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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: scott s on March 16, 2007, 12:05:51 PM

Title: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: scott s on March 16, 2007, 12:05:51 PM
 A private seller is trailering up her bike from the lower part of the state on Monday. I've put down a deposit after seeing pics and talking to her, but I told her that if it's a piece of **** she'll be hauling it back and I'll pay her for her time and gas.
  What sort of stuff should I check for? How do you tell if the forks are OK?
  I know how to check the brakes, et. and minor maintenance will not be an issue. I plan on changing the oil, plugs and filters just so I can start at square one anyway.
  What's a good pre-purchase inspection consist of?
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: pandy on March 16, 2007, 12:32:11 PM
Welcome!  :cheers: :thumb:

Here's (http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html) a site with a long checklist of what to look for:

If you have a friend who knows bikes, it doesn't hurt to take her/him with you to look it over!  :thumb:
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: scott s on March 16, 2007, 12:55:49 PM
 Thanks! Exactly what I was looking for. That should be a sticky on here!
  I guess I knew more about what to look for than I thought.....pretty straightforward stuff. The only thing I don't feel well versed in is suspension/forks. I should be able to tell right away if there's a problem though, right?
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: Trwhouse on March 16, 2007, 12:59:04 PM
Hi there,
Where are you located?
One of us on the board might be able to come and help you look it over.
Please add your location to your username signature file.
:)
Best wishes,
Todd
in Lancaster, PA
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: scott s on March 16, 2007, 01:53:18 PM
  OK, edited my profile. I did an introduction on the thread at the top of the page yesterday as well.

  I'm from Rock Hill, SC, just south of Charlotte, NC and about an hour north of Columbia,SC.
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: The Buddha on March 16, 2007, 02:23:58 PM
Ha ha ... Rock hill ... was there yesterday ...
Now you can bring it by for me to check it if you like.
Or I have some other crap ... I mean bikes I'll palm off on sone sucker ... I mean new rider.
Just kidding ... Yea well ... something ... find me a good couple acres without trailers or crap and no ditch and sheiete either around there cheap and I'll fix your bike free ... Yea Fort mill area OK too.
That is serious.
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: scott s on March 16, 2007, 02:26:46 PM
 Just haul the trailers off or sell them to a hunt club!   :icon_lol:
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: pandy on March 16, 2007, 04:01:55 PM
Quote from: seshadri_srinath on March 16, 2007, 02:23:58 PM
Or I have some other crap ...  I'll palm off on sone sucker ...

He had it right the first time!  :icon_mrgreen: :laugh: :kiss3:
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: The Buddha on March 17, 2007, 06:14:20 AM
Man ... I was going to ... but those dudes are heavily armed ...
Also I didn't mean trailers on my land, neighboring trailers.
I am serious though ... I am in charlotte and I come there often, usually looking for land to buy so I can build a steel house  :o . So if you got someone who has a farm or other type of land ... I am all ears.
Serious about fixing your bike too.
And first thing you'd learn here is ... dont listen to Pandy ... you know, her real name is Staci, with an i ... yea ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: TragicImage on March 17, 2007, 05:09:58 PM
and she drops her bike... alot.


never trust some one who drops their bike.
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: pandy on March 17, 2007, 05:37:06 PM
My bike now has character..... a LOT of character!  :flipoff: :laugh:
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: The Buddha on March 17, 2007, 06:22:47 PM
Quote from: pandy on March 17, 2007, 05:37:06 PM
My bike now has character..... a LOT of character!  :flipoff: :laugh:

That's so perfect, so does the owner ...
Heck the owner is a character ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: pandy on March 17, 2007, 08:14:56 PM
It takes one to know one!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: The Buddha on March 18, 2007, 04:52:04 AM
Gotcha ...
Nope, it doesn't take one to randomly guess sheite, and then have the accused plead guilty ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: pandy on March 18, 2007, 09:16:21 AM
Quote from: seshadri_srinath on March 18, 2007, 04:52:04 AM
Gotcha ...
Nope, it doesn't take one to randomly guess sheite, and then have the accused plead guilty ...

You weren't talking about YOU? ???  :flipoff:
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: scott s on March 19, 2007, 01:55:34 PM
 Well, it REALLY sucks, but the seller backed out of the deal on the '05 GS.   :(
She was about three hours away and offered to deliver it. Less than 24 hours before the deal was to be made I got an email saying she was reuturning my deposit. I think she got a better offer locally. It was a smoking deal, about a grand under blue book.

Anyway, I've located an '89 just up the road from me. It's not in as good of shape as the '05 but still nice. It has the factory chin spoiler and fairing and clip-on handlebars. Actually, it's in pretty similar condition and VERY good condition for an 18 year old bike. I hope to go check it out tomorrow or Wednesday.
Wish me luck! I'm really jonesin' to "re-learn" how to ride and get out on the road with my girlfriend this Summer.
Title: Re: Potential GS purchase on Monday, what to look for?
Post by: pbureau69 on March 23, 2007, 03:12:17 AM
dont do like I did, and overlooked the forks, make a visual and "hand slide" on them to check for bend,bumps, crevaces..

good luck on the new "older ride"