Hi all, (new from Australia, will also introduce myself in the Aussie section ) :)
I'm on the lookout for my first bike and have chosen the GS500 (naked) & have currently looked at a couple (from dealers). I've also posted about this on another forums, Netrider, but thought I'd ask the question here as it related specifically to this bike & you guys might be more familiar with certain aspects of buying. :)
There were a couple from private sales but didn't work out. I have taken some pics and was hoping to get some opinions on what you see ?
So far I've got 2 bikes on my list, both 08' models, 1 black & 1 blue (much prefer the Blue colour :) ),
~ 2008 Blue ~ seems to come with less extras & possible problems, $4,999
(http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af101/Widget1983/Bike%20pics/20121019_153908_zpsfcf2e47c.jpg)
(http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af101/Widget1983/Bike%20pics/20121019_153917_zpsa409865f.jpg)
Does this look like it could be an issue ? I've has a look at images of other sales for this yer and earlier but can't recall looking as bad. I read a few people say Suzuki does rust, though this much ?
(http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af101/Widget1983/Bike%20pics/20121019_153729_zps5956b32b.jpg)
looks to be a respray. just wondering if anyone has experience buying with this part being resprayed ? Would there be any future issues ? Ill ask the dealer if he knows about it and how it happened.
~ 2008 Black - comes with luggage rack & oggy knobs. Has also appeared to have had a drop ( damage was pretty minimal by looks of it. $4,999
(http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af101/Widget1983/Bike%20pics/20121018_142820_zps08510338.jpg)
(http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af101/Widget1983/Bike%20pics/20121018_142805_zps6f1620b0.jpg)
I'll be going back for another inspection to test start-up, electricals etc..
Any feedback would be great :)
Regards,
I know Australia is pretty expensive, but is $5k a good deal there? I mean, you should keep looking for private sales if the dealer is that high.
Rust on the exhaust is ok, no holes that I can see. You can take it off and either paint or put black stove polish on, that's an easy job. Bar end weights are cheap to replace.
Definitely see how it runs. Maybe get someone to go with you to listen for things you might not know about.
I wouldn't even worry about the front fender. If it does bother you though, just wet sand it smooth and spray another clear coat.
No need to "replace" the bad end. Take it out and straighten the slightly bent screw inside it and put it back in the bar.
Exhaust always rusts. Metal and heat simply do not get along. I would chemically treat it (ospho) and then take a wire wire brush to it and then paint it.
As for the handle bar screws/bolts, they make little caps that fit into bolt heads so 1) they don't rust and 2) they look more complimentary
Hey guys, thanks heaps for the replies :)
Is taking the exhaust headers (??) off easy ? it looks like it runs into the engine?
Quote from: Watevaman on October 21, 2012, 07:07:54 AM
I know Australia is pretty expensive, but is $5k a good deal there? I mean, you should keep looking for private sales if the dealer is that high.
Probably not a 'good' deal as it's my understanding this bike hasn't changed in the last 20yrs? But as advertised prices go, seems normal (for a 08' model). New, these things sell for about 8k. 2006 models are usually advertised around low $4k (from what I've seen anyways).
But if the bike checks out ok, I might throw the dealer a low $4k offer or something. I'm not too fussed about the compliance year as they're all pretty much the same mechanically throughout the years(??), also in no real rush to get one, happy to wait for a good price :).
thanks again,
~ Widget
Headers are easy to remove but from the looks of the exhaust and those exhaust bolts, you might be better off leaving them in place and cleaning them while still on the bike. Exhaust bolts can be easy to break off in the head.
The fender may/may not be a respray. Does the front side of the fender look to be resprayed as well or just the back side? The heat from the engine could easily make the paint do that on the backside of the fender (mine looks terrible). If the bar end is bent from being dropped closely inspect the plastic where the turn signal and fairing meet. Often the turn signal will push into the fairing on a drop, causing a small crack in the fairing that could go unnoticed.
what's on the odometers? that will affect the price somewhat. I'm sure when I was in a dealership last week picking up my wife's bike there were GS500's new for around $6k, could be wrong though. I know last year they were going for $7k.
Widget,
Thanks for asking Before buying. You have come to the right place :thumb:
Oh... Welcome to the forum. ;)
Respray: Quite possibly a respray. Sometimes the rear of the fender melts. Part is replaced, if it is a wrong colour it is resprayed to match.
Bar Ends: My bar ends get a little bent all the time just brushing past the bike. I hand straighten them. Sometimes take a hammer to them to tap them deeper into the bars. A bent bar-end by itself doesn't mean the bike has been crashed.
The small rust spots on the handlebar clamps. First, get some lanolin and spray them. Then get some small plastic caps from Suzuki (I think they are something like $2 each) and put them back in.
Most visible signs of a crash are scratches on the exhaust and scratches on the sides of the engine - but dealers will often replace those bits (ala ALL Bikes at Moss St).
As for price. The current bike hasn't changed since 2001 - went to 3 jet carb and got larger tank, slightly different seat and rear plastics. So all bikes since then are identical. As such, the ONLY reason an 09 will be asking more than an 06 is due to year model and mileage. There are plenty of low mileage bikes that are a tad older. So just be aware, if the dealer is asking more just cause the bike is younger, he is asking more for no real reason.
Also on price, when I was in the Suzuki Dealer the other day, they had Brand New GS500s for only one grand more than this second hand one with questionable history. If you're looking for a 12 month bike until you get a full license at which point you'll upgrade, get 2nd hand.
If you shop at Team Moto, don't buy a bike that's new to their stock. You won't get as good a deal. The way they price is, they buy a bike add a margine and the salesman gets a 10% commission in the first time period. After that, the price comes down aligned with the salesman's commission. The least they will sell a bike for is Their Cost + $500 + 2%/3% Commission.
So a bike sitting there for $6 newly arrived will have probably cost them $4k (even less). If it cost them $4k the least they will sell it to you for is $4,635 - $4k cost + $500 min profit + 3% commission. Early stages it will be closer to $5k as the 10% commission will bump up the price.
Michael
Just want to add here that I doubt the fender is a respray. I've seen several bikes including my own which have this same, almost orange peel type of texture... And only on the backside of the fender medt to the exhaust. The heat from the exhaust does this. I can't find the pic but I remember a purple from recent months posted up the same thing.
- Bboy
Oh also, get in touch with Twisted - you'll find him in some recent posts in the Aussie section. He lives near Ipswich and is looking to sell his GS500.
Michael
Hey guys,
Thanks again for the feedback, especially regarding header rust cleaning & the effects in the fender paint. Never even thought it could have been heat :).
Quotewhat's on the odometers? that will affect the price somewhat.
Blue - 19093km / Black - 28886. Looks like it maybe averaged 5-7k per year, which I read somewhere that it was reasonable?? Both same price too.
QuoteAlso on price, when I was in the Suzuki Dealer the other day, they had Brand New GS500s for only one grand more than this second hand one with questionable history. If you're looking for a 12 month bike until you get a full license at which point you'll upgrade, get 2nd hand.
Which dealer was this at ? Not sure if how long I'll keep it for, if it all works out, I might hold onto it past the 12month RE stage. But I might still stick with a 2nd hand & save the price difference + wouldn't mind the hands on repair work so I can learn a bit from it :).
QuoteOh also, get in touch with Twisted - you'll find him in some recent posts in the Aussie section. He lives near Ipswich and is looking to sell his GS500.
Awesome, I'll send him a whim :)
Thanks again guys, really appreciate it :thumb:
~ Widget ~
go to Springwood Suzuki and have a look there. personally, if this is your first bike, go naked, go 2nd hand. less to break and if you do drop it, you'll shed less tears.
funny thing is I took this advice and have never dropped my GS500, but I did drop my Bandit with a week of owning it. my wife has dropped my GS500 though, twice. all three drops were stationary drops, but the Bandit cost about $350 to recover from, most of that towing the damn thing home, the GS500, $20 for a brake lever.
once you have some experience under the belt you'll know your likes and dislikes and what you want in a next bike.
Hey mate, I'm in the same boat as you.
I've found several 2nd hand gs500 for about $4,000 (2006, 2004), pretty reasonable.
Hate to brag (well, no I dont) My first one cost me $1350 and had 21000kms and my second one cost me $600 and had 54000kms. Both registered within a week with just a new chain.
Granted they are 89 and 90 models but the point is you do not need to pay those prices as there are cheaper ones out there if you only need them for 12 months or so. The most expensive place to buy them is a dealer as their mark up is horrendous. Look on gumtree and ebay and you may get a much better deal.
The engine in my 2 are basically the same as the engine in a brand new one and thats half the problem solved.