Hey guys. As some of you may know, i've been banging my head against the wall for a few months looking for the right GS500 to buy. Most of the time i find great deals, but often they are either too far away, or (more times than not) its a great deal that i missed by a week (happened 4 times now)
Today i found this add a few hours after it posted, its in my budget (if i talk him down a smidge) and looks to be just what i'm looking for.

http://louisville.craigslist.org/mcy/2864159914.html

Still i don't recognize the fairing, and it has clearly been repainted. He states that maintenence has been kept up on it, but he only rode it a few times last year so i wonder if problems just didnt present themselves.
Anyway, you fine folks are far more knowlegable than myself.
Opinions on whether or not it appears to be a good deal? Obviously, you never know until you get there and get hands on, but some of you guys (looking at you Adidasguy  ) can tell stuff just buy looking.
Anyway, i thought i would get some friendly help here before i schedule a time to meet him.



:: edit ::
also of note, i found the bike on yakaz.com and it has the listing in Illinois (where i live) but the CL add is in kentucky. I asked him for a specific location in the email just in case.

I love how people selling things are always possibly greedy, advertising everything additionally they can for extra money.
Instead of listing it as it should be and being honest, straight up and fair.

It looks like a fairing conversion from stock based on the rear fairings. (I dont follow the fairing version GS so its an assumption)
those are Maybe the only thing to take the price up a Little from book value.

Carbs were rebuilt last winter, new gas tank, CDI Box replaced, fairing kit, new paint job and body work
^^ all of that sentence right there is meaningless in taking the price past book value, except the new fairings.

Book value as it states when you look it up, is based on something in """Excellent""" condition.

So what is listed minus the fairings are simply to get to the book value point.

but then you have to consider what other similar local sales have gone for etc etc

Me, I never beat around the bush like that.
I would list something for what its worth and not budge by much at all.

Personally, I dont think I would go over $2000 if I was a big fan of those fairings.
If I wasnt, probably $1800 would be my cap if I wanted the bike.
Both numbers based on if he refuses to budge by much.

and yeah I've seen those fairings before, just never on a bike.

just my opinions tho.
as I do not have a ton of experience buying and selling.
Just working on my wench. haha

I guess i should tell you that his asking price is 1650.00 (semi) negotiable.

I would offer, 1400, would pay 1500.  (depending, obviously)

Quote from: ninjeff on February 22, 2012, 09:38:29 AM
I guess i should tell you that his asking price is 1650.00 (semi) negotiable.

I would offer, 1400, would pay 1500.  (depending, obviously)

oh ok.
I thought that was his Base starting point and wanted even more because of all he listed.

but yea if everything is all sound then that sounds like a fair price.

perfect book value = 1600

Money it'll take that bike to get to perfect condition (stock paint, carbs, tires (they been sitting for years, you need tires) and any other rubber that needs cleaning, everything needs to be lubed, tightened, torqued, engine may need valves adjusted, etc)

That bike, IF it ran, I'd show up with 800 in cash and ride it home. If he said no, walk, he'll call back in a week begging for your money unless someone new to the motorcycle world buys it and gets screwed.

just my two cents, from being in your situation and buying an 05 in similar condition minus the paint job, just beat to hell fairings.

BTW, I paid 1500 for my 05, and put 1k into it getting it safe and enjoyable.

Reply i just got:

" I had trouble with the bike before I did had all the work done on it. Started with the carbs, got the new tank had carbs rebuilt again, then found out it was the CDI box. The guy who did the body work, put the kit on, painted etc is a close friend of mine so he did a full bike inspection. He checked the valves, carbs yet again, tires, brakes, etc before I got it back. Which was Late June-early July of 2011. I have rode the bike 4 times since then. Let me know if you need anymore info. Thanks."

Its female owned, but she is in KY. Im in Illinois, so it'd be quite the drive (although one i don't mind for the right bike)
I told he i was interested pending more pictures and a video of it running (since i'm making a drive i want to be sure).
I figured if i make the trip, i'll offer 1300 pending a good video of it running and some nice pictures.

Quote from: ninjeff on February 22, 2012, 10:30:59 AM
Reply i just got:

" I had trouble with the bike before I did had all the work done on it. Started with the carbs, got the new tank had carbs rebuilt again, then found out it was the CDI box. The guy who did the body work, put the kit on, painted etc is a close friend of mine so he did a full bike inspection. He checked the valves, carbs yet again, tires, brakes, etc before I got it back. Which was Late June-early July of 2011. I have rode the bike 4 times since then. Let me know if you need anymore info. Thanks."

Its female owned, but she is in KY. Im in Illinois, so it'd be quite the drive (although one i don't mind for the right bike)
I told he i was interested pending more pictures and a video of it running (since i'm making a drive i want to be sure).
I figured if i make the trip, i'll offer 1300 pending a good video of it running and some nice pictures.

After a drive, your crazy for offering 1300....

I got a running 2005 with some beat up fairings and bad tires for 1500...

Just trying to help ya brother, thats a bit high for that bike with those problems.

Hmm.

Well, fair enough. I appreciate the input. Seriously i do.

I think its part frustration for me. Where i am located it, there is almost ZERO gs500e's and all the gs500fs are going for 2500+.
Any deals i find, i cant get to in time.

Quote from: ninjeff on February 22, 2012, 10:49:17 AM
Hmm.

Well, fair enough. I appreciate the input. Seriously i do.

I think its part frustration for me. Where i am located it, there is almost ZERO gs500e's and all the gs500fs are going for 2500+.
Any deals i find, i cant get to in time.

Any price is a deal if you, the buyer, feels it is a fair price. Buy the bike, if somethings wrong, we will all chip in to help you get it sorted out. It isnt a bad price if there are none in your area.

Go for it!

Theres lots of parts whores on here to help u out. Even i''m starting a little collection of my own!

Well, see you got me thinking.

As i've mentioned in a previous thread, i'm that kind of guy who hates it when things don't work. I don't mind doing small troubleshooting and wrenching, but the specter of having to chase down an obscure or random issue to get going just...well...maddens me. I couldn't handle doing what Tombstone and CBR have done in their build threads. I just don't have the patience.
So now I'm not sure if this one if for me. I would only make the trip if i was sure as its about a 6 hour drive.

Hmmph.

My budget sits at $1500.00 right now, and i'm REALLY wanting to make this happen before the MSF course in 3 weeks.
(in the interest of honesty, i was one of thsoe riders who rode for 2 years on a permit.    Foolish i know.)

SHouldnt be too hard, I been hunting lil gremlins on my bike for a year now.

And its my daily driver.

Even if its actin funny, a lil rough, needs something, you can do it a little bit at a time.

It don't have to be as extensive as shoving an i4 into the gs frame, like cbr, or a complete beautiful resto, like adidas guy, or even a front end swap, like buddha.

Could just be learning how to work on your carbs, a little bit of electrical know-how, and some easy tinkering.

Compared to a car, the gs is a kiddy toy, I could break it down and put it back together in an afternoon, and I have, short of removing the engine and swingarm.

Here's how it works in the bike world...mods usually don't increase the value of motorcycles. In fact, in a lot of cases, they decrease the value.

Unless it came from overseas, which is HIGHLY unlikely, the bike has had its original fairings removed and had aftermarket ones for the older style bikes. It USED to be an "F" model bike. Now, it's some kind of weird amalgamation.

Save your money if they're not willing to accept 8-900. Consider that for only 350 bucks more than what they're asking, you can buy a 6 or 7 year newer bike with blemish free fairings and all stock. Like this one: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/mcy/2841271628.html or this one: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/mcy/2834252852.html

There's a reason why they've only put 30 miles on the bike. I'd steer clear buddy. Either they're telling the truth and there's something wrong with it OR they're lying. Whatever the case is...it's not worth anywhere near what they're asking.

Put it this way, I'd be lucky to get 2k for my orange bike (one in my sig) and it's essentially spotless with only 11k miles and only had one owner before me and has all the right documents and receipts from work done, etc. etc.. I did only pay 1200 for it though...and it didn't run at the time.

2001 was naked. Fairings were not standard until 2004. The 2001-2002 often do not have an "E" or an "F". Those were "bastard" years where the bike was starting to look like an "F" but still had the same carbs and ignition as the "E".
That's an aftermarket fairing, obviously. The 1989-2000 optional cowling and belly pan we are familiar with are still in the parts catalogs for 2001-2002.

You're getting what is essentially an "E" with an "F" tail, seat and tank. That's what the 2001-2002 models are. The only 2 years the wheels were silver. The parts fiches do not have an "E" or "F" designation for those model years.

For what it is, if it runs good, the price is OK.

I spent $1,000 on my '93 with less than 7k miles, but see my build thread for all the work that I have done to it.  Probably going to have almost $1,000 in parts, paint, etc. in it before it's in reliable shape.

I'm not sure your expectation of finding a good running bike in the area listed for $1,500 is realistic.  The ones you are looking for are going to be listed for more than $2,000.  That's not to say that you won't eventually be able to pay close to $1,500 for them though!  The bike I bought was originally listed for $1,400, then $1,200, then I bought it for $1,000.

Back on to the bike in this thread.  The fairings and paint add zero to the value.  In fact, unless you really like the way it looks now, it takes away value.  The bike already has over 20k miles, and hasn't been ridden much in the last 3 years.  This is a double wammy against it's value.  The bike I bought hadn't been ridden much, and look at all the work I had to do!  I bought it anyway because I was ready to learn how to work on bikes and because it had less than 7k miles, and it was only $1,000!  If you can get the KY bike for $1,400 assuming there are no current issues that he isn't mentioning, $1,500 if it looks absolutely spotless when you see it, then I'd say it's about right.
 
Bottom line, I still personally think you need to increase your budget by a measly $500 to get a much newer, and more problem free GS500 locally.

EDIT:
If you do buy this bike, I have silver decals that you can have for like $10.  2 SUZUKI and 2 GS500 decals.  I was going to use them on mine, but I think I'm going to end up getting white instead to tie in with my white wheels.  They would go perfect on that bike

Put the decals on. The hit it with a good 2 part clear coat for that nice shine. (2k MAx if you want to rattle can a 2 part clear)

I have more questions on that adidas, but don't want to jack this thread.

Well, due to the over whelming response on this thread, i'm going to pass on this bike. After some careful thinking i decided i probably have tunnel vision.
Ive gone a few years without riding, and now that ive decided to start again i'm foaming at the mouth to get a bike.

When i started looking/saving a few months ago i had 4 or 5 bikes i wanted and could shop for. Then i found this website and fell in love with the GS500. It just x's every single check box i have for a bike. So now its all i look for, and because ive missed so many deals over the past few weeks (some by mearly days) i beleive im getting tunnel vision.
NOT a good thing.

Still, i have one more option on the table and i'm waiting for a reply back from him to find out.

Also, Kijona, if you want to sell that bike i'll give you $1700.99 RIGHT NOW.

You don't know the condition until you look at it. It is far from you which is a minus.

If it was clean and running well, it would be worth $13k-$15k. It is <20k miles. Looks clean.

More will show up if you pass on this one. Be patient.

Well, i haven't heard anything from the seller since this morning despite asking a few more simple questions (like maint. history, and id they have receipts for anything the did/fixed/bought) so its out. Mostly because they fired back quick to the first email, then have clammed up on the specifics.

I don't like waiting, but i guess i have to.

Quote from: ninjeff on February 22, 2012, 06:47:15 PM
Well, due to the over whelming response on this thread, i'm going to pass on this bike. After some careful thinking i decided i probably have tunnel vision.
Ive gone a few years without riding, and now that ive decided to start again i'm foaming at the mouth to get a bike.

When i started looking/saving a few months ago i had 4 or 5 bikes i wanted and could shop for. Then i found this website and fell in love with the GS500. It just x's every single check box i have for a bike. So now its all i look for, and because ive missed so many deals over the past few weeks (some by mearly days) i beleive im getting tunnel vision.
NOT a good thing.

Still, i have one more option on the table and i'm waiting for a reply back from him to find out.

Also, Kijona, if you want to sell that bike i'll give you $1700.99 RIGHT NOW.

Heh, well I kind of love the bike bud, no offense. If I ever do decide to sell it, I'm gonna list it on here first, and I'll give you first dibs