SOLD 2001 GS500E $1900 San Francisco N Bay

[BeerGarage]

Sold.

Thank you GStwins for all your help and hospitality!!

2001 Suzuki GS500
Navy Blue Pearl
25,000 miles
$1900 obo (edit: was $2100)
Located in Santa Rosa
To test ride, please have M1 license, protective gear, and $2100 cash deposit.

Craigslist ad here:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/3284317163.html

Title clean and clear and in my name.
Registration current until April 2013, no DMV fees due.
She is not "showroom perfect." She is very clean but for some small scratches. She runs perfectly, sounds great, and has been well maintained.

This is the BeerGarage Suzuki GS500.
Read about some of the maintenance work done:
http://beergarage.com/GS500.aspx

[GI_JO_NATHAN]

Clean bike.
Unfortunately, I would take the $1800.
Could you get more.. maybe..

[BeerGarage]

You may be right.  It would be a $1600 bike if it needed tires, a battery, fork seals, brake pads, carb rejet, had a crack in some plastic or even a tiny dent in the tank, had the stock airbox and stock springs, valve clatter, and no spare parts.  But I hope for someone who wants a good starter bike, ready to go, running perfectly, needing no work for the next few thousand miles, it will be worth $2100. 

And if not, I can sell the parts here or on ebay and lower the price, or wait till spring to sell it.  More sun usually equals more cash.

[BeerGarage]

Plus everything is more expensive in California.

[GI_JO_NATHAN]

Plus everything is more expensive in California.

Yeah I thought about that too.

[afterbooster]

Hey hey, not to get off topic but you've got a great reference website! I used it to replace my head gaskets this year as well as alot of other small things! It really should be added to the "HOW TO" link on the home page!!!

[BeerGarage]

Thank you.  I appreciate it! 

My son wants me to add these:




Cheers!

[shonole]

You may be right.  It would be a $1600 bike if it needed tires, a battery, fork seals, brake pads, carb rejet, had a crack in some plastic or even a tiny dent in the tank, had the stock airbox and stock springs, valve clatter, and no spare parts.  But I hope for someone who wants a good starter bike, ready to go, running perfectly, needing no work for the next few thousand miles, it will be worth $2100. 

And if not, I can sell the parts here or on ebay and lower the price, or wait till spring to sell it.  More sun usually equals more cash.

Wouldn't even be a $1000 bike if it needed all that. 

That said, good luck on the sale.  Looks like a nice ride.  Hope you get your asking price. 

[BeerGarage]

Thank you for the luck.  Maybe I will need it.

In the SF Bay, things really are more expensive.  I searched this morning for anything from $1600-$2100.  Here is the best of the competition:

$2000.  This one is pretty good.  Looks crashed and repainted, no spare parts, stock suspension: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/3299464001.html

$2000.  Crashed, repainted, "Probably has rod rattle:" http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/3299297377.html

$1900. Too good to be true.  Guy can't use punctuation, so odds are he can't do maintenance.  If it's all good, my price is too high, and I'm buying this CBR.: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/mcy/3299381018.html

$2000.  Salvage title, carb issues, repainted:  http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/mcy/3299154580.html

$1800.  Brand new black and white plastics= crashed.  Nothing else stated in ad. Can't bee all good at this price.  http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/3298731610.html

So, relative to what's out there, is my price way out of line?  Maybe I am kidding myself.  I can't expect anyone to pay $300-400 extra for my ego.

[BockinBboy]

You've got a nice bike with a lot of work put into it.  There are plenty of people who appreciate that, and who will pay for that.  Especially when you have it documented like you do.  I don't think 2k is out of line, it may just be the time of year.  People are searching for deals on winter projects, not necessarily ready to ride bikes at a premium price.  Your bike would sell in a heartbeat come start of spring in that type of condition.  People do pay more for California vehicles because they tend have minimal rust and are overall cleaner as a results of better roads and climates (no salty winters) for vehicles.

- Bboy

[shonole]

You've got a nice bike with a lot of work put into it.  There are plenty of people who appreciate that, and who will pay for that.  Especially when you have it documented like you do.  I don't think 2k is out of line, it may just be the time of year.  People are searching for deals on winter projects, not necessarily ready to ride bikes at a premium price.  Your bike would sell in a heartbeat come start of spring in that type of condition.  People do pay more for California vehicles because they tend have minimal rust and are overall cleaner as a results of better roads and climates (no salty winters) for vehicles.

- Bboy

Agreed.  It's a nice ride, and seems to be in a good price range for out there.  Hold out, someone will give you what you want.

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Lets remember - we're all twinners here!! No need to slyly flame the OP for his asking price or to get butt hurt if someone does say the price is over book value

To the OP - One thing to remember is most people buying motorcycles are taking a loan to do so. If the book value heavily outweighs the asking price, said buyer will have to look for another bike.

I've been on the buyer side of this quite a bit, especially when I was buying my drz400sm. Its a popular style moto, so the street asking prices were usually waay over book value.

Good luck with sale, its definitely a nice bike mang!

[BeerGarage]

Thank you for the input, guys.

I reduced the price to 1900 to sell it before winter.  If it still doesn't sell I will wait until spring and try again.

Cheers!

[BockinBboy]

You guys need to find each other already! Lol

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=62064.0

-Bboy

[BeerGarage]

Thanks, BockinBboy!

[larkja]

I am in the market for a GS500 and live in the Bay Area.  I saw your post along with a couple others.  The reason I have not contacted you is the following in your description - "- cylinder head gasket replaced (maybe needs another)" 

There was no explanation as to why the head gasket might need replacement.  And, needless to say, this would not be an inexpensive fix.  It might be easy for the shade tree mechanic, but with a family and other obligations, I'm not interested in tearing down the bike to replace a head gasket.

Thanks,
Jim

[BeerGarage]

I understand.  I think that line is driving away business.  After about 100 miles, I can take a paper towel and wipe the left headgasket, and the towel will come away with a black smudge.  The gasket leaks just enough oil to attract road dirt.  Nobody would notice this for weeks or months after the sale unless I told them.  But I do not want the buyer to have any surprises.  And, yes, there is a possibility that it will pop and need to be redone. 

[bombsquad83]

Your honesty is commendable.

[larkja]

As bomb said, I appreciate your honesty.  I would always have a bike checked out beforehand, so a mechanic would pick this up anyway.  But, it definitely saves $100 or so.  If you can do the work yourself, it might be worth it to replace the gasket and then repost.  You should get your asking price.

Just my $.02

[shonole]

As bomb said, I appreciate your honesty.  I would always have a bike checked out beforehand, so a mechanic would pick this up anyway.  But, it definitely saves $100 or so.  If you can do the work yourself, it might be worth it to replace the gasket and then repost.  You should get your asking price.

Just my $.02

If it's as minor as OP says it is, then a mechanic likely wouldn't notice it.  Props to OP for the honesty.