Newb: (Relatively) Low Maintenence Used Bikes?

[bikeguy joe]

Forget a sportbike in that price range...unless you want someone elses whooped piece O' "crumb".

Well, I don't really mean something like a 600. Something like a GS/GSX750 would be a sportbike I would be thinking of.

I still stand by what I said. Think about it, most sportbikes and just that, and most of them are whooped on by the first, second, third owners because of the very nature of the bike.

In the maintenance side of things- I rebuilt a BMW and a Sportster in a spare bedroom. Yes the jugs of the Beemer went right through the front door of the house, much to my surprise.
I also build an airplane in the basement of the same house. (just didn't do the final assembly down there.)

[flynrider]

I'd have to go with jmillheiser's recommendation. For low maintenance, it's pretty hard to beat the mid-80s Nighthawks. No chain or valve maintenance. Just change the oil/filter every now and then and your good to go. The trick will be finding a mid 80s Nighthawk that's in good enough condition that it won't need much maintenance to address past neglect. They're out there, but there are more junky ones than good ones. Look 'em over very carefully.