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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> '88
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Message started by crimsonblaspheme on 01/08/08 at 22:30:20

Title: '88
Post by crimsonblaspheme on 01/08/08 at 22:30:20

going to look at an '88 svage 650 in a couple days. 17- some thousand miles. What should I be looking out for?

Title: Re: '88
Post by Savage_Greg on 01/08/08 at 22:47:16

Gee, I thought you were asking all the questions in the other topic?

I be sure to check for things like flat tires, dented tanks, oil puddles on floor, dead battery, strong gasoline smells, missing headlight, missing drive belt, no brake fluid, missing spokes, or missing footpegs. Oh, and it should have a muffler, too.

Any problems in those areas is an automatic red flag :P

Title: Re: '88
Post by crimsonblaspheme on 01/08/08 at 22:49:23

you dont have to be sarcastic. you could just keep your mouth shut. I don't know much about this bike and am looking fo ropinions from people that do. If you don't want to help save your snide comments for someone else.

Title: Re: '88
Post by Dave48 on 01/09/08 at 04:29:30

Apart from the bits that might demand immediate expense (tyres, exhaust, disc/pads etc), I reckon "general condition" tells a lot. For example, the '89 with 13000 miles I bought recently just LOOKED neat. Fact that sound and solid underneath the mudguards/fenders for example a pretty sure sign that not been used in an English winter!
Number of owners also a consideration I think.

Good luck!

Title: Re: '88
Post by thumperclone on 01/09/08 at 07:12:38

74657E7A647879757B7664677F727A72170 wrote:

ROFLMAO

Title: Re: '88
Post by verslagen1 on 01/09/08 at 07:36:18

I guess this is a question to often asked for greg.

And if you'd asked somewhere else and now are asking again...

As far as I know (for someone with a '96) the starter is an issue to look out for. But if it starts it doesn't have the issue.... yet.

Otherwise, kick the tires and spin it around the block.

Title: Re: '88
Post by LANCER on 01/09/08 at 08:15:26

Yep, the general overall look of it. Does it look like everything is there? Are things straight, lined up, in the proper places? Is there rust, paint worn/scratched, chrome & aluminum condition, ?
Do the brakes work well or spongy?
Does the clutch lever/cable work smoothly and the clutch engage/disengage properly and the transmission shift up and down ALL of the gears?
Tire tread? AGE OF RUBBER ... are there cracks in the sidewalls of the tires?
Twist the main drive belt around (turn it hard to get it around all the way) and look for cracks on the "tooth side" of the belt? Has the belt EVER been changed?
Does the petc0ck work properly?

Go for a good ride and see if it runs smoothly from idle on up, turning the throttle slowly and smoothly. Does it respond smoothly or is there jerkyness?
Then run it hard through the gears, up and down, brake easy and hard to see if it responds smoothly and firmly.

STUFF LIKE THAT.

Title: Re: '88
Post by mornhm on 01/09/08 at 08:54:59

If you take Savage_Greg's response at face value, it's good advice for someone who knows little to nothing about buying used MC's. Granted he doesn't say why those things are red flags, but you asked what to look for not what specific conditions might indicate about the MC's life. Without more information about yourself and your experience buying used MC's it's best to start at the beginning. For example I might say to look for crash damage, or be sure that the condition matches the mileage and you might not have any idea what I'm talking about. If you already know to look for all of these things and are only interested in things that might be specific to a used Savage (or even more specific to the year/mileage Savage you're looking at) then you might want to rephrase your question to give a better indication what answer you are looking for.

Personally, I'd look for a MC that is stock or has only the modifications that I want, and I wouldn't pay any extra for modifications made. 17,000 miles can be a lot of wear and tear, or can hardly be noticable on a well maintained and cared for MC. For example, aside from tire wear (the rubber had been replaced and was showing wear) and a little worn off the footpegs, my Savage looked about the same when I sold it as when I bought it. I saw other Savages that were newer with fewer miles that looked 10 years older.

Title: Re: '88
Post by YonuhAdisi on 01/09/08 at 11:34:54

Another good thing to look at is the steering stops on the frame neck. (little tabs welded to the neck to keep the handlebars and trees from hitting the tank) If one or both are missing it is a good indication that the bike has been wrecked before.

Title: Re: '88
Post by demin on 01/09/08 at 13:48:27

Listen to engine on the right side.If it sounds like a sewing machine,talk to verslagen.Get one of his tensioners,and put it in when you do the oil change.Not a big deal,cheap insurance.

Title: Re: '88
Post by Polar_Pilot on 01/09/08 at 14:48:17

Go through the same approach you would take to buying a used car. Start it and listen - does the pulse of the engine sound even and consistant?
Get someone else to take it for a ride - the present owner for example = watch it riding away and coming back - does it run straight and true - does the tranny audibly shift smoothly.
Look closely at any non standard modifications - has it got a good muffler preferably stock - anything else suggests a bike that has been hammered by a previous owner
Finally, given that it is 20 years old does it look tired - or just dusty and need of a bit of TLC. Tired means broken wires, broken incomlete and mising parts broken mirrors.
Then smile - it is all good - turn to the owner and say - How much? Remember it is 20 years old when you respond with your counter offer. But it should be a figure around $1,000 maximum in my opinion

Keep us posted on what you see and decide