I've been looking for a bike to replace my 81 gs450 for a while now. A local dealership has a 97 gs500e for $2500 plus tag and title. The bike has 14,000 miles on it and is in pretty good shape aside from minor cosmetic scratches. Just curious if you guys think that is a fair deal. I could probably talk them down to $2000 since I plan to pay with cash. Also since location matters a bit, I'm in Charleston south Carolina.

Wow, that is a lot of money for an old bike.......for that proce,you can get one ten years younger, with less miles, on Craigslist.......dealers are ripoff..
Cookie

Quote from: phillipjohnw on November 15, 2012, 02:39:41 AM
I've been looking for a bike to replace my 81 gs450 for a while now. A local dealership has a 97 gs500e for $2500 plus tag and title. The bike has 14,000 miles on it and is in pretty good shape aside from minor cosmetic scratches. Just curious if you guys think that is a fair deal. I could probably talk them down to $2000 since I plan to pay with cash. Also since location matters a bit, I'm in Charleston south Carolina.

DO NOT buy from a dealer.
Buy private and come here and ask all the questions you want and we will all endeavor to help.
As Twocool said dealers are a ripoff and thats too much for that year model.

I payed $2750 for a 97 GS500E with 9000 miles......in 2001.  Just sayin.

I bought my 97 brand new in Mar 99 from a dealer for $3200.  Put 80k miles on it before it was totalled in July 03 and then bought my current 02 GS with approx 4k miles on it in Sept 03 from a dealer for $2600 and it has 97k miles on it now.  A fair price 9 years ago and a lot of miles for the buck on both of my GSs.

That IMO is way too much for a 97 with 14k

Charleston isn't far from me. I'm in Albany GA and I have an 07 with 975 miles and I'm asking 2500.

Quote from: DrtRydr23 on November 15, 2012, 05:23:50 AM
I payed $2750 for a 97 GS500E with 9000 miles......in 2001.  Just sayin.

In 01, a 97 wasn't that old. But it's 12 now so 97 is old. Although it's a good bike, 4yrs old back them versus 15 yrs old now is a big difference

Quote from: weedahoe on November 15, 2012, 07:57:43 AM

Quote from: DrtRydr23 on November 15, 2012, 05:23:50 AM
I payed $2750 for a 97 GS500E with 9000 miles......in 2001.  Just sayin.

In 01, a 97 wasn't that old. But it's 12 now so 97 is old. Although it's a good bike, 4yrs old back them versus 15 yrs old now is a big difference

I think that was his point.. That 11 years ago he spent only a little more than the dealer was asking now. 

LOL....my bad 

Is at a non negotable asking price or a starting point to haggle? Make them an offer, you may be surprised.

Sledge has a point. That is a starting point for haggling.  I wouldn't pay 2000 unless it was perfect!

Quote from: sledge on November 15, 2012, 09:36:33 AM
Is at a non negotable asking price or a starting point to haggle? Make them an offer, you may be surprised.

Seriously, offer them something ridiculous (to them) like $1200 and see where it goes.  The lower you start the more room to negotiate that you have.  Check KBB or something for a value as well.  $2500 seems well above the value of that bike.

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=62314.0

I don't know how far you want to go, but see the above thread for a pretty good deal.

Quote from: DrtRydr23 on November 15, 2012, 06:03:59 PM
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=62314.0

I don't know how far you want to go, but see the above thread for a pretty good deal.

+1