Hey folks, longtime lurker here.

Am looking at a 98 Ls650 for 1200.    seems in fair shape, a little rust...paints a bit faded.    Seems to run well, and the guy that is selling it is an actual bike mechanic. *hopes fervently he's already done the carb work*

I saw it start up cold this am, idled within a minute with no choke.   No weird noises etc.

Belt looked alright, tires are good.   One lil dent in the tank. No biggie.    It's seen some weather here and there though.     Anything in particular i should look for other than the usual?   10k on the clock. Bike would be for a newbie, my GF (she had her eye firmly glued on a 1100 spirit)    I didn't notice any oil seeping anywhere.

Thanks in advance!

thats a good deal. i got my 98 for the same $ but it had 17k on the odo. all i had to do was a clutch and cam chain and plug cap leak and carb jets. sounds like alot but it wasn't so bad.

I bought a 98 three years ago with 1640 on her for $2200 and have been quite happy.  I installed the modded cam chain adjuster at just shy of 10K miles and would suggest you check yours to know where you stand since there seems to be wide variance in the wear.

Might want to show her some of islandwahine's, FreeSpirit's and skatnbnc's  posts.  

As for see-sawing,  don't we all do that once in a while on big purchases.  The "I gotta have it" then look at bills and say "Wow that's soooo much"  then see a picture of it again and say "gotta have it" all over again.....

As for confusion,  wait till you marry one.......

T Mack 1 - FSO wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:



And, for the Mormons of old & the Sheiks who still have more than one wife, How the heck can ya DOOO that?

I can understand someone who has never owned a bike waffling on the idea. Once she has it & gets comfortable with it, she wont ever want to be without one. Theres just something about the smell of the air early in the morning, & even thru a helmet visor, the world feels closer than thru a windshield. I just finished getting creamed, but I know I am still gonna be riding.

95 savage was my training bike for the first time, and i couldnt think of a better bike to start on. Thats a good price and tell your girly she dont need an 1100 to start on. Bad idea. somthing cheep that can be droped (god forbid) because newbees do that at least once.

Ive been tring to talk my girly into it but she is looken at bandit 600's or SV 650's. So i guess im glad she is staying in the Suzuki family. I myself moved up to a bandit 1200 and i think she just wants to keep up.

Keep pushen her on the savage, shell love it. i promise

My 2 cents! Not all women are wishy washy about decisions!
I've been wanting a bike for so long, but could never afford one (single mom). So then I got these checks in the mail from one of my credit cards, and an idea struck me. Use the check (high APR) then use balance transfer option from other card (low APR) and voila! No hassle bike loan. Then one day someone suggested Craigslist, I left an add saying I was looking for a Virago or Rebel (wanted to start slow). The next day I got an email from a guy I actually knew on the island, saying he had a bike for sale but it was a 650. My first thought was too big, but I was so exited that he only wanted $1000 for it that I hopped into the car (forgot about work) and went to see it. Love at first sight (She needed a lot of work though, very rusty and beat up). He left the keys in the ignition (you can still do that here) and told me to take her out for a spin and see if I liked her. She was easy to ride!
Since then (you can count the posts) I've been  having to do a lot of work on her, but it has been worth it. If I really want something I jump through hoops to get there, no wishywashyness.

Well, i had all the responsibility, because she Told me to take over.

I think the direct quote was, "Will, go look at this bike and see what you think, if you can talk them down to a reasonable price and then get the loan, I'll gladly pay for it."   (she has much much better credit than I do, she actually found the spirit first, and i talked her down off of it a little.   I think an 1100 is just too much for that first bike. too heavy, power etc) After that I hear "Well, since that one isn't a good idea would you take the time off and go around town and look around the dealers for a more suitable beginner bike?"

And she would.    If i know her she'd starve herself and pay 300% payments till it was all gone.   To myself I think...ok she wants me to handle the aggravating part, thats fine, I can understand that.

To get through all the aggravating parts, and run my butt off, and take time off work etc etc etc....then get hit with a (another direct quote) "I don't care.   What are we eating for supper?"   is incredibly frustrating.  Especially when you toss in the Oh it fits me greats, and the Ohhhhh i want it so bad, the more i talk about it the more i want it.......