I was just browsing the boards and had a questions about the bike I am looking at buying:

Bike comes with:
    Vega Helmet
    Custom Paint
    New Chain
    New front and rear brakes
    Stage 2 Jet Kit
    Aftermarket Exaust (didn't catch the name)
    K&N Filter
    37,000 miles

Do you think $1500 is a good price to pay?  Is there anything else I should ask about or look for before I step into this?  Thanks!

Dan

Hi Dan, welcome to the board. My site has a page with values for the various years of GS's. Personally I think its too much money for a bike with that much mileage and that old. These bikes often need engine rebuilds at around 40k miles. There are so many bikes with far fewer miles available for that much or less. I'd say keep looking and be patient.

The vega helmet is useless to you, even if it fits. Buy a good quality helmet that fits properly [very important].

Check for rust in tank by looking straight into the bottom of the tank. Rust in tank if common and is a bad thing.

There is no  such thing as a stage 2 jet kit-they only come in stage 1 &3 [dont ask me why].

I'd say pass.

Thanks for the quick reply, do you have any other suggestions for a good starter bike.  I'm just looking for something to learn to ride on for a year or so.  

It may not have been a stage 2 kit...I'm a guy...we don't listen or remember anything.  

I'll keep looking around for things and hopefully something will pop up

The gs500 is one of the best first bikes you can get. You could also look at the kawasaki ex500, Buell Blast! (but why?), Honda Nighthawk, etc.  But the gs500 is a perfect first bike...just not that overpriced one...

Make sure you go to your nearest dealer and try on helmets-they should feel too tight at first since the internal padding breaks in a bit and conforms to your head. Shouldnt feel pain but will be real tight, like you need one size bigger (you dont). Very important to buy a helmet that fits. Helmets come in different sizes AND shapes to suite different heads. Good gear is very important. I cant stress that enough.

Good luck.

GSs are just about as good as you can get for first bikes and will stay with you for years.  I've ridden for over two decades; I just inherited an unwanted GS from my wife (who got an SV650) and I've tweaked it tuning-wise and had a ball with it.  I don't know how you could ask for a more balanced package.  The Honda Nighthawk 750, while more powerful and torquey, feels like a slug compared to the GS.  I don't really see how you could go wrong with the GS -- I guess you could opt for an SV650 right out of the box but personally I think air-cooled bikes are so much neater, plus the SV is a tad much for your first.

The GS is a GREAT 1st bike.  Hands down!  They are out there, keep looking!
Where are you located?  We keep an eye out for em hI paid about 1500 for my 91.  It was stock with 3000 miles on it.  Everyone thinks its newer than it is.   :mrgreen:
Be patient- you won't be sorry!

I'm in the gainesville fl area going to grad school at UF.  Florida has a pretty high turnover for bikes...but this area doesn't     But I'll def keep a look out for one.

$1500 for 37,000 miles sounds high to me, what year is it?  GSes can run for a long time, but I'd expect a decent amount of maintenance with that much mileage.  Have you looked at the bike yet?  Check for rust in key places (bottom of the triple trees, shock mount, frame near pegs), pitting in the forks or blown seals, make sure the compression is good, check throttle response, and work it through the gears to see that it shifts smoothly and none of the gears are overly worn.  If you can, bring a motorcycle literate friend to help you look it over and ease the seller during a test ride or have it taken to a local shop for a lookover.

A good guide on what to look for with a used bike: http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html

Its a 91.  i know you guys said there was no stage 2 jet kit..but it def say that in the ad in cycle trader oh well...I haven't gone and taken a look at the bike yet..its about an hour or so away, I think im just going to wait until the next cycle trader comes out and see if they have any more deal or just scour the internet.  Thanks for the advice as to what to look for when I do go see one