So i'm gonna go check out a bike sunday which might be a ridiculous deal. It was in a front end collision and the guy claims that the only damage is a dent in the tank, some fairing scratches, and bent front forks. I was wondering if someone in the st. louis are would go and check out the bike with me. I'm new to bikes and don't know what to look for. I am afraid that if the forks got bent that maybe so did the frame. if nobody can are there some tips as to what to look for?
I should be available this Sunday to help you look at it, provided the Italian food is good. :laugh: :icon_mrgreen:
Whereabouts in STL and what are your plans?
well, on sunday me and a friend are gonna drive up there at some point lol. it's a four hour drive so i guess we need to leave before the pms. their address is 13813 st.charles rock rd. in earth city, mo. which is right outside of st. louis. It would be great if you could help me out man, I need somebody that knows their stuff. I'm afraid that more than the forks will be bent, i really hope the frame isn't bent and there isn't much else damage because this could be such a good deal.
If you decide not to get it, let us know the information about it as I also live about 2 hours south of St. Louis and I might be interested.
Tony
ask them to drive it down to south county so you can check it out. If they won't drive it anywhere than it's probably in too bad of shape to purchase IMO.
lol man i said the forks are bent alot. like driving it would be a really bad idea. but anybody still down for helping me out?
Hey there jrains,
Are you still looking for help?
I'm not able to come there to help but I can tell you a bunch of things to look for.
Here's a recent post I wrote on with some things to look for:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=43502.0
You have to look over everything on a prospective purchase to make sure it is worth its asking price, and to determine how much money you might have to invest to make it safe and healthy.
Any motorcycle must have:
*No visible rust in the fuel tank -- open the cap and look inside and use a flashlight to peek around. If it's been lined with sealant, I personally would not be happy with it. I'd mark it down as a major negative because there is no guarantee that you won't forever be cleaning little bits of the decomposing sealant out of your fuel system as time goes by.
*Fresh tires with healthy tread and no weather-checking on the sidewalls and tread. Bad tires? Add $200-250 to the cost of the bike, and that's if you take the wheels to the dealer to have the tires installed.
*A well-lubricated drive chain that is properly adjusted tells you someone took care of it. A rusty chain like the one in your photos tells me the bike had poor maintenance in general, with few oil changes etc. New chain and sprockets -- parts only $160, your labor.
*Check brake pads to be sure they have adequate life in them and that the brake rotors are not scraped badly -- $40 each front and read for new pads, your labor.
*Check control cables for ease of movement and proper operation -- broken levers mean the bike's been down and inadequately repaired.
*Check fork seals for leakage around fork tubes. Lots of oil mist means they've been leaking for a while due to lack of care.
*Check engine oil level BEFORE you start the bike. Look at the oil on the dipstick. To check it properly on a GS500, you unscrew the dipstick, clean it off then put it back in the hole WITHOUT screwing it back in. The cap just rests on top of the threads. Then pull it out and check the level. Is it BLACK and filthy? Or brown and dirty? Smell the oil on the dipstick. Is there a burned smell? The oil should be brownish but NOT BLACK and sludgy. Again, you are looking to see how the bike was maintained. Screw the cap back in when you are done. :)
*Check everything else -- body work for scratches -- you may not care but your resale value down the road takes a hit. Check for how the engine sounds, is it ticking loudly and grinding or does it sound healthy?
*How does the bike shift while riding? Smoothly? Or is it notchy?
*To check the forks for damage beyond the bent upper tubes, carefully look at the frame steering head for any cracks in the paint, any lines, any marks at all.
You also need to check the triple clamps that hold the fork legs to the bike. I can describe this more if you need it.
There are a million more things to check.
The bike you're talking about --- how much do they want for it with bent forks and who knows what else?
The problem with used motorcycles is that it may not have been worth more than $500 when you list its deficiencies, starting with the chain and sprockets, bad fuel tank, and general malaise. I look at a bike worth $1200 as one where I pay $500 to buy it then another $700 to make it right.
I think it's always better to pay for a nicer bike at a reasonable price than to try to fix up a cheaper bike, unless it is REALLY cheap enough to make it worthwhile.
We are all here to help and there are plenty of people here who can share their experiences with you.
Too bad you live in MO and we live so far apart. I'd be happy to help you with your bike.
I was 16 when I bought my first bike and am happy to help others like the folks who helped me when I was a rookie. :)
What seems a deal now will be expensive later if it needs anything.
I hope this all helps.
If you want to call me and ask more things, I can PM you my home phone number. Let me know if you want to do that.
Yours,
Trwhouse
Responded to your PM. I should be down for tomorrow. Let me know your phone number, just in case!