Where does everyone get their parts bikes from?

[Tombstones81]

Seriously!
are you all simply THAT lucky and find local deals or what?

I'm on ebay and craigslist daily, browsing parts and lookin for possible parts bikes.
I have honestly never seen anything close by since I began looking months ago.

& no im not looking to buy a parts bike before anyone asks, at this time anyways.
But if I just happen to come across say a title less GS locally for like $200 or $300 that was Well worth it, I would jump on it if I had the $.

Once I get my current work finished I'm considering looking into insurance auctions as a possibility.

but im honestly stumped at the number of deals I read people get.
and very curious if its just luck, more popular bike in other locations or if im missing something.

tho yes I should start looking in the local paper more as well.

[SS Adrenaline]

I am in the same vote.  I think it depends on where you live.  There arent the deals in Canada that there are in America.

[steezin_and_wheezin]

i don't search craigslist. i mine it!

have got a pretty solid system to find any and all deals. usually are NOT close though. my first parts bike was luck, one click on craigs and found a 94 with no title just a half hour away. parted it out and got some confidence searching and haggling for prices. got my second parts bike all the way day in atlanta(7 hours from me) a titled 2006 with a bad motor. parted it out and start my hunt again with a bit more specifics; i want a bike i can rebuild not part out. wanted something i could possibly track. so i scoured the internet for a couple weeks, found a guy selling complete fairing and tank. so i called and talked to him for a while. found out he had the whole bike, but no title. so i told him i want it! just brought her home last night. a 2006 gsF with 127 miles on the clock!! it was exactly want i was looking to buy. was going to get just the bike no plastics/tank, but he offered me the whole thing for a price i couldn't refuse! now i will title this one, or swap all the low mileage parts onto my 2004(19k on the clock) and build the title-less frame for the track.

i don't know if i'd give up all my searching secrets, but i can definitely help ya in yer search if you'd like. tell me where and what yer looking for!

[Ourea]

[POST HAS BEEN REMOVED BY USER]

[steezin_and_wheezin]

I'm on ebay and craigslist daily, browsing parts and lookin for possible parts bikes.
I have honestly never seen anything close by since I began looking months ago.

first search in scranton, pa. literally 30 seconds and i found a $700 1994 gs500e that needs work. meaning you can haggle the price cause the guy doesn't want/can't fix it.

http://binghamton.craigslist.org/mcy/2736185089.html

[SS Adrenaline]

i don't search craigslist. i mine it!

have got a pretty solid system to find any and all deals. usually are NOT close though. my first parts bike was luck, one click on craigs and found a 94 with no title just a half hour away. parted it out and got some confidence searching and haggling for prices. got my second parts bike all the way day in atlanta(7 hours from me) a titled 2006 with a bad motor. parted it out and start my hunt again with a bit more specifics; i want a bike i can rebuild not part out. wanted something i could possibly track. so i scoured the internet for a couple weeks, found a guy selling complete fairing and tank. so i called and talked to him for a while. found out he had the whole bike, but no title. so i told him i want it! just brought her home last night. a 2006 gsF with 127 miles on the clock!! it was exactly want i was looking to buy. was going to get just the bike no plastics/tank, but he offered me the whole thing for a price i couldn't refuse! now i will title this one, or swap all the low mileage parts onto my 2004(19k on the clock) and build the title-less frame for the track.

i don't know if i'd give up all my searching secrets, but i can definitely help ya in yer search if you'd like. tell me where and what yer looking for!

How would you go about getting a new title for it?  Dont  you need a TOD to get it registered?

[SAFE-T]

I use saved searches for parts on eBay

[adidasguy]

Parts bikes are not necessary. I find parts I need and find them at a good price. Then I see parts as spares at a good price and snatch them up (2006 clutch basket $33?). Sometimes you hit on someone selling more than normal - like wiring harness, all electricals, CDI, coils, relays, starter solenoid - all for $60. 2009 CDI alone usually is close to $100 or more.

If you have your heart set on a parts bike, you may end up getting more crap than you can use. There is a reason it is a parts bike. Think you'll get spare wheels, chain, etc? Probably not very usable. Remember - there is a reason it is a parts bike. Now a nearly new, crashed bike would have lots of usable parts.

I've bought things like complete 2006 carbs with all hoses and cables for under $100 from a running bike where the engine threw a rod. Guy decided to part out rather than fix - so LOTS of stuff went really cheap from a well maintained, running bike.

Certain bike breakers have fixed prices for parts. Example: Pinwall is usually $39.95 for a rear wheel. Doesn't make any difference what year or condition. So you look at the photos, read the description for the year, color and how many miles the bike had. I've picked up 2009 wheels with nearly new tires for $39.95 + p&h. You can get a crappy old wheel for the same price. They do not have time to grade the parts. They disassemble, price it and sell it, as fast as they can. You have to look, learn how certain dealers price parts, watch for a deal, then snatch it up.

another example: nearly new 2009 brake calipers from bikes with low mileage - one only 240 miles. $14.95! Why rebuild old calipers or even buy new pads when you can get the whole thing, nearly new for $14.95? If you don't look carefully, you can get rusty worn out ones for more money.

Look for a deal on a box-o-bolts. Study the photos. I got one for $20 or so that had a nearly new 2009 chain, sprockets, and 20 pounds of other nuts, bolts, bar ends and all kinds of stuff. Those things can be a gold mine for the hard to find little expensive brackets, bolts, washers and bits & pieces.

I suggest you determine what you need and buy the parts. I wouldn't set my heart on a parts bike - probably nothing buy rusty, worn out parts.

HINT: If you really want to be a parts whore, you need a vibrating parts cleaner. I throw in the oily, dirty bolts & anything under 10" and in a day they are clean and like new.

FYI: I have seen parts bikes in my area. Looking at the photos, I wouldn't waste my time moving such a rust bucket. What would be of any value? Broken plastics, engine that hasn't run for years (maybe it will work), rotten hoses, corroded electricals, rusty tank, rusty everything. If seized rusty bolts can be removed and it can be taken apart, what is good enough to put on my bikes? A deal on a "I'm moving and can't take the bike" would be different. Or "My wife didn't like it so I need to get it out of the garage" is different. Those might be good deals but would probably be the $600-$1000 range. A parts bike is cheap because you're paying for the privilege to haul off his junk.

[steezin_and_wheezin]

I wouldn't set my heart on a parts bike - probably nothing buy rusty, worn out parts.

i strongly oppose this statement haha

if you find one and inspect it properly, a parts bike(be it a dirt cheap $200 or a title-less $700) can be a GREAT investment. atleast that's been my experience, so far i've purchased 3; 2 with no titles and 1 with title. i have pull parts from all of them(fox shock, white wheels, brand new in box chain, a set of bt45 tires[no rot, 150 miles on them], etc..) then sold the unneeded parts making back my investment. while at the same time giving the GStwin community first dibs on parts at more than reasonable prices.

its a win, win, win, win situation haha

win 1 - guy sells parts bike to me and makes money
win 2 - my bike gets new parts
win 3 - i make money back
win 4 - fellow twinners get needed parts at great price

[Tombstones81]

Well he does have a good argument if you need certain items and know what to look for and the price.
btw ty, that is some good advice that I did not know of before.

Me personally tho, wouldnt bother selling parts out for a profit unless they were 100% useless "to me" ever.
If anything I wouldnt get a rust bucket or something with a ton of miles.
and pretty much have it on the side to do a whole ton with.
Swap parts, dabble between parts (different color tanks & plastics & various other parts) replacement parts etc etc
but it would def have to have a good engine.

I plan to keep my GS until either I cant ride anymore (hopefully from age haha)
or something happens to the frame and I have no choice.
even if the motor was to ever go and I got lucky with a parts bike that was newer, fewer miles, and in better condition, I would still swap what was needed to my current GS.
Simply because its my First, and all the $$ I have put into it.
Which is yes, a crazy almost $2000 or more right now. (between when I bought it in May, up to all my current work)
as its worth more to me then a price tag.

So a mostly good parts bike on the side to dabble with would be alot better for me then buying things as they are needed.
as I honestly would end up spending a TON more doing it that way as I tend to go overboard

(edit)
and cant really be a parts whore past parts on a separate frame or in one of my big plastic bins, no room..... oh wait...
I guess I can be hahaha
since everything removable that is able to fit in a bin is pretty much in there now which is everything but the frame, rims, tank, plastics, engine, & forks.
or was in there at some point until I got painting.
which is surprisingly a whole lot of my bike in that little bin! hahaha

[BaltimoreGS]

All my parts bikes are craigslist specials.  A couple times a year I see bikes for a few hundred bucks in this area.  If you have cash, a pick up and the time to get it while most people are still working you are golden     One bit of advice I can give you is to search above your maximum price range.  Go check the bike out and make a serious low ball cash offer.  Selling on craigslist sucks, lots of flakes and no shows.  I've had many sellers call me up and take ridiculously low offers just because I actually showed up and had cash.  On the flip side, how much free space do you have?  A parts bike takes up space.  I have 2 now that are edging their way into my scrap metal pile.  I find stripping and selling parts to be more hassle than it's worth.  My 2 cents...

-Jessie

[adidasguy]

I wouldn't set my heart on a parts bike - probably nothing buy rusty, worn out parts.

i strongly oppose this statement haha

Probably correct in your area. You have more GS500's around than we do in Seattle. Maybe because you have a better riding season or? Here in the Pacific Northwest, parts bikes are few and most are always a rust bucket. I guess if you check a bike carefully and the price is right, then go for it. Cash does help. I got Junior a couple hundred dollars less. Trey I think $350 less because I was the only one that showed up in 6 weeks.
Seems liter bikes and cruisers are more popular here. Smaller bikes not so common (like our GS's and 250's or 125's)

[ninja_steve]

Where do you all buy online?  I was pricing out a chain and sprockets and could get them from bike bandit for < $90.  That seems like a steal.

[Big Rich]

Tombstone- hang around bikes long enough and keep working on them and you will be surprised what "falls in your lap". A little over a year ago there was a guy who had 5 old motorcycles on his property he just wanted GONE. Granted, none had titles and only 2 of them ended up running, but they were all free. Heck, a couple months ago I replied to a Craigslist ad to buy some gas tanks, and started talking to the seller. Come to find out, his Dad has an old BSA Spitfire that is complete, no title, and needs sold. Broke my heart leaving that old scoot there......

As far as who needs a parts bike (aside from Steezin): I've bought them before to equal out another purchase. For example- I bought a bike that had a good motor and a title but needed a LOT of other parts. So I found another bike with no title and a seized motor for dirt cheap. Used the best from each to make a great bike.

[Adfalchius]

Tombstone- BaltimoreGS and I have found some pretty good craigslist deals around this area (so you're competing with us )...but you make a good point, I haven't seen any bargains, much less reasonable deals since last year.  Jared's $950 is the cheapest titled bike in the past couple months.  Just stick to constantly checking- neither of us needs any more parts, so if I see anything, I'll forward it to you.

[Tombstones81]

Tombstone- BaltimoreGS and I have found some pretty good craigslist deals around this area (so you're competing with us )...but you make a good point, I haven't seen any bargains, much less reasonable deals since last year.  Jared's $950 is the cheapest titled bike in the past couple months.  Just stick to constantly checking- neither of us needs any more parts, so if I see anything, I'll forward it to you.

awesome 

Yeah the last sweet deal I seen locally on craigs was I think it was a Red 95 GS.
Think it had only like 5K miles, always garage kept.
Was in pristine condition from the looks of it, even had that stock cowl around the headlight that are so rare to find.
Think it was only $1600 or less, if I had the $ then, woulda jumped all over that.

I just want something to constantly wrench on, even when my bike is finished.

[Jared]

Yeah...someone come buy my Gs...

Oh yeah that price goes back up when it gets closer to Spring.


Parts bikes... Like Jesse said...CL...hawk it and be ready to get it 10 minutes after you read the add. I've gotten some from the local papers..some on Ebay...
Have to have cash in your  pocket too. Having it right then and there is key...

[Tombstones81]

Yeah...someone come buy my Gs...

Oh yeah that price goes back up when it gets closer to Spring.


Parts bikes... Like Jesse said...CL...hawk it and be ready to get it 10 minutes after you read the add. I've gotten some from the local papers..some on Ebay...
Have to have cash in your  pocket too. Having it right then and there is key...

funny thing is, thats how I got my current bike.
JUST got home from work and the craigslist ad was up no longer then 5 mins.
I called, went over to the guys work when it opened (used car lot) as thats where the bike was stored.
Was the first one there, ran to the bank, came back, filled the paperwork out and was all good.
As soon as I filled the paperwork out tho, someone else showed up.
I think if I woulda been delayed even 15 mins i would have lost it.

[Adfalchius]

Here's a 93 for $600
http://york.craigslist.org/mcy/2751693954.html

[Tombstones81]

ugh!
would be all over that if it wasnt Xmas season  or still in need of parts for current bike.
or else I would be able to hit that up Friday