for the added risk that it is a stolen recovery, I would only buy it at steep discount.

[Toledo Jim]

What else was excessively abused on that bike? 

[thirdman]

What else was excessively abused on that bike? 

Not a dang thing... it is in great shape.  I just hate to replace the lock as it is such a pain in the butt. 

[tt_four]

I would buy a bike with a busted ignition, if you had the title in your name. I wouldn't pay anywhere near what I would for it with a good ignition. Even if it's the only thing wrong with it, it would make me assume there was plenty else wrong with it that I didn't see yet. Rarely do you see a bike with something that bad and nothing else wrong with it.

Keep in mind, I like messing with bikes, and I'm perfectly fine dealing with broken parts because I expect to pay less for the bike. Personally I'd just remove the whole ignition and replace it with a switch under the frame that only I knew about.

Now with a busted ignition, it wouldn't hurt to put on a polo shirt and some nice pants. If I showed up and you had half a mustache, a wife beater and oversized jeans tucked into your timberlands, I'd be walking. That's just a stereotype, but I'm being serious.

And ignition would take you a couple minutes to replace, and probably isn't expensive, you'd lose out big time if you didn't buy a new one. Buying a new one and not installing it is again gonna give the buyer the impression that you're lazy, and if you won't replace an ignition, who's to say you'd replace the oil or check the valves??

[thirdman]

Well, I am biting the bullet and replacing it.  I is going to be a big pain to replace, and is stupidly expensive...  I have a 2001, which is nothing-compatible.    If I had all the time in the world, I could wait for one to pop up on ebay, but I don't.   

[cboling]

third: try DennisKirk.com for the ignition. I believe that's where I picked mine up for less than 45 -50 bucks.

[thirdman]

third: try DennisKirk.com for the ignition. I believe that's where I picked mine up for less than 45 -50 bucks.

Alas, I did try there, and had no luck.      Thanks for the tip, though...  I'll quit whining soon, I promise. 

[tt_four]

Did you check the for sale forum? Someone was just parting out a bike.

[thirdman]

Yes, but unfortunately it was an incompatible model.    The 2001 doesn't share the part with the older or the newer model GSs, so they are quite scarce.

[Markca]

I would check to see how much to replace the ignition, if it is quite a bit, then I would just leave it, and let the buyer know how much it is to fix, and decide to buy it fix (higher price), or buy it as is.

[manoj]

I have a ignition lock for sale...not sure from which model ......its fastened to the 3-clamp .I have lost the key but my local locksmith can make a key for that if interested PM

Manoj

[utgunslinger13]

I believe his for sale thread states he purchased one already.