A private seller is trailering up her bike from the lower part of the state on Monday. I've put down a deposit after seeing pics and talking to her, but I told her that if it's a piece of **** she'll be hauling it back and I'll pay her for her time and gas.
  What sort of stuff should I check for? How do you tell if the forks are OK?
  I know how to check the brakes, et. and minor maintenance will not be an issue. I plan on changing the oil, plugs and filters just so I can start at square one anyway.
  What's a good pre-purchase inspection consist of?

Welcome! 

Here's a site with a long checklist of what to look for:

If you have a friend who knows bikes, it doesn't hurt to take her/him with you to look it over! 

 Thanks! Exactly what I was looking for. That should be a sticky on here!
  I guess I knew more about what to look for than I thought.....pretty straightforward stuff. The only thing I don't feel well versed in is suspension/forks. I should be able to tell right away if there's a problem though, right?

Hi there,
Where are you located?
One of us on the board might be able to come and help you look it over.
Please add your location to your username signature file.

Best wishes,
Todd
in Lancaster, PA

  OK, edited my profile. I did an introduction on the thread at the top of the page yesterday as well.

  I'm from Rock Hill, SC, just south of Charlotte, NC and about an hour north of Columbia,SC.

Ha ha ... Rock hill ... was there yesterday ...
Now you can bring it by for me to check it if you like.
Or I have some other crap ... I mean bikes I'll palm off on sone sucker ... I mean new rider.
Just kidding ... Yea well ... something ... find me a good couple acres without trailers or crap and no ditch and sheiete either around there cheap and I'll fix your bike free ... Yea Fort mill area OK too.
That is serious.
Cool.
Srinath.

 Just haul the trailers off or sell them to a hunt club!   

Quote from: seshadri_srinath on March 16, 2007, 02:23:58 PM
Or I have some other crap ...  I'll palm off on sone sucker ...

He had it right the first time! 

Man ... I was going to ... but those dudes are heavily armed ...
Also I didn't mean trailers on my land, neighboring trailers.
I am serious though ... I am in charlotte and I come there often, usually looking for land to buy so I can build a steel house  . So if you got someone who has a farm or other type of land ... I am all ears.
Serious about fixing your bike too.
And first thing you'd learn here is ... dont listen to Pandy ... you know, her real name is Staci, with an i ... yea ...
Cool.
Srinath.

and she drops her bike... alot.


never trust some one who drops their bike.

My bike now has character..... a LOT of character! 

Quote from: pandy on March 17, 2007, 05:37:06 PM
My bike now has character..... a LOT of character! 

That's so perfect, so does the owner ...
Heck the owner is a character ...
Cool.
Srinath.

It takes one to know one! 

Gotcha ...
Nope, it doesn't take one to randomly guess sheite, and then have the accused plead guilty ...
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: seshadri_srinath on March 18, 2007, 04:52:04 AM
Gotcha ...
Nope, it doesn't take one to randomly guess sheite, and then have the accused plead guilty ...

You weren't talking about YOU?  

 Well, it REALLY sucks, but the seller backed out of the deal on the '05 GS.   
She was about three hours away and offered to deliver it. Less than 24 hours before the deal was to be made I got an email saying she was reuturning my deposit. I think she got a better offer locally. It was a smoking deal, about a grand under blue book.

Anyway, I've located an '89 just up the road from me. It's not in as good of shape as the '05 but still nice. It has the factory chin spoiler and fairing and clip-on handlebars. Actually, it's in pretty similar condition and VERY good condition for an 18 year old bike. I hope to go check it out tomorrow or Wednesday.
Wish me luck! I'm really jonesin' to "re-learn" how to ride and get out on the road with my girlfriend this Summer.

dont do like I did, and overlooked the forks, make a visual and "hand slide" on them to check for bend,bumps, crevaces..

good luck on the new "older ride"