Argh, lost my original post due to login timeout, doh.

I've been looking at GS's and just checked out an '02 with less than a thousand miles on it.  The owner (2nd) hasn't even put 200 on it, and the tires still aren't worn in, the poor thing.  Anyways...

What kinds of things should I look out for on a bike this old(relative to) with this low miles?  The engine is barely past it's break in period and the bike is 5 years old!

I believe the carbs are good and gummed up, most likely because of lack of use(duh).  A quick twist of the throttle (not to WOT) when it's not hot kills it, and the thing is a pain to get moving as you have to be reving well above 3 grand before starting to engage the clutch and keep on giving it a healthy twist as you finish engaging it.  It accelerates fine, but has a surge once you are trying to maintain speed.  Engaging the choke halfway when it was semi warm killed it too.  I'm fairly new to bikes, but all this sounded like a simple carb rebuild would fix it (with a rejet, of course ).  Does any of this sound like something that wouldn't be solved by that?

This isn't the first GS I've looked at, but like a fool I forgot to check the gas tank for rust.  Whoops.

What else should I expect to change out (and of course, use to talk the seller down) soon?  As far as time frame, I believe the brake lines are due, anything else?

Basically I'm just looking for a little help because it kind of worries me buying a 5 year old bike with 950 miles.

I've lurked for a bit on the message board and have also read about all of the main site.  You guys have a great knowledge base here and a good community.  Hopefully I'll be a part of it soon.

Thanks for any help.

Welcome!

An '02 that has been sitting for 5 years may have dried out it's tires beyond safe useage.  They might be okay to get the thing home, and a little commuting, but I wouldn't try any twisty roads with 'em.

Continue asking questions, such as, was the 1st service performed by the previous owner?  Has the fork oil been changed?  Has the brake fluid been changed?
Look for rust in the tank, as you said.

Cleaning the carbs should be sufficient.

honestly man, i wouldnt worry, if you must, take the bike to a mechanic and have it checked, (to perhaps make sure that the odo hasnt been changed), but a rebuild along with jetting, isnt difficult

Quote from: scratch on October 11, 2006, 03:03:46 PM
Welcome!

An '02 that has been sitting for 5 years may have dried out it's tires beyond safe useage.  They might be okay to get the thing home, and a little commuting, but I wouldn't try any twisty roads with 'em.

Continue asking questions, such as, was the 1st service performed by the previous owner?  Has the fork oil been changed?  Has the brake fluid been changed?
Look for rust in the tank, as you said.

Cleaning the carbs should be sufficient.

Yeah, it acted squirrelly on me the first time I gave it any kind of lean, and I noticed later than the chicken strips on either side of the tire made up more than 50% of it.  Straight line riding  .  I hope I can just take a fine grit sandpaper to the edges and hope the rubber underneath is still good, but new tires might be on the to do list as well.

Uhh... you HAVE to rev over 3K to launch. That's not cuz it's old. That's how the GS works.

General safety and maintenance things should find most of the potential problems...

Look for dry and cracked tires, hoses, seals, and anything else rubber.

Check for proper brake operation (after checking that the hoses aren't dry and cracked) and check out the brake fluid.

Check for proper clutch, throttle, and choke operation (cables may be dry and/or rusted).

Check the chain for rust, clean, lube, and adjust it.

Clean out the old gas in the tank and carbs...  Look for rust.

Check the battery...  Look for leaks, rust, etc.

Change the oil and filter...


Other than that...  Ride it!  

Quote from: NiceGuysFinishLast on October 11, 2006, 03:13:08 PM
Uhh... you HAVE to rev over 3K to launch. That's not cuz it's old. That's how the GS works.

Yeah, I meant to ask in the OP if this was just cause the things are cold blooded little motors.  Riding my dad's FZ6 has spoiled me  .  It was just high 3's to close to 4, and that seemed a little high for starting revs.

I'm confuzlded (not rare by any means )... did you purchase the '02, or are you still looking at it? Curious as to how much they're asking for it? Forgive me if you all ready mentioned this; I'm browsing quickly here! And feel free to tell me it's none of my beezwax and to take a flying leap! 

Whatever they're offering her at, be sure to hem and haw about how much work you're going to have to put into cleaning the carbs and new tires, etc, etc....whatever they're asking, offer less!!! (Unless, of course, the market is tight for GS's there...then just hem and haw a *little*).... 

Sincerely,
The Cheap Purple Pansy Moderator 

I'm looking still.

Basically, about the end of July my Dad decided he wanted to get back into riding after a 20 year stint.  (I'm 20 years old...hmm...wonder if that had something to do with it?) We were originally looking for a smaller old bike for me and my sister to learn on and all of us to ride.  He ended up finding an '04 FZ6 with ~4k miles that he picked up for himself for $4000.  I've ridden it, but I'd still like something tailored a bit more to newer riders.  I've handled it okay so far, but it's not as forgiving (but is nimble as hell).  My sister on the otherhand is mechanically retarded, ditsy, and knows nothing about motor vehicles.  I wouldn't be surprised if she dropped it the first time she was on it.

Since it isn't the best starter bike for me or her, we started looking for a second bike.  The criteria has changed about 20 times in the past2 and a half months or so, but we're pretty much set on a 500 or a weaker 600.  We've looked at and haggled with many people, so don't worry about offering advice on haggling etc.  We have a pretty good good cop/bad cop system going where I love the bike but he hates it  .

The girl is asking $2500, which is actually on the low end for what others have been, but still at the top of blue book.  We won't pay near that.  One guy started at $3200 for his '02 with 5k miles!  Saw an '04 Honda Rebel with an asking price of $4000.  They aren't that much new.  A lady with an '02 Kawi EX500 with ~10k miles that was nice is asking $4100 but "is willing to go to $4000."  We rode the FZ6 out there and asked her how she thought hers was worth $4k, but she wouldn't budge.  There has been a lot of decent bikes around here, but only recently have people started to realize that their bikes don't shaZam! gold out the tailpipe and have started pricing them reasonably.  I guess the cold weather is finally setting in.

You just missed an 02 in Cleveland that sold on ebay for.....

$1855.31    CLICK HERE FOR REGRET

<thread jack> HEY PANDY!<end jack>

Quote from: nsaP on October 11, 2006, 04:00:23 PM
I wouldn't be surprised if she dropped it the first time she was on it.

You say this as if it were a bad thang! Actually, I think it was maybe my SECOND time on our Baby G that he went down for the count. 

Quote from: nsaP on October 11, 2006, 04:00:23 PM
We have a pretty good good cop/bad cop system going where I love the bike but he hates it  .

It sounds as though you have things well in hand! 

Quote from: nsaP on October 11, 2006, 04:00:23 PM
but only recently have people started to realize that their bikes don't shaZam! gold out the tailpipe and have started pricing them reasonably.  I guess the cold weather is finally setting in.

I'd like to have gotten 5k for our '92 commuter, but that doesn't mean I did!   Yeah, great time to buy a bike, sucky time to sell one. Get a beater for a $800 or a grand (your sis is gonna beat it up anyway, right? ) Sell it in a year for a grand.  Well...,you don't HAVE to, but that's what we did, basically.... 

<thread jack> Hi starwalt!  ! Sorry, but the kiss is actually for your wife and her chocolate heaven!  <end jack>

My buddy (the one selling his hawk) just found a NEW hawk with 1.9 miles on it for sale at a dealer .......

I have a 2002 with over 23,000 miles.
Tires need to go if they are original.
The bike is not old enough for other rubber parts to really
deteriorate unless it was standing outside all the time.
I would dump the brake fluid & engine oil.
Look at the fork seals and bounce the forks around.
The seals still should be good.
Take a good light to the gas tank and look for major rust.
Put a fuel filter on if it's not too bad.
Brake lines still should be good.
See where the bike was stored.
If it was in a garage it should be more than fine.
Good luck.

Quote from: MrDan on October 11, 2006, 04:16:34 PM
My buddy (the one selling his hawk) just found a NEW hawk with 1.9 miles on it for sale at a dealer .......

For those people who don't know the Hawk ..... this was a bike they stopped building in 91 ...  who wants a 15 year old bike with a new bike warranty

Quote from: MrDan on October 12, 2006, 08:05:22 AM
For those people who don't know the Hawk ..... this was a bike they stopped building in 91 ... who wants a 15 year old bike with a new bike warranty

and a need for all new rubber parts and a carb rebuild...

Quote from: pantablo on October 12, 2006, 09:24:22 AM

Quote from: MrDan on October 12, 2006, 08:05:22 AM
For those people who don't know the Hawk ..... this was a bike they stopped building in 91 ... who wants a 15 year old bike with a new bike warranty

and a need for all new rubber parts and a carb rebuild...

What .. you don't think a bike that's been sitting on the floor for 15 years without being ridden won't start right up?  Wonder how much the gas cost that's been sitting in it 

Love to see the condition on the chain too.