Which GS500 would you choose?

[polar8]

After extensive research I have found two GS500's that I need to decide on. Both are $2000:

2006, 19k miles, owned by someone who owns a motorcycle shop
2004, 5k miles, owned by a coworker

Both are in mint condition.

Which would you pick?

Thanks!

[Twism86]

Well you need to know which one was taken care of better. Just because the dude has a shop doesnt mean it was taken care of. Ask both if they have done all the maintenance that is required etc. You said mint but it cant hurt to ask lots of questions.  I would go with the bike with less miles given the same condition.

I vote 2004.

[sveach]

There were no changes from 04 on, so the bikes are exactly the same part wise. Some of the parts may be newer on the 06, but then, it has 14k more miles on it. All things being even, maintenance, etc, I would pick the lower mileage bike.

If you have to pay property tax - the older a vehicle is the less it will cost you. Dunno on insurance but I would imagine one a few years older would be cheaper as well.

[romulux]

5k miles on an 04 is hardly riding it.

If the 06's owner is conscientious about maintenance, it might be just as good or better than the lower mileage bike.  Certainly he will be more aware of details and quirks with that particular machine.

Sitting around rotting is just as bad as not taking care of it.

[polar8]

Whoops, I meant 8k miles on the '04, not 5k. Still, it's less than half of the other.

Thanks for the advice. I'll ask him what kind of maintenance he did on it. I also place a premium on buying from someone at my work, since I know they are less likely to deliberately screw me over.

[dohabee]

Assuming both were well taken care of and both are in the same shape cosmetically I would go with the 04.

The biggest factor for me would be routine maintenance history; If one was clearly better cared for than the other I would choose it.

[Anderw]

Low mileage every time 

[the mole]

I think you should buy the pink one.

[plewis51]

Go with the lower mileage one. Like mentioned, the 04+ are built identical plus or minus some plastic pieces. Any reason why either of them want to sell? The motorcycle shop dude might know something that an average bike advocate may not. Just say'n. 

[StevenDavisPhoto]

as long as the maintenance is good, go with the 04. same bike, but lower miles.

[tt_four]

I don't even know that the guy who owns the shop is the one who actually rode the GS500. I would bet he got it on a trade in and just had it in his name for a while. I'm sure there's a few shop owners who ride a GS often, but really when you have a whole shop and bikes at cost at your disposal, you really think he put all 19k miles on it??

I think the coworker is the safer bet. Even when I have things in ok shape I still prefer to sell them to people I don't know. Not because I'm taking advantage, but really who knows when anything could go wrong with anything that's used. I'd hate to have someone come in to work all pissed off because something unexpected broke and he got stranded somewhere. I feel like if a co-worker is selling something to someone he works with, and he isn't obviously a sleeze, he's probably confident enough in it to sell it to you when he knows he's gonna see you every day. Go for that one.

I just picked up a 7 year old bike with only 3400 miles on it and absolutely no problems with it from sitting often.

[burning1]

Low mileage every time 

Both of those bikes are low mileage. Hell, IMO anything below 60K is still relatively new, and anything below about 200,000K still has plenty of life left in it*.

* Though admittedly, the GS is done at 100K unless the owner really knew what they were doing with maintenance.