89 GS500E- 3,646 miles- What's it worth?

[virginiarider]

Pretty clean bike I'm looking to sell that my wife rode very little(she was 2nd owner). Been sitting for a while but I cleaned the carbs and it seems to run fine. She has moved on to a small cruiser and this one needs to go. Thanks for any help.

Larry

[nikfleisch]

where are you located? pictures?

[Jared]

I'm thinking  he's in Virginia........

[virginiarider]

Virginia it is, but I don't know how to put pics on here!

[wildarmz]

upload them to www.imgur.com then copy paste the link with the [img ][ /img] tags it generates.

[virginiarider]

Thanks

http://imgur.com/a/bA5Iz

[NickyNumbers]

I love those colors, extremely unique (to me at least). 


Whats the condition of the tires, brakes, etc?  How long was it sitting for?


Good luck with the sell

[Jared]

Very clean overall....

Show Buddha....this is favorite color gs.

   

[virginiarider]

Original tires don't look to be checked, I'm assuming the brakes are fine. Last tagged in '01 and it has always been stored inside.

[Jared]

It'll need tires if they're that old... They can look ok but  they get harder as they age and lose traction.

[virginiarider]

It'll need tires if they're that old... They can look ok but  they get harder as they age and lose traction.

That's also why they crack, these might if it were ridden much by flexing of the sidewall. Depends on what the user wants the bike for.

By the way, did you finish your AFF?

[NickyNumbers]

It'll need tires if they're that old... They can look ok but  they get harder as they age and lose traction.

brake lines as well probably.  anything like that needs to be changed, they might look ok, but they will crack after a bit of use. 



Like I said before though, looks great.  You shouldn't have a problem getting rid of it quickly

[virginiarider]

So what you ask for one like this?

[Jared]

No I never did get back to finish my AFF...(that was some time ago...)  It's on the list of things to do... If I was a little closer to a drop zone and had the spare cash -I'd have it. You Skydive?

What to ask for the 89.... Passing inspection in MD I usually ask book and let them haggle me down a bit.... all subjective to condition too. I'm fixing them for resale so I usually pick a $$ amount I have to get back/profit.

There was a near pristine one (89) on ebay recently with about 15k on it. Went for a good bit more than book ( surprisingly more...). Ebay might get you better money and it's a good time of year to sell. Swing for the fences- you can always take less later.

They used to sell a muffler dress up shield ( like a heat shield for exhaust pipes ) that would clean up the exhaust can.Haven't looked for one in many years.

[Trwhouse]

Hi Larry,

The value of this bike depends.
As others have said, the tires and brake lines need to immediately be replaced. They're just too old to be safe.
Also the muffler looks like the original chrome heat shield is missing. Or has it been painted and I just can't see it in the photo?
There are many other variables.
Yes, that's low mileage, but is there any rust at all in the gas tank?
Rust anywhere on the bike on fasteners. etc?
Chain and sprockets -- rust?
Seals or gaskets leaking or weeping oil?
Low mileage and long storage mean that the carbs need to be gone through and the jets, especially the tiny pilot jets, cleaned out or replaced.
Cables could be corroded and stiff.
If it's all good, maybe it's worth $1500 to $1800 to someone who understands what you have there, an essentially unmolested first year GS500, with the original clip-on handlebars.
I'm sure others will tell you it's only worth $800 to $1,000 but I think they'd be way wrong.
Yes it is older, but it's the first year and if the tank isn't rusty inside and if the condition is generally good and all it really needs is tires and brake lines then I'd say ask for $1800, or even $2000, and see what you van get.
Now's the time of year to sell.
They have their highest value in the spring.
Just don't let someone offer you $500 and sell it to them. You'd be giving it away.
Good luck and let us know what happens.
Anybody else agree or disagree with my analysis?
Yours,
Trwhouse  

[whttnbrg]

That looks just like my 89. I wish I could get it just for having it. Problem is I couldnt give more than about 900 for it.

[virginiarider]

Thanks for all the help everybody, I listed it locally for $1800. It's clean except for the dings in the pics, tank looks fine and it has no leaky seals or gaskets. I did see one on ebay(same color too) that sold last week for $1850 that looks a little cleaner but had 16K+ miles on it and it was in Montana. It also needed much more in done to it(seals, tank, front brake pads, etc).

Thanks again,
Larry

PS: Yes Jared, I do skydive! Not often enough, but 1000+ jumps in 15 yrs.