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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Newbie and looking to buy advice.. /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1418159293 Message started by wakosama on 12/09/14 at 13:08:13 |
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Title: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by wakosama on 12/09/14 at 13:08:13 Howdy from Houston, I'm happy to finally be a forum member because I've been lurking since summer when I decided to get a winter special. I'll be commuting and wanted something simple and dependable and easy to work on a bit. One cylinder, one carb seems easy enough for a little old guy. Been watching for awhile, wondering about values, how to make sure I'm getting a good one. Typical = Houston Craigslist; a 2001 Savage w/10K for $1800 OBO still listed for 2wks and a 2006 S40 w3.5K for $2400. There are usually some more around, and Cycletrader has but prices are all higher. Advise appreciated, how much... what to look/listen/feel for. Anyway, another Savage fan arriving. Happy holidays. I'll post a pic when I finally find the right one. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advise.. Post by bobert_FSO on 12/09/14 at 13:26:46 Welcome to Thumper Central. Those prices seem reasonable for the years, mileage and something in good shape that doesn't need a lot of work. I bought my 2001 at 10k for $1800. That was 4 years ago, but condition and mileage is more important than the model year. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advise.. Post by Dave on 12/09/14 at 13:58:26 The bikes are plentiful, and you can get a really nice bike if you are patient, and willing to look around a bit before you buy. There are abused bikes, bikes that have been stored outside.....and there are nice ones that have been taken care of and stored indoors. When I went looking - I wanted to avoid the ones that had been stored outdoors and corroded. I found one that had been stored indoors, was only 4 years old, and only had 262 miles on it. The lady was dating a biker and learning to ride - but then they broke up and she stopped riding. I paid $ 2,650 for a 2007 (in 2011) - but I had to drive from Kentucky to New York to pick it up. If you watch for a while....you can find similar deals. My neighbor just bought a 10 year old Ninja 250 that only had 60 miles on it....the lady that bought it found out she was pregnant just after she bought it, and never road it after that. Don't be afraid to look at bikes that are in other cities.......if you find the right one it will be worth the extra effort. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advise.. Post by MnSpring on 12/09/14 at 15:32:27 My suggestions. 1st: Clear Title ! Not, “I can get it”, “My X has it”, “The Bank has it”. Ask to see the CLEAR Title first. If it is secured by a loan, their MUST, be a Satisfaction or release, Signed and Notarized, by the person that, gave the loan. If not just keep looking, (Unless it is a smoken deal), and if you don’t get a title, you will be another one of us selling parts. 2nd: Tires. Take a flash light, and look on the tire for the date code. Don’t care WHAT the tread looks like, or how many, ’strings’ are on the side, if they are 5+ years old, you will be wanting a new pair. (Old tires on a car/truck, fine, Ya got 4 of them ! Old tires on a trailer, fine, the trailer is not going to tip over with you on it at speed). On a MC, you only have 2, and when you lean on a curve, you want them to HOLD the road, not, side out from under you, because they are to hard/old. My opinion, I would take the 06, before the 01. (of coarse if all things were equal) Take CASH, Green Money, 100.00 bills. Know what the NADA is, (or other Blue Book) values are: http://www.nadaguides.com/Motorcycles/Manufacturers And the rest of the excellent advice here.. Looks, Condition, Sound, Drivability, etc. Here are just 2 examples, a 06, 5600 miles, listed for on CL, for 2,500.00 Bought for 1950.00. Discounted for old tires. Discounted for side cover missing, and waved CASH in their face. The 97, 6500 miles, listed for 1,400.00. Looked Real Good!, BUT when I started it up, I shut it down after a min. Than said: I’ll give you 600.00, Bought it for 650, ( because I, ’Thought’ I new what the problem was. I was Wrong). Don’t buy, ‘in’ season, buy, ‘Out’, of season. You Only buy a Lawn mower in the FALL, and a Snow blower in the Spring. Then if their is something you can’t fugue out on your own, ASK, Here. You will get Plenty of good advice. When you get one. 1st thing, Change the Oil. (as per oils recommended on this list, with ZINK in them), And Change the filter! Then change the oil again after 1-2 hundred miles. Then your good to go. (Regardless what the Previous Owner said, You Just Don’t know). |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advise.. Post by raydawg on 12/09/14 at 16:17:19 59626F7869657E78636B66790A0 wrote:
Dave, what do you guess the cost of getting the bike home was? I do believe that should be factored in....... don't you? |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advise.. Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/09/14 at 17:29:49 Unless you're ready to go into where the cam chain lives soon, avoid the ones approaching 10,000 miles. Not knowing how it was ridden, average miles per trip,just when it will be ready for a Verslavy is up in the air. How it's been stored really matters,too. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advise.. Post by Dave on 12/10/14 at 04:22:51 55465E43465040270 wrote:
Well.....I am not sure. I suppose you could include that, and it most likely was a couple hundred dollars if you don't count the wear on the car. It was an adventure and a bit of fun (except for the part about being in downtown Manhattan at 5 PM on a Friday night - it took me 5 hours to drive 40 miles)! I got to see a really cool part of Pennsylvania called the Delaware Water Gap , I got to tour Bill's Old Bike Barn, http://www.billsbikebarn.com/, I got to eat Pancakes with Sausage gravy for breakfast one morning, and I was given the privilege of paying $ 24 to drive over a toll bridge in New York City that seemed to be only a few hundred feet long! I had fun going to get the bike, and it was definitely an adventure. I looked for about 6 months in the local area, and I just didn't find a nice, well cared for bike that I felt was the bike I wanted. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advise.. Post by KennyG on 12/10/14 at 06:58:10 "I looked for about 6 months in the local area, and I just didn't find a nice, well cared for bike that I felt was the bike I wanted" Looking and not finding is why I ended up buying a left over 2013 S40 from a dealer. I have bought many good used motorcycles that have required less work than this one from a Suzuki dealer. Kenny G |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advise.. Post by Srotag on 12/10/14 at 08:13:26 I too looked for about six months, this summer. Found one in Southern Utah, I was in Montana. We met in SLC, I had a rental trailer with me. READ about tie downs before you go! 2007 primo shape with 1,600 miles $2050. Again lots of looking. Good Luck 8-) |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advise.. Post by Jeff71 on 12/10/14 at 08:47:12 Looked for around a year. Got a 2003, stored in a shed, 1,592 miles on it and got it for $1650 and only 12 miles from our house. Not a scratch on it but a few small surface tarnish/ rust/ corrosion spots that can be literally wiped off. 8-) Jeff |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by HondaLavis on 12/10/14 at 10:24:40 Wakosama, Here is a Savage that was posted today in Houston. 1997, Dyna muffler installed, tires in picture appear newer (at least not stock!) and the seats have some kind of extra cushioning. Mileage isn't listed, but it does say title in hand. For $1650, it is at least worth looking at. http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/4798863475.html http://images.craigslist.org/01111_356HI5Q7m1F_600x450.jpg |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by stewmills on 12/10/14 at 11:11:56 Everyone has made good points as far as what to look for, but just for comparison I got my 2008 with 400 miles on it in 2012 (4 years old) that was stored in a barn with the carb properly drained, etc. (and not exposed to elements). IIRC I paid about $2200-ish and had to drive a few hours to pick it up so factor in the cost of gas. Cleaned it up top to bottom (4 years worth of dust) and it looked brand spankin' new and I have been tickled pink with the bike ever since. Welcome to the forum and best of luck in your search. My only piece if critical advice is COME HERE AND ASK before you pay anyone to do any work on your bike regardless of what it is...better yet, DON"T pay anyone regardless! There are a lot of excellent folks here that are eager to help one another, especially newbies, and they'll happily walk you step by step through any problems you have. This is my first bike and I learned, after much apprehension, that it's a tremendously easy bike to work on...just stick with the forum here and you'll be in good hands. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by Art Webb on 12/11/14 at 13:35:41 Mine isn't on CL but I'd sell it to a forum member for a decent price 2007, 3400 miles, brand new rear tire (likely needs a front, not due to wear but age) one rear turn signal needs replacement (knocked it off unloading it from a pickup by myself) It is not garaged, but sits on my porch, so it's dirty and has some rust on chromed areas it runs and rides well on 1/2 choke, but the carb could stand a cleaning I'm sure we have another member in Houston who would help you with that I rode it from Columbus to Lagrange Tuesday and by the time I got back it was running pretty good almost forgot, it already had a Raptor petcock |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advise.. Post by MnSpring on 12/11/14 at 15:24:57 Quote:
Also looking for, another one. Have considered a, ‘year old’ one at the dealer. (NOW in MN is the Right time to Buy) (Shot a, ‘hole in the air’, with the 97) However, thinking one with 1-3 thousand miles, might be better, as the, ‘dealer’, did , ’tweaking’ , paid for by the Previous Owner, who did not want to do it him/her self. So their will be less, ’tweaking’. On the other hand, a, ’new- year old’ one, the, ’tweaking’ would be all mine, and good, with the knowledge and advice from this forum. Still got the eye out for another one. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/11/14 at 20:14:26 A well maintained 20,000 mile bike? Bugs worked out.. Sold a2005, 20,000 miles, Supertrap, Raptor, jetted, pegs ground down on the ends, about a year ago,$2500.00, and, I handed him some parts, cam chain, lights, and Suzuki Service Manual. Tank was dented from my knee,when I caught it as it rolled off the stand. All that,, it RAN gooood and Sounded good,too. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by Todd James on 12/12/14 at 00:01:35 I paid $2000 for my 2007 with 60 miles on it, 2 years ago. All stock and essentially brand new. The gentleman bought it for his wife to learn on but she didn't take to it. He kept it in the garage hoping that she would try it again some day. It never happened, so after 5 years he decided to sell it. He put it on CL and I was there the next day with cash in my hand. He was happy to sell it at his asking price, and I was thrilled to get my first motorcycle. I think my experience was unusual, but I did shop for a year, specifically for a Savage, and passed over dozens of others before this one came along. A little patience may pay off in your search. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/12/14 at 07:26:14 And, I have provided advice. Your thread title CLEARLY states that you were Looking to Buy advice. I will PM my address and await payment.. Thanks. Hmmmm, Boy, just Look at all the folks who have provided advice... Hmmmm, Boy,, don't worry,tho, just pay me first, then, one of them a month.. and, it's Christmas, so, just wait till January. Ohh, and welcome to the forum, |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by Dave on 12/12/14 at 07:36:16 And the amount of payment should be commensurate with the number of stars each member has......you are paying for experience. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by Todd James on 12/12/14 at 10:37:02 May I have another star, Dave ? |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by Dave on 12/12/14 at 10:40:49 745F535B4D6A515A5A3E0 wrote:
You have to earn them.....they come from the number of times you have posted or responded to something. Doesn't matter if the post is pure nonsense....you still get credit for it! http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1412472208/4#4 |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by Todd James on 12/12/14 at 18:26:00 Since my nonsense posts counted, I guess I'll just keep at it. I truly aspire to reach JOG's star status some day. ;D |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/12/14 at 19:10:18 And, when I found this place, I was just Justin_o_guy,, but,something happened and I couldn't log in, So, I became Justin_o_guy 1,after a coupla years, that crashed,, so, TOTAL posts? I couldn't even guess. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/12/14 at 19:12:31 02393423323E252338303D22510 wrote:
And,if you really want to pay for experience, take that thing to the dealership for service... |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by clearush on 12/12/14 at 23:16:43 27383E3924231222122A38347F4D0 wrote:
I think that's actually paying for AN experience since they hardly ever give the singles to the guys with experience :P I over paid for my 2000 with 10k on it but in the long run being such and easy to work on easy to maintain bike I ended up better off in the long run. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by wakosama on 12/13/14 at 14:12:06 Thanks all. I can see there's some humor on this forum. Good, and I'm still looking, even at dealer bikes. Prices get out of my range the newer and lower mileage the bikes get of course. anyway, Hondalavis... I emailed about the $1550 Red 97 Savage. Response: "The bike is running fine no problem at all,22,379 miles, tittle in my name" seems like more mileage than a trouble free bike would have, but I may go see it. just lack the time to take on another 'project'. thanks. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by verslagen1 on 12/13/14 at 15:08:52 4A5C56524E5C505C3D0 wrote:
at this point, i think you're being a doubting tomas just to be a PIA. The savage has great potential to be a trouble free bike. trouble free does not mean maintenance free. honda knows how to turn a wrench. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by wakosama on 12/13/14 at 15:46:40 Found out the one Hondalavis alerted me to is close to my job so working on getting together with the owner Monday. Most bikes I've seen are seriously used up by 22K and this one is 18 years old. Plus I have experienced little faith in dealer mechanics, so it's up to me and I have to DIY and that takes time I may not have. Where is the 'buy used Savage' tips thread? thanks again... |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by HondaLavis on 12/13/14 at 15:48:09 Wako, that sounds like a great candidate IMHO. At 22K it's highly likely already had a verslavy cam chain adjuster installed or somebody replaced the chain itself. Hard to make it to that mileage otherwise. It's got what appear to be home-made saddlebag supports and a dyna muffler. The guy that owns this bike probably knows how to maintain it. To own a motorcycle, you can't be afraid of maintenance. The only maintenance FREE machines are the ones that aren't designed to last very long. I'm not far away from you, and if all goes well I'll likely be moving towards the Houston area. If you need someone to help you wrench, I think it'd be fun to help out another guy in his garage. ;) EDIT: You should go check out the savage miles hall of fame. Definitely illustrates the potential longevity of this bike if properly maintained. Keep in mind this only includes members of the forum who know about the thread. http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1391195461 |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by verslagen1 on 12/13/14 at 15:52:16 16000A0E12000C00610 wrote:
1st link in the tech section index. |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by wakosama on 12/13/14 at 16:08:43 You folks are REALLY helpful. I'll probably find the owner is a forum member too. Sorry for misleading. Not afraid of maintenance, just a good price time to get a bike even if I'm time constrained with jobs and family. So thanks for your patience. Kids want me now... Be well. :) |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by Dane Allen on 12/15/14 at 14:51:04 3422282C30222E22430 wrote:
I got a 2012 S40 new around March 20th of 2013. I just completed an oil change yesterday at 22,654 and I expect to get the 25k mile award by the end on January as this is my primary commuter vehicle. I have the Versy tensioner, new sealed battery, original spark plug, original rear brake shoes, first new rear tire (Metz 880)and first new front tire(Dunlop whatever, couldn't wait for a metz). I put new oil through it about every 2,000 miles and have only had to replace a few screws/bolts that I dropped into oblivion. I have yet to have a bulb burn out, all original lamps. Fortunate to have no dents or scratches but the exhaust is blued down to the foot peg. I gave up on removing the blue a year ago ;D My goal is to get to 100,000 miles before the loan is paid off. 28 miles 1-way to work, 90% freeway miles. When does that cam chain need replacing again? ;) |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by Dave on 12/16/14 at 03:41:03 DaneAllen: You need to replace the cam chain a few miles before it breaks! Your actual mileage may vary. Your Welcome. Dave |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by Dane Allen on 12/16/14 at 17:37:35 0C373A2D3C302B2D363E332C5F0 wrote:
Is there a indicator light for that? ;D Oh, and I had to replace the clutch cable, it loosened up over time and after work one day I went to tighten it and there were about 3 strands of wire still attached to the handle. Used the clutch a total of 6 time over 28 miles that night. :o |
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Title: Re: Newbie and looking to buy advice.. Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/16/14 at 19:13:16 I rarely used the clutch once I had made it to second... from there up,just off the gas and up a gear, down just needs a little goose and a step down on the lever, as soon as that sweet spot,not accelerating or decelerating,is hit. |
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