SV650 Upgrade?

[amkluttz]

I'm not entirely sure it's an upgrade but here's the deal.

My bike is currently down after tossing a valve shim.  I'm working to try to get the motor back in shape but there's a possibility it's shot.  Up pops a SV650S with a salvaged title for cheap.  Completely missing the fairings, headlights and I believe the gauge cluster.  I'm not worried about the salvaged title as long as the mechanics of the bike are in good shape.  I can deal with cosmetic issues and I'm hoping the broken fairings are the reason for salvage.

Obvious cons are:

Salvage Title
Unsure of Mileage  (owner claims 20,000)
No fairings/gauges/headlights
Most likely has been dropped/down


The price is at $1200 but I wouldn't be willing to go over $850 and that might be a bit much with the work I'd have to put in to it.  I'm not worried about being able to sell it as I imagine this will be this bikes last home if I buy it.  If I can fix the GS I could sell it and make plenty of money to cover the SV.  If the GS isn't repairable I would part it out and keep some things to help with the SV build. 

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/mpo/4647793088.html

What say you?

-Andy

[dry_humor]

Ugh. I had sketchy ads like that.

Schedule a meet-up with the guy and see if he'll let you sit on it, start it up, etc. etc. If he doesn't want to, then I would bail on it because there is something else probably wrong with it.

It's also possible that the bike didn't have fairings at all like our GS500E here. Looks like it is just missing the headlight/headlight brackets and gauges. If all is well with everything else, I would suggest making a deal because you can get the needed parts for cheap from the members at SVrider.com. Looking at the picture, it also looks like someone put on Woodcraft rearsets, or at least good looking knock-offs. Those alone cost a pretty penny.

Also, SVs are the bomb. I may a smidge biased because I own one.

[amkluttz]

Ugh. I had sketchy ads like that.

Schedule a meet-up with the guy and see if he'll let you sit on it, start it up, etc. etc. If he doesn't want to, then I would bail on it because there is something else probably wrong with it.

It's also possible that the bike didn't have fairings at all like our GS500E here. Looks like it is just missing the headlight/headlight brackets and gauges. If all is well with everything else, I would suggest making a deal because you can get the needed parts for cheap from the members at SVrider.com. Looking at the picture, it also looks like someone put on Woodcraft rearsets, or at least good looking knock-offs. Those alone cost a pretty penny.

Also, SVs are the bomb. I may a smidge biased because I own one.

I believe all of the S models had front half-fairings. That would explain why there are no headlights or gauges as they both lived in the fairing. I'm supposed to go meet him on Saturday evening to check it out. If he won't start it and let me take it for a spin it's not worth my time. I don't need something with engine problems. I've heard an SV with 20000 miles is nothing so I'm not necessarily worried about that.

The add is sketchy and his responses have been strange. Im in NC and he has a Miami, FL phone number. Is it still worth looking at?

[dry_humor]

Derp.

Didn't see it was actually labeled an S. Has the upper triple to match as well.

Just look at it. The worst that can happen is you say no and get to keep your money.

[Nighthawk016]

the number isnt a big deal, I live in Indiana and have a Louisiana number. I'm not sketchy at all. Doesnt mean he isnt though.

[amkluttz]

I'm going to at least go check it out. Taking a friend with me. Worst case scenario I guess is that I lose 1.5 hours of my day.

[mustangGT90210]

I paid $1100 for a 02 S model that had been converted naked dropped once. Dent in the tank and a very slightly tweaked lower triple. Ran fine, and I had it from January of this year till I crashed it 3 weeks ago. The owner of the salvage bike needs to realize what he has isn't worth but $700 if it's a 99-02 (carb'd) and no more than $900 if it's a 03+ (injected) that runs right.

Play hardball, wrecked bikes can be money pits, and as I learned with my SV, the lower triple is a weak point, and it'll actually bend before a fork will in my experience

[amkluttz]

The last thing I need is another money pit. My wife thought the GS was crazy expensive. I wanted a Duc Monster at first.

[mustangGT90210]

The last thing I need is another money pit. My wife thought the GS was crazy expensive. I wanted a Duc Monster at first.

I've owned 3 bikes so far, 93 GS, 94 GSX-R 750, and that 02 SV650. I brought my GS from inches from the grave to mechanically sound, plus some other fun bits, for $500. I spend $300 just on tires for my GSX-R, plus other random crap, still had issues when I sold it. Put somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 into my SV, and it still had a random, giant misfire, and needed some other maintenance as well.

Moral of the story - A GS500 is probably one of the absolute cheapest bikes to keep on the road, in great mechanical shape. I'm on the fence right now of Bandit 1200 or back to a GS500 just because I don't want to keep dumping unneeded money into maintenance

I'll classify this also, I'm a broke college student, and a full time auto mechanic, so the easier and more importantly, cheaper, things to work on, I tend to like better

[piresito]

The last thing I need is another money pit. My wife thought the GS was crazy expensive. I wanted a Duc Monster at first.

I've owned 3 bikes so far, 93 GS, 94 GSX-R 750, and that 02 SV650. I brought my GS from inches from the grave to mechanically sound, plus some other fun bits, for $500. I spend $300 just on tires for my GSX-R, plus other random crap, still had issues when I sold it. Put somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 into my SV, and it still had a random, giant misfire, and needed some other maintenance as well.

Moral of the story - A GS500 is probably one of the absolute cheapest bikes to keep on the road, in great mechanical shape. I'm on the fence right now of Bandit 1200 or back to a GS500 just because I don't want to keep dumping unneeded money into maintenance

I'll classify this also, I'm a broke college student, and a full time auto mechanic, so the easier and more importantly, cheaper, things to work on, I tend to like better

I've told you, you should've got an SRAD!

[amkluttz]

My plan was to go look at the bike over the weekend. I decided to call the guy before I drove 45 minutes one way to look at it. He couldn't tell me why it was salvaged but just kept telling me to "come and see". He also mentioned "I'm selling for a friend" and "he bought it at an auction" which did not make me feel very comfortable. I've decided just to wait until this Friday and see if I can get the GS back to running condition.

Since then a good friend of mine has decided to sell his 2006 SV650S with 12k miles. The owner before him had put a new rear shock (upgraded) and new springs in the forks. He had also done some other really nice mods to the bike.  He said he would sell it to me for $2200 and let me make payments to him at no interest. This sounds like an amazing deal but I'm not sure I can talk the wife in to it.

-Andy

[mustangGT90210]

The last thing I need is another money pit. My wife thought the GS was crazy expensive. I wanted a Duc Monster at first.

I've owned 3 bikes so far, 93 GS, 94 GSX-R 750, and that 02 SV650. I brought my GS from inches from the grave to mechanically sound, plus some other fun bits, for $500. I spend $300 just on tires for my GSX-R, plus other random crap, still had issues when I sold it. Put somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 into my SV, and it still had a random, giant misfire, and needed some other maintenance as well.

Moral of the story - A GS500 is probably one of the absolute cheapest bikes to keep on the road, in great mechanical shape. I'm on the fence right now of Bandit 1200 or back to a GS500 just because I don't want to keep dumping unneeded money into maintenance

I'll classify this also, I'm a broke college student, and a full time auto mechanic, so the easier and more importantly, cheaper, things to work on, I tend to like better

I've told you, you should've got an SRAD!

Find me a SRAD with a tail swap

[The Buddha]

The last thing I need is another money pit. My wife thought the GS was crazy expensive. I wanted a Duc Monster at first.

I've owned 3 bikes so far, 93 GS, 94 GSX-R 750, and that 02 SV650. I brought my GS from inches from the grave to mechanically sound, plus some other fun bits, for $500. I spend $300 just on tires for my GSX-R, plus other random crap, still had issues when I sold it. Put somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 into my SV, and it still had a random, giant misfire, and needed some other maintenance as well.

Moral of the story - A GS500 is probably one of the absolute cheapest bikes to keep on the road, in great mechanical shape. I'm on the fence right now of Bandit 1200 or back to a GS500 just because I don't want to keep dumping unneeded money into maintenance

I'll classify this also, I'm a broke college student, and a full time auto mechanic, so the easier and more importantly, cheaper, things to work on, I tend to like better

+1 ... bigger bikes get $$$ fast. If you want any lower cos of maintenance, you would probably have some luck with a mid 80's to mid 90's jap cruiser with shaft drive and 19 front and 15 rear tars. Like a maxim 700 or intruder. In fact it may just be those 2 ... or a vulcan 750 or savage 650. Nothing else almost ... yea may have missed a few bikes here and there.
Cool.
buddha.

[SAFE-T]

Get the 2006 SV650 in good condition that actually works and save yourself the frustration of having to work on it all the time AND still wind up spending the same amount of money.

[mustangGT90210]

The last thing I need is another money pit. My wife thought the GS was crazy expensive. I wanted a Duc Monster at first.

I've owned 3 bikes so far, 93 GS, 94 GSX-R 750, and that 02 SV650. I brought my GS from inches from the grave to mechanically sound, plus some other fun bits, for $500. I spend $300 just on tires for my GSX-R, plus other random crap, still had issues when I sold it. Put somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 into my SV, and it still had a random, giant misfire, and needed some other maintenance as well.

Moral of the story - A GS500 is probably one of the absolute cheapest bikes to keep on the road, in great mechanical shape. I'm on the fence right now of Bandit 1200 or back to a GS500 just because I don't want to keep dumping unneeded money into maintenance

I'll classify this also, I'm a broke college student, and a full time auto mechanic, so the easier and more importantly, cheaper, things to work on, I tend to like better

+1 ... bigger bikes get $$$ fast. If you want any lower cos of maintenance, you would probably have some luck with a mid 80's to mid 90's jap cruiser with shaft drive and 19 front and 15 rear tars. Like a maxim 700 or intruder. In fact it may just be those 2 ... or a vulcan 750 or savage 650. Nothing else almost ... yea may have missed a few bikes here and there.
Cool.
buddha.

I've ridden an '95ish Intruder 800, an '89 Intruder 700, 2 different Rebel 250's, and 2 different 883 Sportsters... So while I do appreciate the knowledge, I'm just not a cruiser guy. I like to lean farther than they do :lol:

[cWj]

No interest payments 06 for $2200?

Why are we having this conversation again?

Do it before I find that person and figure out what kind of beverage they like!

[amkluttz]

No interest payments 06 for $2200?

Why are we having this conversation again?

Do it before I find that person and figure out what kind of beverage they like!

We're having this conversation because I have a wife and she's pregnant. The deal would have been done otherwise. She likes "classy" looking bikes and has deemed the SV650S as ugly.  Also we're going to be pretty tight on cash when the kid shows up.

Update:

Replaced the camshaft and valve bucket as well as all shims. Flushed motor and got it running. Got about 40 miles before something else went wrong. Sounds like it could be a valve or a piston. I think it's pretty much done.

-Andy

[Leadberry]

No interest payments 06 for $2200?

Why are we having this conversation again?

Do it before I find that person and figure out what kind of beverage they like!

We're having this conversation because I have a wife and she's pregnant. The deal would have been done otherwise. She likes "classy" looking bikes and has deemed the SV650S as ugly.  Also we're going to be pretty tight on cash when the kid shows up.

Update:

Replaced the camshaft and valve bucket as well as all shims. Flushed motor and got it running. Got about 40 miles before something else went wrong. Sounds like it could be a valve or a piston. I think it's pretty much done.

-Andy

Just out of curiosity, what does your wife consider "classy?"

[cWj]

Put a sticker on it that says "Bill Blass Edition".

Instant class. Problem solved.

[amkluttz]

No interest payments 06 for $2200?

Why are we having this conversation again?

Do it before I find that person and figure out what kind of beverage they like!

We're having this conversation because I have a wife and she's pregnant. The deal would have been done otherwise. She likes "classy" looking bikes and has deemed the SV650S as ugly.  Also we're going to be pretty tight on cash when the kid shows up.

Update:

Replaced the camshaft and valve bucket as well as all shims. Flushed motor and got it running. Got about 40 miles before something else went wrong. Sounds like it could be a valve or a piston. I think it's pretty much done.

-Andy

Just out of curiosity, what does your wife consider "classy?"

My wife enjoys the look of the café bikes. My friend that is selling his SV had a Triumph Thruxton before that and she really liked that bike. She's big in to vintage stuff. I also like café bikes but not as my only bike.

-Andy