First Time Buyer Advice

[james311]

Howdy everybody, my name is James and I plan on buying a 1993 Suzuki GS500E:







It's it's just under 8,000 miles, new tires.

One of my main concerns is the whole gas tank rusting.  He had the inside refinished last year but there was a pinhole leak in the tank, which he covered with JB weld.  My question is, should I be concerned with the hole? I could just buy a new tank.

If anyone could link me to a thread for things to look for when buying a GS500E, that would be great.

Another question I had was what should I pay? He's asking $1,000 for it, he's a friend of mine by the way, I figure I'd offer 800 or something, I think it's a good deal?

My last question was if I go buy this bike, I'd like to get an Exhaust for it and was curious at which year bikes I could get one off of, I want to get an after market one and I couldn't find any.

Thanks to anyone that could help, more than likely these questions could have been asked before.

[O.C.D.]

It's it's just under 8,000 miles, new tires. Good mileage for such and old bike, and the tires are a bonus!

One of my main concerns is the whole gas tank rusting.  He had the inside refinished last year but there was a pinhole leak in the tank, which he covered with JB weld.  My question is, should I be concerned with the hole? I could just buy a new tank.  I would be concerned on the tank issues.  If it were rusty and lined then there could still be issues.  A pinhole leak with JB = Hackjob.  This is personal insight of course.  If it were me I would pay the $150 for a new/used tank.


If anyone could link me to a thread for things to look for when buying a GS500E, that would be great.  There are posts all over about this topic. 

Another question I had was what should I pay? He's asking $1,000 for it, he's a friend of mine by the way, I figure I'd offer 800 or something, I think it's a good deal? $800 is a good deal if it runs well and has straight forks, not much or any rust.  If it is clean you are better off.

My last question was if I go buy this bike, I'd like to get an Exhaust for it and was curious at which year bikes I could get one off of, I want to get an after market one and I couldn't find any.  Since the GS came out in '89 until 2010 the exhausts are all the same.  Jardine, Vance and Hines, Laser come to mind for full kits.  If you want slip ons then you are pretty much unlimited for cans.

[james311]

Yeah it runs well, he's only selling it cause he just had a kid and never gets time to ride it anymore.  Yeah new tires/brakes are always good.

Good news to hear about the exhaust being all those years.  Since you responded what would you suggest I get if I'm not really looking for any sort of performance increase just a deeper throatier sound?  Edit: and cheap, I'm not against buying a used one since I don't want to spend a lot cause the bike is cheap.

[O.C.D.]

Cheap?  Search the bay for a slip on.  Or ask around.  I only know of full system benefits and sound as I have only had a Vance and Hines on mine.

[007brendan]

Random slip-on is probably the cheapest.

I just got this installed this morning.  $100 shipped from Buddha.  I'm not entirely sure, but I think it is the can from a full system for some Honda.  $85 to have a local exhaust shop cut, weld and install.

[james311]

How does it sound? Was the exhaust designed for the gs500? if so they had to cut/weld to make it fit?

[007brendan]

Haven't actually fired it up yet.  It's still in the back of my truck.  I'm gonna rejet and add the K&N filter tonight.  I'll try to post a sound clip later.  

Like I said, I think it was made for a larger Honda.  They just had to cut the old muffler off and weld a 2 inch section of slightly larger pipe onto the end of the small GS midpipe so that the slip-on would fit properly.  I imagine any muffler that uses roughly the same size pipes as the GS would work.  It took them about an hour to do the whole thing.

[james311]

That would be great if you could.

[james311]

Ugh...Guy is being a stickler about the price, I think 900 is fair but he's hell bent on keeping it at 1,000.

[Worm]

Ride it, if it's in good condition and you're comfortable with the price, pay the man. Blue Book is $1280 on it.

http://www.kbb.com/motorcycle/retail/1993/suzuki/gs500e/78930

[james311]

I road it, let me have it all day, on Saturday, actually.  It's solid, no problems besides what I mentioned.

I see him tomorrow at work, I'll offer the 900 again and if he still a stickler I guess I'm forced to do 1,000 haha

[Worm]

You won't be disappointed for your $1k!!!

[james311]

Yeah, i'm not getting screwed when I'm only paying 1k it's a pretty good deal.

Now to find an Exhaust >=)