Have a line on a 97" GS500....has 7,500K...guy has said it needs a new battery so its a "may run or may not" right now but claims that is the only thing keeping it from running. Says it runs pretty decent when it does. Said the only other problem is broken glass for the speedometer and a broken speedo cable (doesn't seem like that would be too hard a fix).
Guy wants $1,000K. Seems like a good deal but Im a little scared at buying a bike that doesnt run. Is there anyway to check to make sure its just the battery? GUy seems honest but who knows nowadays. Any other things to look for? I'm a newbie and figure this would be a great and inexpensive bike to learn on.
Nick
for a million dollars ($1,000 k) it had better be made of solid gold and encrusted with diamonds.
with a broken speedo cable/speedo then it may have more miles than 7.5k, and then you are looking at a bike with a big question mark as to miles and that will be hard to resell (unless you want to be dishonest). If you are seriously considering buying it, you should bring a battery and some tools over when you check it out and then see if it starts. Even with a new battery it may not start up if it has been sitting with old gas in it, but if it starts up even for a bit that will be good news. If it does have 7.5k then you'll also be looking at doing a valve adjust and other regular maintenance.
Well, if the guy says that is all that is keeping it from running, just bump start it. Either push it down a hill or get next to it and run.. put it in 2nd gear, pop the clutch.. make sure the ignition is on/kill switch is off.. it should fire right up. I know when my clutch switch was acting up I could bump start mine on the 1st try every time...
When I was looking at my bike I made the guy trying to sell it push me around his parking lot. He claimed the bike would run, so... he probably pushed me 200 yds before the thing fired up and it did run, but it ran like crap... Fine with me, I talked him down on the price even more.
Of course, that'll only work if that's the ONLY thing wrong... if it doesn't start, at least you should be able to talk him down. Even w/ bad gas or something it should at least *try* to start...
Otherwise,, that is a pretty good price for that year/mileage. Good luck, don't forget to take a look at other big $ replacements like tires, chain, rust in the gas tank...
trey
You can jump start it with a car. Get some jumper cables. Just make sure the car is NOT running when you try this. Find out how long the bike has been sitting. Maybe put a tea spoon of oil in each cylinder and turn it over first to make sure it moving around okay and has oil in it. Put the plugs back in and fire it up. May blow smoke at first.
Gas can go bad in like 3 months, so hopeful he but a stabilizer in it before he sat it. But DON'T buy it until you hear it running.
Otherwise you end up with a bike like mine :lol: supposed to be a simple problem was a defective valve seat and it still isn't running right (which explains the major work gettin done this winter)
Quote from: Jake DDON'T buy it until you hear it running.
great advice. if it's just battery, why don't he just spend $30 and replace it. hence, he would ahve much better chance of selling it. so i would watch out.
if it's been sitting, you will not be able to bump start it. you'll drop to your knees before it'll start.
like it's been mentioned before, take a jumper cable with you. jump start the bike with your car. then decide if you want to buy it or not.
A 97" bike? What is that, about 8 feet? Is that the seat height? :o
Dave :cheers:
Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDXA 97" bike? What is that, about 8 feet? Is that the seat height? :o
Dave :cheers:
dave, he clearly said 97 feet...if you have never seen it, it's a stretched gs limo decked out with hot tub and such...
I don't know why it did not occurr to me to that i could jumpstart to a car. I'll do that. Gonna give him a call tommorrow (only been talking in emails)- what things should I ask him specifically to give me an idea? The bike is located an hour away so if I go to see it I at least want to know its worth it.
Nick
At the expense of looking like an idiot, where exactly is the battery located on a GS and do I need to take anything off to get to it so I can jump it?!
Thanks for answering the newbie questions. I appreciate it!
Nick
i would just have the guy buy a battery and replace it before you go look at it. if that's all it is, he's either stupid, or extremely lazy. a running bike is way easier to sell than a non-running bike.
Quote from: jiggersplati would just have the guy buy a battery and replace it before you go look at it. if that's all it is, he's either stupid, or extremely lazy. a running bike is way easier to sell than a non-running bike.
or there could be other things that are wrong with it
Quote from: AllGoNoShowAt the expense of looking like an idiot, where exactly is the battery located on a GS and do I need to take anything off to get to it so I can jump it?!
Thanks for answering the newbie questions. I appreciate it!
Nick
the battery is located under the seat. so you have to take off the seat to get to it.
to take of the seat. insert the key into the seat lock located under the plastic body panel on left side (side with kickstand). turn the key clockwise to release the seat. at the same time, grab the rear end of the seat and lift up.