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 ( 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   ) up to highwayspeeds (atleast 65, 80 would be nice    )

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!  

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   ) up to highwayspeeds (atleast 65, 80 would be nice    )

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: glenn9171

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   ) up to highwayspeeds (atleast 65, 80 would be nice    )

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!        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 ).

Otherwise sounds like a good deal.