Interesting Opportunity/ headlight question

[Flippacase]

Hi everyone,
    My name is Phil and this is my first post to this site. I'm currently in the market for a bike and found an interesting "deal" on local craigslist.
    So here's the scenario: Basically I could buy 2 2004 GS500's for $1400. One is yellow, one is black. The yellow bike has 12,000 miles and is in great running/riding order. The black bike currently does not run. The reason the two bikes are being sold as a pair is because the yellow bike (which runs great) does not have a title. The black bike (which does not run) does have a clean title.
    So my question, I guess, is would this be worth it, or is it too much trouble? Would my best bet be to just swap engines? Could I just register the black bike and swap out plastics?
Thank you everyone I really appreciate your input.

P.S. I live in MA which has pretty strict title registration laws

[joweaver88]

Hi everyone,
    My name is Phil and this is my first post to this site. I'm currently in the market for a bike and found an interesting "deal" on local craigslist.
    So here's the scenario: Basically I could buy 2 2004 GS500's for $1400. One is yellow, one is black. The yellow bike has 12,000 miles and is in great running/riding order. The black bike currently does not run. The reason the two bikes are being sold as a pair is because the yellow bike (which runs great) does not have a title. The black bike (which does not run) does have a clean title.
    So my question, I guess, is would this be worth it, or is it too much trouble? Would my best bet be to just swap engines? Could I just register the black bike and swap out plastics?
Thank you everyone I really appreciate your input.

P.S. I live in MA which has pretty strict title registration laws

if the black bike doesnt have a title you can try to get a replacement title, so as long as it isnt stolen. swapping the plastics wont do a thing because the vin is on the frame and the engine. but the GS is a pretty simple bike, you should be able to get the yellow one running especially if you have a donor bike at your disposal... I would talk him down on the price though.

[adidasguy]

Bikes do not track the motor number.
Swap running motor into the one with a title and you have a great bike and a pile of spare parts.

Probably can get $400-$800 selling off the spare parts after the transplant.

[Flippacase]

Bikes do not track the motor number.
Swap running motor into the one with a title and you have a great bike and a pile of spare parts.

Probably can get $400-$800 selling off the spare parts after the transplant.

That's exactly what I was thinking of doing. Swap out the engine and have pretty much an entire extra bikes for parts.
   
Another quick question. I haven't gone to look at the bikes yet and don't know too many specifics about gs500s, but here are a couple pics. One thing I was wondering was if the bikes are the same year, why is it that the black bike appears to have a different headlight? Is this aftermarket work or are the bikes maybe different years?

Yellow Bike (definitely in better shape)


Black bike (notice the different headlight)

[robfriedenberger]

Good deal buy it up !


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[Janx101]

black bike isnt orig fairing...

actually looks a bit franken-fairing ?

looks like a reasonable deal though .. so long as you get proof nothing is stolen 

[radodrill]

Another quick question. I haven't gone to look at the bikes yet and don't know too many specifics about gs500s, but here are a couple pics. One thing I was wondering was if the bikes are the same year, why is it that the black bike appears to have a different headlight? Is this aftermarket work or are the bikes maybe different years?

The fairings are from different bikes; the black/red one says GS-R on it.  It could be a totally different bike or an older GS with the GS-R fairing bodged onto it.

[Flippacase]

The fairings are from different bikes; the black/red one says GS-R on it.  It could be a totally different bike or an older GS with the GS-R fairing bodged onto it.

Yeah I was pretty confused when I saw the GSR on there, especially considering the GSR isn't even a full fairing-ed bike. After a little more research on this site I think that the GSR fairing on the bike is actually from an $800 or so kit called the "Aluizio Motors Fairing" for gs500s.
Here's (I think) a bike with the kit:

[Janx101]

think you've nailed it there!

[Flippacase]

Going to check out the bikes on Friday, I'll let everyone know how it goes!

[cWj]

Buy them both and sell me the yellow one for $500.



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