When I was picking up new fork seals for my GS, the parts guy at the dealership told me he had a GS he was looking to sell.  Its a 1989 (love the fact that it has clip-ons) with unknown mileage (indicated 850   ).  I went to take a look at it today and it was not completely assembled.  Airbox, carbs, and tank (1 dent about the size of a dime) are not currently installed.  It also has the yoshi pipe.    

He told me the bike had most likely been in an accident (it has a clean title) and he had just replaced the front forks (they were slightly bent).  There is also 1 crack in on of the rear body panels.  He had originally intended to make a race bike out of it but doesn't have any time to complete it.  The front-end, frame, and engine looked excellent (much better than my '90).  He has new parts for the carbs and a new chain.  It also has new Avon tires.  He is asking for $700.  Is this reasonable?

Thanks,
Kevin

Be careful. Once you have two you'll have a breeding pair.  Soon you will be overrun with GSs.  I had 6 at one point!  



Sounds like a good deal assuming that the engine is in good shape. I'd ask for (and want to watch the gauges) a compression or leak down test to see what the cylinders are like.

Offer the guy $500, he might meet you at $600.

Oh yeah...forgot to mention this would be my wife's bike.  I figure at this point I've got all winter to get it ready for next spring.  She took the MSF class with me and did much better than I thought she would.  Turns out she is absolutely freaked about riding on the back of mine.  I got up to 40 mph with her and she started pounding on me.  Then I gave her a turn on the bike (by herself) and she has no problem when she has the control (go figure - how is my marriage going to last without a little trust   ).

Hey Kevin,

If you decide not to pick that up, let me know the dealership and I will. Nice to see other GS'ers in the area.

Sorry Bbanjo.  I'm dropping of the money order on Saturday.  Hopefully he'll deliver within a week.  Then the rebuilding fun will begin.  My wife is gonna get jealous but she'll love it when its ready for her to ride.  :kiss:

Secretly I'm hoping she prefers the standard bars then I'll get ride with the clip-ons.  :mrgreen:

Oh man I just made SM type bars...(prototype is ready...I am having a guinea pig test it a little) and every one is getting clip on's now...who is going to buy my SM rip off's then...Just kidding...Enjoy.
Cool.
Srinath.

Keep me posted on those new bars.  I may be interested in them for my '90.  Will they be cheaper than the SM bars?

My target price was 1/2 the price for them and they'd be made from 1/4 wall aluminium...well I had to get rid of that welder cos he was going to take forever and would have ended up being much more $$$ than the SM's cos well he was going to make them pretty by some crap like invisible welding or some fancy shaZam!...where you cut a trench at the weld face and weld in that trench and when done you have welded up the 2 pieces but the metal still has the original profile...very irritating Mofo he was...the earlier guy just didn't have decent aluminum welding stuff...No Tig...he was using a mig and messing up. So I am making them from steel and was hoping for 1/4 the price of SM's ~$35. I have a feeling it will be ~$40. But its made from 3/16 wall steel. Thicker than stock and cut and welded so its strong and functional. You must paint it when you get it. Or if enough people want it I can get it powder coated...I do live in Nascar country so that is easy. In effect...steel bars for ~$40 that feel like the 89's and fit and work a lot better. Proto type coming soon..and going to the guinea pig...and then the real thing.
Cool.
Srinath.