So I brought my bike into the shop (Honda Dealer/repair shop) to get my new rear tire installed. When I go to pick up my bike the guy tells me that my rear suspension is the worst that he has ever seen, and that it is unsafe to ride. I'll admit it is very soft, but I just thought that was normal (this is my first bike).
BUT...."It just so happens" he has a newer GS500 with fewer miles laying around with bent forks that he says he could sell me as a parts bike for $500. He tells me I could use the rear suspension from that bike and put it on mine, and he'd do that for free (as long as I bought the parts bike from him). Since my bike runs like SH**, I'd rather put my current forks on his bike and ride that, and sell my current bike. Then I'd have a newer bike ('98 instead of '92) with fewer miles (10K instead of 17K) for basically free, assuming I could get AT LEAST $500 for a running '92 GS500 with messed up forks. FREE UPGRADE!
As long as the engine on this "parts bike" sounds like it runs well, there appears to be no damage anywhere else on the bike, and the title is clean, there should be no reason to not buy it, right? I didn't have time to closely check-out the bike because they were closing the shop when I arrived.
Is there anything else I should look-out for? What non-obvious questions should I ask?
Thanks.
I don't know, that sounds a little sketchy to me. You can get a used Katana rear shock for well under $100 that will serve you better than the stock GS shock and it'll bolt right in. Honestly, unless you only weigh 120 lbs, replacing it with another GS shock is a waste.
Its also not really a free upgrade since it will require more time and effort on your part. These bikes are pretty simple and getting them to run well usually isn't too difficult.
Plus I'd be worried about other damage to the parts bike that may not be easily visable. You should also find out if it has a salvage title or not.
what really needs fixing on your bike though? you could probably find all the parts for alot less than 500.
500 for a broken 98 is alot of money.
Its $500 for the bike, but he will swap the rear shock for free (I'm guessing about a $200-$350 job). THEN, I can sell my old bike and get ALL my $500, or more. Thats the appeal.
But you guys are right, I could get mine to run well for less than $500, but I'm tempted to take the newer, prettier bike lol.
What kind of damage may exist that is not easily visible, and is very expensive to fix? How can I test for this?
Someone in the for sale section has a Kat 600 shock for sale, buy that and put it on, problem solved.
replacing the rear shock is super easy. i did mine in like 10mins. my '92 shock was looking nasty so i picked up a '07 piece for like 25$ on ebay.
do you have a socket set and tools? even if you had to pick up some toys, the job would cost you less than a 100
So can you do the Kat shock w/o taking anything off? I tried but couldnt get the wrenches on (or the torque) needed to break it free.
$500 for a bike with bent forks? Question is, how handy are you? I wouldn't do the deal on the value of the rear shock swap, which is easy (30 minute job). Instead, on the value of the parts bike and what it's worth... title available?
Quote from: Twism86 on June 06, 2011, 08:03:23 AM
So can you do the Kat shock w/o taking anything off? I tried but couldnt get the wrenches on (or the torque) needed to break it free.
Yes, though I remember it required some flex joint or something to get at one of the bolts. And those bolts were really on there; had to get a breaker bar on it to bust loose; impact gun wasn't effective for some reason.
Quote from: Twism86 on June 06, 2011, 08:03:23 AM
So can you do the Kat shock w/o taking anything off? I tried but couldnt get the wrenches on (or the torque) needed to break it free.
remove seat, tank, and stock airbox (if you still have it) to reach the upper mount. then pop the round cover off the left side frame and use a socket extension to reach the bolt. i used a breaker bar for the other side.
the lower mount can be reached from under. i propped a ratchet between the nut and floor while i broke it free from the other side with a breaker bar
Quote from: noiseguy on June 06, 2011, 10:07:36 AM
$500 for a bike with bent forks? Question is, how handy are you? I wouldn't do the deal on the value of the rear shock swap, which is easy (30 minute job). Instead, on the value of the parts bike and what it's worth... title available?
Yes the title is available. If I can upgrade to a newer bike for almost nothing, once I get rid of my current bike, I don't see why I wouldn't.
My bike stalled yesterday on the Queensborough Bridge, with cars flying by me 8 inches away. I had to push it to the walkway with 50 mph traffic whizzing by me, so maybe I'm just jaded. I'm sick of playing with my carburetor, I just want to ride.
What else should I look out for when looking at a bike with bent forks?
Quote from: JP86NYC on June 06, 2011, 10:44:44 AM
Quote from: noiseguy on June 06, 2011, 10:07:36 AM
$500 for a bike with bent forks? Question is, how handy are you? I wouldn't do the deal on the value of the rear shock swap, which is easy (30 minute job). Instead, on the value of the parts bike and what it's worth... title available?
Yes the title is available. If I can upgrade to a newer bike for almost nothing, once I get rid of my current bike, I don't see why I wouldn't.
My bike stalled yesterday on the Queensborough Bridge, with cars flying by me 8 inches away. I had to push it to the walkway with 50 mph traffic whizzing by me, so maybe I'm just jaded. I'm sick of playing with my carburetor, I just want to ride.
What else should I look out for when looking at a bike with bent forks?
Obviously it hit something hard. Check the frame, steer tube and other parts that could bend in a crash.
keep it mind, there's no guarantee that this newer bike will even run well. if you want to just ride then spend more and go for something alot newer
Bent forks = crash.
Crash could mean bent frame
Bent frames = write off and death trap.
Q: If the bike is so good and just needs bent forks replaced, why doesn't the mechanic do it at the wholesale rate he gets things for then sell the bike for more than the $500 he was gonna charge you.
Obviously a bike with bernt forks cannot really be ridden. So how does this mechanic know that bike's rear suspension is better than yours?
Dude, he is trying to offload the crashed bike is all. But it as a parts bike or not at all. That's MY opinion.
Michael
I think mister hit the nail on the head - if it only needed new forks, he could do it himself and sell it for 3-5x as much as he's selling it to you with minimal investment. You really should consider the frame toast.
The frame could be bent, there could be tiny cracks in the frame or welds, the steering tube could be deformed, etc. It can be very hard to reliably test for these. Do you want to take the risk of the steering tube separating from the frame after hitting one of the many fine NY potholes?
Yeah you guys are most likely right. My cheap a$$ just saw this as a chance to get a newer bike for cheap. And I wish I had the money to go newer, but unfortunately thats not the case. I'm still going to check the bike out, but I'll most likely stay clear.