Hello again GSTwins.com.

I've finally moved into the market of purchasing my first motorcycle. I found a 2006 GS500F at my local dealership for 2700 (includes TTL). I have only put a deposit on it while I await approval for a loan.

Here's the bike as it sits at the dealership:



Here's my question:

Since this is my first motorcycle, what are somethings I need to check on my test ride to determine that the bike is a decent buy?
I understand that tires and breaks are important, but I doubt the dealership will know of any regular maintainance that was done.

Thanks in advance for the input,

Jarsh

What caused the belly portion of the fairing to be removed? Accident?

Honestly, I couldn't tell you, I didn't even know it was "missing" until I started doing the research.The dealer said it was laid down in a driveway. When I go back in I'll look more closely at it to see if it was sawn off or if it "came that way". If it turns out it was modified that way, i'm going to request a price-drop. In any case, I plan on stripping it naked anyway. But thanks for pointing that out, would have had to have been a gnarly accident to have ripped the lower fairing off.

Jarsh

I'd be wary of buying a used bike from a dealer.  They are usually way overpriced.  I'd use the missing belly pan to negotiate the price down.

That said, it's a good starter bike and you should enjoy it.

Quote from: Jarsh on June 17, 2009, 01:17:35 PM
Honestly, I couldn't tell you, I didn't even know it was "missing" until I started doing the research.The dealer said it was laid down in a driveway. When I go back in I'll look more closely at it to see if it was sawn off or if it "came that way". If it turns out it was modified that way, i'm going to request a price-drop. In any case, I plan on stripping it naked anyway. But thanks for pointing that out, would have had to have been a gnarly accident to have ripped the lower fairing off.

Jarsh

The dealer is lying. if it was indeed lain down in a driveway, it would have scratches on the tail section, and most likely scratches on the mirror, and most definitely the front turn signals.

Check the pipes for evidence of a sliding crash, check the forks for sliding marks, and the exhaust can.

If there is any sign of road rash on the lower bits, walk away. There is more to the story than you want to know.

As far as maintenance, the gs can suffer nicely, but won't take flogging by idiots for long.

Good luck finding your first bike !

Thanks for the quick responses guys, I am definitely going in after work today to inspect the bike, and possibly get my deposit back.

The stickers look really messed up, almost like they took stickers off other parts of the bike and slapped them on to cover up some scratches.
Since replacing the fairings would cost you at least $400 if you buy them from suzuki and the bike has clearly been mistreated I would walk away or try to get it for like $2000.

yea those stickers are definitely there to cover something up and look like crap in my opinion. talk em down and get the whole scoop

If you haven't already done so read this free guide to buying and inspecting a 2nd hand bike http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html

Something not mentioned in that guide but which is something to at least consider is the cleanliness of the bike. If the bike is totally spotless clean from head to toe - including between the heat exchange fins, inside of swing arm and those other really difficult to get at places - it makes me wonder How it was cleaned? Did a person really get in there with a sponge- or - has the bike been subjected to a High Pressure Washer? If the washer has been used then there is a good chance some seals - beginning with the chain's O rings, wheel bearing seals, etc. - have been compromised in some way. You cannot know for sure, but it is something to at least be aware of.

As for stickers... I don't know which ones some thing are odd because a quick google for the gs500f brought up this image, whose stickers look like yours (to me)

On second thought... above the SU and below the UK the stickers are different and to the left of the chevron shape.

As for driveway drop damage, here is the damage mine got when I didn't have the bike on a rear lifter properly and it fell forward off the lifter then fell on its side...




No damage to turn signals but there was some damage to the outside of the left handle and some slight scratching on the side of the mirror. I didn't notice it at the time as I picked the bike up and parked it up right away - but - the clutch lever had also been bent. So I bought a new one and replaced it. If the dealer is telling you it was dropped on the driveway then this is also the kind of evidence to look for. (Note, while at a dealer the other day I spotted this brand new showroom GS. Notice the dent on the tank to the right and a touch below the Suzuki badge...



Enjoy the selection process.

Michael

Are those after market grips on the handlebar?

Also, the exhaust pipes up to the muffler look awfully "used" for a 3 year old bike.

Quote from: ohgood on June 17, 2009, 01:24:38 PM
As far as maintenance, the gs can suffer nicely, but won't take flogging by idiots for long.

You're forgetting about me.... My poor boy was lucky he made it through the year I rode him alive... I think he's happy to be on to his new owner!  

Welcome to the nuthouse, Jarsh! You've chosen a perfect first bike! Just be warned.... every bit of damage from the smallest scratch to the bike being totaled will be blamed on a driveway drop...seriously.... 

I hope she works out for ya'! 

I hate to ruin your dream but wasn't the bike laid on the right side? It looks like the pipe is little scratched in that picture (unless it's light reflection) and the front fairing has been definitely cut. Stock fairing doesn't look that way.
Also $2700 for 2006 with 14K miles is not that great of a deal, especially in this economy. I think you should renegotiate the price if possible.

I wish you the best and welcome to the GS family!
KML

PS. Just for price comparison - I paid $3700 for my bike (before tax). I bought it in 2006, it is 2004 model and it had only 800 miles on the clock.

EDIT: my post was moved from somewhere else so it may look kinda out of place but I'll leave it the way I wrote it. After all I still mean what I said 

If you like it and it runs good its worth it.........bikes vary so much in price depending where you are and being as its the start of summer the price goes up like 30%.........or at least in snowy iowa......anyways to give you a idea i bought a 07 gs500f with out the fairing becuase it was dropped with some slight road rash on the pipe, a small quater sized dent in the tank, and a little road rash on the right side cover with 5k miles for $1600. It does have a salvage title but that doesnt matter to me. (i did have to drop some cash on carb work after i got it and a nightmare of a situation with the dealer messing some stuff up)..........it has started to show some rust in places on the brake brace arm and the exhaust down pipes.

Quote from: XealotX on June 17, 2009, 06:05:47 PM
Are those after market grips on the handlebar?

Also, the exhaust pipes up to the muffler look awfully "used" for a 3 year old bike.

Good point on the exhaust pipes. Hmmm... salvaged pipes from another wreck because this one ruined the original pipes at the same time the bottom of the fairing was smashed?

That would explain why the pipes don't match and the bottom fairing is missing. Smashed onto something. In which case, the other Frame Bolts could be "bent" too.

Fine tooth comb needed on this one...

Michael

You might want to try Craigslist and see if there are any used GS500's on there.  Also, I'm not sure what your financial situation is, but i would try to buy the bike flat out instead of financing it, but that's just me.

I have an update for you guys. I have retrieved my deposit on the bike. I have determined that this bike was not a "driveway drop". After going in to look at it yesterday here are somethings I noticed:

1: The fairing had indeed been sawn off the bottom (unevenly from the other side, I might add)

2: The outside of the muffler can had been brushed and buffed, the finish was inconsistent with the rest of the can.

3: The right side mirror was scuffed pretty hard and was hanging on by one bolt.

4: The right turn signal had been completely broken off and re-attached with electrical tape

and the real winning detail here:

5: the undercarriage looked to have been re-shaped (welded) and painted.


needless to say, this bike was a salvage. I kindly pointed out all of these details to the salesman, who then appeared to act suprised, as if he didn't know. After trying to negotiate the price down to a respectable 1800, they weren't having it. So, I took my deposit back and said good-day.  Thanks for all the help guys, I really appreciate it. Don't worry, I'm already settled on the GS500 for my first bike. I just want to find one that has been well maintained. You shall hear from me again.

-Jarsh

^^^^^
great news!

Salesmen never cease to amaze me at the level of scumminess they are able to reach.

I've met some nice ones. Our real estate agent put up with us looking at shitty houses for a year and a half until we finally found a nice house in our price range, and he did it all with a smile, so I know they can be good, but most of them, are just downright awful.

I used to hate having to pretend to be salesman at the last bicycle shop I worked at. I was a mechanic, but you'd still have to come deal with shoppers when it got too busy, and people would constantly try to make it sound like you were lying to them just because someone at another shop told them aluminum was better and you told them steel was better(my general opinion, even though most of my bikes are aluminum, but if you're cruising pothole filled city streets and locking up to street signs, steel is definitely the way to go).

that's good to hear.  try to find a cheapie online like craigslist for your first bike and go from there.

Craigslist FTW - found mine for cheap and avoided all the BS you will encounter at a dealer.  That and when you register it you can say you paid $50 for it and save some money.