First of all, hi! I've been mucking around reading all you guys have written and searching for a used bikes and since i found one, i thought i see what you guys think about it!
Here is the link for it on cycle traders: http://adcache.cycletrader.com/5/8/4/54862684.htm
I sent him an email, asking if he raced it at all, if the tires were good, if tank has rust, if he made any modifications to it, if it needs any repairs right now, does he have all the documentation for it, and how many other owners there were. (oops, run on sentence)
Let me know if there is anything else i should ask about. Since he is relitivly close to me i will probably go out and see the bike some time soon.
Thanks in advance,
Justin
I find this link to be helpful, though it's not GS500 specific: http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html
you've asked all the right questions. Looks like a pretty good deal.
cool, I'll let you all know what he gets back to me with. Its been like 7 hours and he hasnt gotten back to me, but I guess some people have lives (!!!) We'll see tomarrow morning!
I was going to ask if I should get progressive springs for the forks, or if i should just put a larger spacer in? I will eventually put the progressive ones in, but I dont know if i can afford that right off the bat.
Also, while on the subject of buying stuff, is there anything else i should invest in? Just things that make the bike better as a whole, I doubt i will be needing more HP ( :bs: hehe ) since this will be my first bike.
Yes, invest in good riding gear, and if you've never taken one, an MSF course (you won't be sorry)...BTW we're practically neighbors...I'm over in Saranac Lake (next to Lake Placid)..good luck!!
my msf course is schedualed for september 26-28. Just hope I pass, it dont look too hard but you never know. Im getting a leather/textile jacket with padding in it (armor?) the shoulders and arms are leather and the chest and back are textile or what ever that is. Also getting some over the ankle hiking boots that are pretty tough. Have some gloves (leather snowmobile gloves) and have a helmet, i need a road legal face shield though.
Lol we are quite close, i snowmobile on lake placid (i think thats the one) in the winter. 80mph on a lake is rather fun, dangerous at night with the ice fishing huts though (and thats with an old 79 yamaha something or other) ^_^
Ok, he got back to me about my questions.
Its had 2 owners before him, he has had it for 1 summer of light riding. (selling for bigger bike)
Doesnt need repair, runs just the same as when he bought it (good).
He hasnt made any modifications to it, he thinks that one of the owners put larger tires on it than stock. (they look alot like the thread thats running right now about tires).
He has a clear title, its insured/regestered/inspected right now. He says he hasnt had it long enough for a repair history, although he did change the oil once.
He just went back and forth from work some times (6miles), and took it out for 30mile rides every once and awhile.
He hasnt had any problems with it.
He didnt know how to check the rust in the tank or the tire dates. I told him how, so hopefully he will understand what i wrote and get back to me about that.
Looks to be a really good deal to me. If the tires are like 5 years old should I ask him to lower the price? If so how much? Same question for tank rust.
If the tires are in poor shape, you may want to negotiate some. If you need to buy new tires that's going to cost you some serious $$$.
So about how much would you think the tires would cost? 200 for an average set of tires? I think i'll read through pantablos tires thing on his website.
I was also wondering if the GS can push my bulk (220 lbs :oops: ) up to highwayspeeds (atleast 65, 80 would be nice :nono: :))
I emailed that guy too about the bike. I just got one today a little closer to home but he seemed willing to negotiate a price! :thumb: :thumb:
Quote from: BriliuSo about how much would you think the tires would cost? 200 for an average set of tires? I think i'll read through pantablos tires thing on his website.
I was also wondering if the GS can push my bulk (220 lbs :oops: ) up to highwayspeeds (atleast 65, 80 would be nice :nono: :))
I bought some BT45's and I paid about $120 after tax for the front, including mounting. $135 or so for the rear. This was from a local shop.
I weigh about 225 lbs. and my '01 GS hauls me around very well. I went down one tooth on the front sprocket and it will redline 6th gear with me on it.
Quote from: glenn9171Quote from: BriliuSo about how much would you think the tires would cost? 200 for an average set of tires? I think i'll read through pantablos tires thing on his website.
I was also wondering if the GS can push my bulk (220 lbs :oops: ) up to highwayspeeds (atleast 65, 80 would be nice :nono: :))
I bought some BT45's and I paid about $120 after tax for the front, including mounting. $135 or so for the rear. This was from a local shop.
I weigh about 225 lbs. and my '01 GS hauls me around very well. I went down one tooth on the front sprocket and it will redline 6th gear with me on it.
how fast are you going to redline at 6th.. at 90mph I am doing 8K.. ofcourse i have the stock teeth.. but i still cant see redline.
At full tuck...or as close as my gut will allow...my speedometer is showing about 120ish. Or about 108 "real" MPH.
Are the speedometers off that much? Or is that just at the higher speeds? (as long as its not actually more than what its showing).
QuoteI emailed that guy too about the bike. I just got one today a little closer to home but he seemed willing to negotiate a price
Did you find anything out about it that I havent gotten from him? I think he works the early morning shift, because his emails are at 1am =)
Hehe, stay away from my bike! :nono: :) :) Good luck with that one closer to you.
Thanks again for all of your help! Hopefully he will get back to me tonight about the tires and tank.
According to my Garmin GPS, the SG speedo is fast by about 10%. At an indicated 70, the GPS says 63. At 50, GPS = 45. It stays at 10% difference across the whole speed range.
do you think that its just this bike or are all/most speedometers like that?
Oh, and he still hasnt gotten back to me yet!
All of them I have heard about (GS500's anyway) are pretty damned close to this margin of error.
So if I get it, should I drop a tooth in the front sprocket? I think I will ride it around like normal for a bit and see how it feels, then do that.
But it is a basic nesicity to get the progressive springs, right? Or atleast put larger spacers in untill I get the springs.
He got back to me about the tank and tires.
He said he checked in the tank, and couldent get a good angle to see the sidewalls to check for rust. Can you just look straight to the bottem and check? Or will that not be rusted because of having gas on it the majority of the time.
Also he gave me these numbers on the wheels.
The front tire number is EB56 BUH 017. The rear tire number is
HBDN 989T 437.
Now does that mean they both were made in 97, and the front in the first week and the back in the 43 week? Or is there a different set he should be looking at?
Thanks for all your help!
Quote from: glenn9171At full tuck...or as close as my gut will allow...my speedometer is showing about 120ish. Or about 108 "real" MPH.
With stock gearing (but 150/60 rear tire if that changes anything) I hit indicated 120 at 9300 rpm in 5th or 6th, cant remember which but probably 6th. I weigh 120# and I was flat on the tank behind my small headlight flyscreen.
on the tires:
If those numbers came off the tires they're likely to be as you say, both from 97. They may even still have some life in the tread but that old just assume you'll need to replace them. Should factor in $250-$300 for tires.
Keep bike stock for now and only replace/adjust one thing at a time to tell the difference, especially since this is your first bike. Factor in progressives in your first 6 months though-should be first thing you do (after fenderectomy :thumb: ).
Otherwise sounds like a good deal.
Quote from: glenn9171According to my Garmin GPS, the SG speedo is fast by about 10%. At an indicated 70, the GPS says 63. At 50, GPS = 45. It stays at 10% difference across the whole speed range.
I got about the exact same thing with my friends GPS.
Paul
89'
Ok, he gave me the "official" tires (im assuming from manule) that the bike uses.
Front tire: 110/70-17 Bridgestone Exedra G547
Rear tire: 130/70-17 Bridgestone Exedra G550
Would you suggest anything different, because im going to have him lower it the difference of the basic tires. From denniskirk.com the front tire is $106.99, and the back tire is $118.99. Thats a lowering of $226 i think thats fair, then if i want better tires i will pay the extra difference fromt he originals.
Anyway, what are some good, long lasting tires for this bike? Just so you know, the majority of my riding will either be highway, or straight roads, very few twisties around here. :(
Lemmie know, this sill looks to be a great deal to me.
anyone have any suggestions about tires? I read somewhere about BT45's? Any thoughts on that?
I have BT45's in the stock sizes (110/70 front 130/70 rear) and they are absolutely outstanding.
The stock Excedras are no better than stretching rubber bands over the rims. Avoid at all costs.
QuoteThe stock Excedras are no better than stretching rubber bands over the rims. Avoid at all costs.
Lol, ok thank you for the information =)
Hope they dont cost too much more.
I bought mine (after tax and all) for about $120 front and $135ish rear. You can find them cheaper online, but there are NO shops here that will mount tires bought elsewhere...at least not for less than $30-40 per tire mounting charges.
Quotethere are NO shops here that will mount tires bought elsewhere
Oh, wow I never thought of that.....
I think i'll call up my near by store and ask about them.
I sent the email back asking him to drop the price like $225 (price of the ones he told me), and said if i wanted better tires i wouldnt have him lower the price anymore.
Also, what do you supose the chances are that the rim he has isnt stock? He said earlier that the tires were wider than stock (i said in another post) So would it just be wider tires (say 140 or 50 or something) on the stock rims, or am i gonna need to buy different tires?
Well, i called up the closest place, and they dont have the tires =(
He said it'd be $35 per tire to put them on if I brought just the rim and $100 total if I just brought the bike in.
I'll call some other places =(
Is it possible to do this by yourself? Or do you need a shop to do it?
Have him order them. No one "carries" BT45's is our sizes. Tell him that those are the tires that you want and you will buy them...from him or someone else.
Our local places install for free if you bring the wheels in off the bike. $30 per tire if the bike is brought in.
They will have to be ordered most any place you go to.
holy crap....
He said they'd be between $100-$150. And I asked how much it would cost to install them if i bought them from him and he said 85-90 for bike, and 25/solo wheel.
:guns: Cycle Stop
:guns: Cycle Stop
:guns: Cycle Stop
Is this a job i could do? Thats rediculus im not paying that much and then have to pay to install.
I buy my tires at //www.sporttour.com and have them mounted at my local Yamaha shop for $15 a tire. I have a tire-changer but with that price it isn't worth me doing. :thumb:
If you buy both tires at the same time; shipping is FREE :cheers: :cheers:
I got BT45'a also. They are great tires for the money. The prices you've quoted seem very resonable.
I would NOT attempt to change your tires yourself unless you have the proper tools. Tire irons, rim protectors, etc. You will scratch the heck out of your rims and it's hard to do.
Paul
I think i will just call around to see if any of the other places close by do it cheeper.
There also is a small chance the tires wont need replacement. He didnt know how to find they date, and its possible he's reading the wrong number. Im going to check it out on saturday so that should be the diffinitive thing. I will look for other numbers on it, rust in the tank, other stuff on that used bike website.
Even if the tires are really old (6 years) is it possible to use them longer if they dont have any cracks or dry rot or anything? Or is it not worth taking the risk.
Even if i have to the the tires put on the over all price of the bike is still less than the max I was allowing my self. I just need to not let it get away!
At least buy the bike and get the tires from someone who knows what he is doing later. This guy sounds like a dumbass. Shops like this screw people who don't know any better.
OK I hate motorcycle shops (around here anyway).
The bike had an inspection in august 2003. The tires were good enough to pass inspection. When they do inspections do they look at tires that much? (this is in NY btw)
Im heading out there on saturday to check it out and maybe even get a test ride. Would you suggest taking a test ride if I've never ridden anything on 2 wheels other than a bicycle. I dont wanna damage it, but it cant be that hard (as long as its on like backroads/residential).
Depending on your confidence level, I might go for having someone experienced give you a ride on the bike.
This way the you can hear and feel how the bike functions while being rode smoothly and correctly. And, with two on board, you'll get an idea how the bike will react under a heavier load.
Have someone at the place ride you long enogh to warm the bike up. Sometimes problems won't show up until it's warmed up completely.
Paul
Pkaaso, is right. Take a friend.
If I was selling the bike I would not let you test ride it without a MC endorsement and tons of experience.
Also, take a good look at the dip stick and the oil. Nothing makes me run faster than black dirty oil.
how do you check the oil for crud? Im assuiming it wont show uo on the dipstick? So do i look through some where?
You just look at the oil on the dipstick.
New or descent oil should be slightly transparent. Some new oils are almost clear. I would just be weary of really black oil and any debris.
That's a little high for the tires. I just paid $185 for BT45's 110/17 and 130/17. I paid $10 per wheel for mounting/valve stems/ high speed balance. You can do way better that $250-300 for tires. The shop did the mounting while I waited, about 20 minutes. I have them in the car now and can't wait to get home to put them on the bike :mrgreen:
Quote from: Briliuhow do you check the oil for crud? Im assuiming it wont show uo on the dipstick? So do i look through some where?
Have someone lean the bike over on the left side as far as they can. Get a bright flash light and look down into the bottom of the clutch cover compartment though the oil filler cap/dipstick. Look for gunk/grud/build-up/ anything that doesn't look like part of the case or cover or clutch. If the PO just changed oil to sell it, it will look dirty with build up. Some people never change oil. They just keep adding a quart when it's low. Very bad!
Paul