Finally getting my first bike! Tips will be greatly appreciated!

[Winter]

So after a few months of lurking on this site, I have finally acquired the funds to get my bike. I'm looking around on craigslist, and I was wondering if you guys could check out these listings, and give me an idea of what to check before buying the bike, and the overall process of buying the bike.

[Winter]

Here are the listings I've got to choose from.
http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/3532874089.html
http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/3474599171.html

I'm still looking, so I'll probably have a few more to post.

[Zethioth]

Of the two you listed, it's more of a personal choice. Do you want an older GS, or a new one that was faired?

The second listing is a newer GS and it's cheaper with less miles. I would go with the second listing.

Newer means it could have less issues. But I bet a few people on here would fight me over that. Lol 

[Winter]

Either way, I prefer a naked bike. If I get the new one, I'd be selling the fairings. The thing with the newer one is that it's price is significantly lower than all the other 2004+ year listings I've seen, which kinda freaks me out.

[Twisted]

The second one would be the pick as its the most modern. Just be sure to check the bike over when inspecting it as this model was fared. So the reason the farings may be off is because the bike has been down. Check it over for road rash, bent levers, forks and the like. Not that it will be a bad buy if has been dropped. It depends on how badly it went down.

[weedahoe]

If the guy who owns the naked one says it will smoke any car from a light knows that, its likely because he has done it a few times. In other words, its likely he has been hard on it.

Either way, the 08 with 12k and $14300 would be my bet.

[Badot]

Look at the beautiful muffler on the second one. With all that extra added support for the tailpipe. [/sarchasm]

The second one looks like a rich kid's toy IMO (not taken care of, crappily done mods). Pics aren't good either. Price raises a huge red flag to me.

First one looks better to me, but it's obviously something you've got to look at in person.

(And who of us here doesn't know a gs500 will smoke just about any car?  )

[adidasguy]

$1300 for a 2008? Something is wrong - seriously wrong with it. A 2008 should be around $2500. That custom exhaust looks like it is really really loud. Those blue lights are cheap to do and can get you pulled over --- blue lights are reserved for police. Fairings removed? Wonder why? Probably has been crashed. Not much description or daylight photos.

The first one is at the correct price for the bike. Looks pretty stock and stock is what you want for a first bike.

You do not want a bike with all kinds of mods for your first bike.

Go with the 1997 bike. Something is wrong with the 2008 at that price.

[codajastal]

The first one would be my choice 1997 model and looks well looked after and has Misters link to his review lol
The second was HAS BEEN DROPPED. Look at the stator cover and the other side (NO suzuki logo and many scratches) The bike has slid across the road at speed and is also missing stock muffler which was probably wrecked when dropped. IMO Steer clear of the 2008.

And as for saying it smokes almost any car means hes hard on it well I call  I am hard on both mine and they are 89 and 90 models and are just fine. As long as they are serviced regularly they are gonna be just fine.

[Foxtrot Tango]

Congratulations! Here is some sage advice:

-Obviously, leverage internet resources. Any guide to buying used motorycles works well and can say more than I can. Google "used motorcycle buying tips."

-Take a friend with you who knows motorcycles. He'll have a more keen eye to problems than you will, just by virtue of experience.

-If you can't test ride it, which is probable, have the owner start it up! And then note: how well does the owner know the bike? If he needs to choke it, does he know how to do that? I once had a guy try to sell me the GS500F that claimed that it was an issue that the red "oil" light came on after he put the key in. This is actually normal and the light goes off after starting.

-I personally would avoid anything that has clearly been messed with. Dope blue lights may win ego contests at gas station meetups if that's your thing, but it could be a Franken-modification that is dangerous. Performance enhancements (new exhaust, new tires, etc.) are okay to a point, but how comfortable are you on someone else's redneck turbo mod? Then again, it is your call.

-I would avoid GS500Fs with "new fairings" or run without fairings unless the seller fully discloses that there was a crash and notes the (minor) damage. The same guy as above with the warning light issue tried to sell me a GS500F with clean fairings -- no stickers -- that he swore had never been down. Except it was dirty under the fairings and he'd replaced the handlebar grips, and the bar-end weights were missing....

-Tip-overs or low-speed tumbles can be okay. Look for mostly vertical scratches or abrasions. Long scratches forward-to-backward indicate high speed.

-I can't think of many GS500-specific things to look for. There will be a lot of dirty grease on the kickstand, that's a "feature" of the bike due to chain placement and it doesn't indicate a problem. If it's cold outside, it may take effort to start, that's a feature of carbuerated engines. Idle should be a healthy "putting" sound. Other than those, the bike is straightforward and basic, good fun.

-Don't "fall in love" with a bike. Always look at multiple examples. Unless this will be your only vehicle, there is also no urgency to buy one in a limited timeframe, so no rush.

[Winter]

It looks like I'm going with the first listing, seeing as it is the more modest of the two bikes, and bone-stock. He seems like a good/honest person. I'm going to go look at it on thursday. Thanks guys!

[Twisted]

It looks like I'm going with the first listing, seeing as it is the more modest of the two bikes, and bone-stock. He seems like a good/honest person. I'm going to go look at it on thursday. Thanks guys!

It is always good to ask that when you go look at the bike that you ask for the bike to be started cold. A warmed up bike can hide a lot.

[codajastal]

It looks like I'm going with the first listing, seeing as it is the more modest of the two bikes, and bone-stock. He seems like a good/honest person. I'm going to go look at it on thursday. Thanks guys!

It is always good to ask that when you go look at the bike that you ask for the bike to be started cold. A warmed up bike can hide a lot.

[Winter]

When cold starting, should the RPMs kinda drift between 4000-2500?

[Paulcet]

If it drifts up OR down, I would say that is normal. But up AND down would concern me.  But that's just me. And that might just mean the carbs have been sitting too long.

[Winter]

Ok, cool, cause he started it twice, and it was different each time, then it kinda skipped a couple times when he was test riding it for me.

[Twisted]

A cold engine will skip/hesitate under load sometimes. Do you mean it the revs would surge to 4000rpm when the choke was on? If so this is normal. Mine will start out at around 3k and increase to 5k with the choke on while warming up in the driveway. If the bike is surging from 2k to 4k with no choke idling this means there could be leaks in the carbs or fuel issues.

[Winter]

http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/3558923133.html

Hmmm...this or the 97 black? Opinions?

[adidasguy]

Ask what things have been changed on the 1992. Why? 1992 came with white rims. Black rims are 2004+. Nothing wrong if the owner replaced them with newer ones. Heck, I've changed mine all over the place on all my various bikes. My 2009 now has new-old-stock original 1989 white rims and looks hot. My 1992 has the 1997-00 gray rims.

The blue bike does look good with black rims .vs. original white. Possibly they were painted. It may be the rims are gray, which is 1997-2000.

Blue is not a 1992 color. Possibly more like 1997. 1992 was purple, red or black.

Again, nothing wrong with parts being swapped between years. Just ask because it is not 1992 by the looks but price is right and it does look sweet.

[Higgins13]

If I had to guess I would say the 08 has been dropped based on the lack of fairings and no stickers on rear fairing