fairings on first bike...

[debtman7]

I love searching craigslist. There's a million bikes in your area, they're just not all "sexy".

Candidates from your area:

http://columbus.craigslist.org/mcy/300014430.html

http://columbus.craigslist.org/mcy/299403638.html

little more displacement, but not like a supersport :

http://columbus.craigslist.org/mcy/299384199.html

the indestructible old GS:

http://columbus.craigslist.org/mcy/299352535.html

Yes, those are all fine bikes I'm not ready to buy right now though, and my concern is that I see on average 4-5 bikes a week that are suitable for me and priced what I'm willing to spend on a first bike. That gs500 would be ideal, however it's pushing my budget. But I see a bike like that listed and it kills me because I have my doubts that I'll see another nice gs500 for a good price when I'm ready to buy. I can hope I'll get lucky... GS500 or ninja 500 would be ideal I think, as they get rid of the negatives of a small 250 and are still easy enough to start on. We'll just have to see when I'm ready to buy.

[NorthernPete]

why do you assume youll drop your bike, just out of curiosity. While planning for the worst is probably not a bad idea, if you do drop it, and all you end up with is busted plastics, youre in good shape. Keep in mind it wont allways break if you do drop it (I recall when Verm had a mishap with his bike, the plastics were a little busted up, but nothing epoxy couldnt fix)

[debtman7]

why do you assume youll drop your bike, just out of curiosity. While planning for the worst is probably not a bad idea, if you do drop it, and all you end up with is busted plastics, youre in good shape. Keep in mind it wont allways break if you do drop it (I recall when Verm had a mishap with his bike, the plastics were a little busted up, but nothing epoxy couldnt fix)

Well, everyone always says you'll drop it

Plus my last experience riding a motorcycle (this is one of those stupid 17 year olds begging a friend to try and ride his bike) involved me dropping it and then wrecking it. Of course I could just assume that got my inevitable drop out of the way...

[debtman7]

Hmmm, another gs500 popped up this one a 96 for $1700. Can anyone enlighten me about seasonal availability of used bikes? We're taking the MSF course on May 15 and I have no need for a bike until after that, and I've got some money coming in soon which will give me about $2,000 to purchase a used bike. I could swing purchasing a bike now, but I'd have to get creative and I'd rather not do that, plus ya know, everyone says not to buy a bike until after your course So ideally I'll be ready to buy mid to late may.

My concern here is that the weather is turning nice and people who started riding last year are selling their starter bikes to move up, and that in 2 months those will all be gone and my options will be much more limited. Is this a decent assumption, or in general will there still be plenty of starter bikes available in early summer?

[Nibblet99]

Generally when it turns cold, people start selling, and there's more sellers and less buyers, so you get cheaper prices.

When it warms up it goes the other way


My 2 pence would be (if you have the funds available now) would be to buy the a bike when you see a cheap good one come up, and spend the time till your msf stripping it down, and just getting it into top notch condition. So when you've done your msf you have something thats servicable for you to carry on learning the skills taught to you whilst they're still fresh in your mind, rather than spending weeks bike hunting

[jonnythan]

My 2 pence would be (if you have the funds available now) would be to buy the a bike when you see a cheap good one come up, and spend the time till your msf stripping it down, and just getting it into top notch condition. So when you've done your msf you have something thats servicable for you to carry on learning the skills taught to you whilst they're still fresh in your mind, rather than spending weeks bike hunting

100% agree.

That's exactly what I did.

[jonnythan]

double post, please delete

[Sev]

Generally when it turns cold, people start selling, and there's more sellers and less buyers, so you get cheaper prices.

When it warms up it goes the other way


My 2 pence would be (if you have the funds available now) would be to buy the a bike when you see a cheap good one come up, and spend the time till your msf stripping it down, and just getting it into top notch condition. So when you've done your msf you have something thats servicable for you to carry on learning the skills taught to you whilst they're still fresh in your mind, rather than spending weeks bike hunting

+1 buy the Service Manual ($40-100) and you can learn an incredible amount about your bike in a very short time.

There are also a number of good DIY walkthroughs on the internet.

[NorthernPete]

pick up a good deal when you see it, and if its before you can ride it, just get to know it. change the fluids, wash it, wax it....look at it.....wash it again.....sit on it and go *vrrm vrrrrrrm vrrrrm*...wash it again.....call all your friends and get them all jealous.....wax again....

if you drop a non faired bike, your still going to get some damage. dont assume you'll drop it though. be carefull, take your time and you should be fine.

[debtman7]

Well, I'm tempted by the latest ad, I might call the guy and see what's up. Red 1996 GS500, no mention of miles, asking $1750. NADA book says like $1200 but that seems low, every ad I've seen around here for these is at least $2k even for older models.

Would $1,500 be a good offer if everything checked out ok? What kind of work would I expect to need to do?

One nice thing about a new bike is that I could concentrate on riding rather than keeping it running Of course if I bought it now I'd have time to play around with the mechanical stuff...