Hey guys, I'm only a few days new to the forum so bare with me. However, I am requesting some advice. I found a 93 gs500e for sale. I am a little uneasy about buying it though given the history. And he won't budge from price. :bs: I'm going to post all of the info I have and I'd like some information on whether or not it's worth getting. No need to tell me his price is too high. I already know that. :icon_rolleyes:
The bike has 8000 miles on it. Has a clear title. The previous owner was a "Mechanic" and he bored out the motor, added a vance & hines pipe, and added a larger rear tire because he would drag race the bike. My concern is in order to put that larger rear tire in the frame the owner said they put the frame in a machine and "bent" the frame to fit it. I guess they widened it? Is this typical? My feelings are very uneasy with the frame bending shenanigans...He also said the carbs need cleaning and the front tire is a little dry rotted so it'll need replacing. He also sprays WD-40 on the chain to keep it lubed. (not my preference but NBD) He's currently asking 1600. I offered 1100. He shot me down.
So what does everyone think?? Is frame "widening" typical? What would be a good price for this bike?
Thanks for anyone who replies or adds input. I'll be posting pics very shortly.
Here are the photo's
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76683598@N07/6884348282/
Run......and don't look back.
There is absolutely no reason to widen a frame for a tire.
Unless he widened the frame properly to fit a different swing arm, along with putting the proper power plant in there to utilize the tire, he don't know what he's talking about, and I'd also run.
Also a good chance hes blowing smoke up your bum, cause when I bought my bike the guys was like "it has a bigger rear tire, its been over-bored to go faster, has a high flow etc.etc"....
It only has 22.5 pilot jets, and was beat to shaZam!.
I had a gut feeling to run...just so excited to get my first bike I almost went for it... :icon_sad: :2guns:
Thanks guys.
Damn, other than the Shoei sticker, that's a very slick looking bike.
That said, unless you've misinterpreted him, or he's missated what was done, yeah the frame doesn't need to be touched to put a wider tire on. Bending the swingarm would put the axle out of alignment, so that couldn't be done either. Not without making a 2nd bend to get the alignment right. At a point, you'd need to bend the rear brake caliper stay, but that's it. Perhaps that's what he meant?
Also, it's hard to tell from the pic, but that looks like a stock sized rear tire on it. :)
Where are you located? I can't quite make out the plates on the vehicle in the background.
I'm in Carbondale, IL. But the bike is located in Litchfield, IL.
I couldn't agree more it's a beautiful looking bike. Hence why I am so tempted. But the bent frame just concerns me. And I don't really understand how one could do that. :cookoo:
Brake caliper torque arm / stay may need bending. We've seen that. Doubt the swing arm could be bent and doesn't need it for a wider tire (tyre for those outside the USA).
If the swing arm was bent, some of us have extra swing arms so you can return it back to normal.
Sweet looking bike!
Yeah, I thought those might be IL plates on that thing. Too bad you're not up North. In the "For Sale" section I posted a link to a CL ad for a NICE looking one up here on the IL/WI border.
Have you actually seen that one in person? Can you arrange to and get a bit more information from the guy? Hear it run, check out the frame and see if it tracks straight down the road? It's entirely possible that he's just full of crap and you could actually get a good bike for a good price.
I was on my phone and gave my short answer.........
Think about it - the owner is a mechanic. Than cleaning the carbs wouldn't be a problem. And mounting a new tire isn't a big deal. What that means to me is: "I don't want you to hear it run......and if it somehow starts I don't want you riding it with a rotted tire."
He drag races a GS500? Then why go thru the hassle of keeping the stock motor and boring it out? If he has the skills to bend a frame properly (keyword: properly) then welding in new motor mounts for say.......a GR650 or even a DR650 shouldn't have been a problem at all.
There are a LOT of GS500's out there. Most of them have a questionable past........but this thing sounds like a motor waiting to blow, in a bent up frame, covered in BS. '
Run.
Thanks for the replies everyone. This all helps a bunch.
dougdoberman: I haven't seen it in person only in the picture I have posted. I would go and take a look at it but it's a good 2 1/2 hour drive or so. I don't wanna waste the gas for that. I don't know exactly what he means by the bent frame. According to him the previous owner was a mechanic and drag raced it and he did it. Maybe it is an easy bike for a cheap price. But i'm still not paying $1600 for it. I'd pay $1100 tops given everything. Assuming it drives perfectly.
Big Rich: The owner currently is not the mechanic. The previous owner was the mechanic whom drag raced it, bored it, and "bent" the frame to fit the tire. I guess I wasn't too specific about that.
I do notice in the picture though that both the rims are GS rims and if the rear tire is so much larger that the frame needs stretching then how could that tire fit on a regular GS rim? Perhaps they make the same exact rims in a wider size? doubt it.
You don't drag race a gs500. It has the power of a ride-on john deer lawn mower!
So do you think he's just BSing me xunedeinx? I'm about to call this guy. I could call it off or go and take a look at it. What do you think? I could tell him hey if you agree to come down to the $1100 price range I'll come take a look at it. I know Big Rich says run..
Hell, I musta missed that price in your original post. I'd laughed at him and his $1600 as soon as I saw the picture. The bikes been down, and seemingly not gently. Even from the low rez pic you can see that the frame is scraped up, as is the case. I believe I see rust in several spots. If the only chain lube he's been using is WD-40, it's likely trashed. "Just needs the carbs cleaned" is code for, "It runs crappy and I have no idea what's wrong."
I just bought an excellent condition '96 with 12,000 miles for $1300. And CL Milwaukee is listing a BEAUTIFUL '89 with a ton of seemingly nicely done mods for $1600.
As pretty as that paint job is, just from the picture I know I couldn't imagine going any higher than $1000 on this thing, and that's ONLY if I were to check it out and see that the frame was actually not screwed with and that the engine issues which require the carbs to be cleaned were something that actually clearly WAS a carb problem which I could fix myself. To drive 5 hours, likely spending >$100 in gas just to check it out (and how are you going to get it home? I'd certainly not wanna ride this thing 2.5 hours home without having gone over it top to bottom first. :) ) is just not something I'd do.
I know what it's like to be badly jonesing for a bike. (Would this be your first?) And especially one with as pretty a paint job as that one has. But right off the bat, you know you're gonna need to spend $100 on a front tire. Plus who knows what on "carb" work if it is running poorly. And likely a bunch more on other stuff that's not readily apparent. There will be MUCH better options that will come along. Be patient and you'll be rewarded. :)
FWIW, I saved the pic of that thing, and may have to pick up another GS just to give it the same paint job. :)
Thanks Doughberman. I did see the Milwaukee posting. And I have family up north (it's where I originate from!) so I emailed him and said if we can talk the 1100 price range I'll be your guy. The high miles on that bike is a little scary. This is or will be my first bike so you can see my excessive desire. :icon_lol: But I'll listen and wait. :-X