GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: kumar988 on February 08, 2007, 05:21:18 PM

Title: To buy or not to buy
Post by: kumar988 on February 08, 2007, 05:21:18 PM
Hi, my name is Abhishek Kumar. I live in albuquerque,nm and have had the motorcycle bug for 2years and I finally have the money to buy it w/gear now. So I have been looking at ninja250/500 and the 500 is plain fugly and 250r is my second choice. So to my first choice! Suzuki gs500! Love the way it looks. It is a bit hard to find a Gs in this area and I have been looking on cycletrader,craigslist,ebayand local classifieds this is what I found.

SUZUKI 1999 GS500 3200 mi, yellow, blk bra, well maintained, garaged, excellent cond. Must Sell. $3100 obo

He says he will sell it for $2800, which seems a bit high but it is low mileage. I am really torn cause I want a gs but I want a good deal too. I was also wondering what kind of maintanence costs are associated with this bike i.e. valve adjustments/tires at 7500mile(or the next scheduled maintenence and I looked at the scheduled maintence list on this site already but it seems like a really long list.). I would also like to know how much you paid at a dealer to get the work done or if you do it yourself. I would like to work on the bike myself because I would eventually like to get into racing so knowing my bike mechnaically would help but I don't know a thing about working on cars or MCs so I might be dreaming.
please all your thoughts. Like if think its a good/bad deal, how much would you pay, if I should wait for spring(I am afraid prices might jump),maintaince thought if you were a mechnical uninclined but were still able to do maintainence. or if you have had ninja250r/500. Oh and if you live in new mexico. thanks much.
Title: Re: To buy or not to buy
Post by: NiceGuysFinishLast on February 08, 2007, 05:32:53 PM
Wow.. I don't know about your market.. but that price is RIDICULOUSLY high for my area.. I paid $2200 for an '02 with 3K miles last summer. Talk his price down, it's the winter, it's a buyer's market, you have the leverage. Not many people are buying this time of year. Maintenance wise, I've been working on cars and engines since I was like 10, but all the work on the GS is ridiculously simple, I think a n00b with a service manual, and this website as resources should be able to do the majority of the work, instead of paying a dealership massive amounts of money. I just recently replaced my whole front end after an accident, no problems.
Title: Re: To buy or not to buy
Post by: Blu_Spd_Dmon on February 08, 2007, 06:07:53 PM
+1 on the price being high.
got my 04F 1100mi 3300 plus a nice jacket and gloves.
Title: Re: To buy or not to buy
Post by: Raydr on February 08, 2007, 07:20:43 PM
I got my 2004 GS500F with 2800 miles and 2 helmets for $2500 cash.
Title: Re: To buy or not to buy
Post by: 3imo on February 08, 2007, 08:19:27 PM
They are trying too bend you in this position -->  :bowdown:
and widen your human exhaust pipe.

I wouldn't do it. $3k will get you a better deal somewhere else. I wouldn't pay that for an 07' GS.
Title: Re: To buy or not to buy
Post by: rob1bike on February 09, 2007, 04:18:03 AM
He's nuts to ask 3k.




Do you like whitecastle?
Title: Re: To buy or not to buy
Post by: starwalt on February 09, 2007, 06:52:34 AM
I've said it before.....

GS500 Census/Ebay Price Guide (http://vtxstar.com/GSpopcount.htm)

"human exhaust pipe"..... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: ROTFLMAO  :laugh:
Title: Re: To buy or not to buy
Post by: Trwhouse on February 09, 2007, 08:55:19 AM
Hi Abhishek,
Welcome to our site!
I agree with the others -- that's way too much for that bike. $2K or a bit higher would be fine.
Apparently the person who owns it likes it so much that they want someone to give them gobs of extra cash to wrench it out of their hands.
And yes, you can do all the work on these bikes if you are good with your hands, are patient and have the right tools.
We can all help you.
I recommend the factory Suzuki GS500 workshop manual over the others.
At valve adjustment intervals for this bike are recommended at 4,000 miles. I check them then but they never seem to go out of adjustment very often. Some others on the board here check them at longer intervals.
Best wishes, and let us know if you find another bike to check out.
Yours,
Todd
Title: Re: To buy or not to buy
Post by: l3uddha on February 09, 2007, 09:11:15 AM
good for you for wanting to start small!

It's hard in a place like Albuquerque where less that 1/2 of the people actually wear helmets & the # of people who buy a 600/1000 as a first bike is HUGE!

I bought my GS in Albuquerque when I lived there.... I'm blanking on the dealership though....

it was off Lomas.... L & S, Honda Suzuki Kawi? does that ring a bell?
Title: Re: To buy or not to buy
Post by: Egaeus on February 11, 2007, 10:03:31 PM
The GS is a good starter bike, but that guy is batshiat crazy if he thinks it's worth what he's asking.  Mines for sale, but a bit far away from you.
Title: Re: To buy or not to buy
Post by: l3uddha on February 12, 2007, 08:59:28 AM
I checked my keychain. actually it was R&S Suzuki, Kawi. in the 1000s off of Lomas in the NE.

I'd definitly keep looking for a GS, great deals spring up all the time.