Dave wrote on 05/19/14 at 03:33:34:


Yep. I bought a basket case, the guy was asking 600, I got it for 300 and sold enough parts off it to make a couple hundred.  But with trips to Fed-Ex, packing time, hours in post office lines etc. it wasn't worth it after all. Won't do it again.

I just bought a non working (Gunked up carb )1999 with a supertrapp installed and stock muffler came with it  a couple of weeks ago  with 1400 miles on it and I  believe I paid too much ($1700 CAD) .Cleaned the gunk out of the tank and its not rusted through but the carb was full of gunk and the float needle was seized .

It took a few hours to clean the carb and a few for the tank. I managed to get the float needle removed and cleaned up need to test it when my new carb float comes. If it leaks at the float needle I will spend 60 bucks to get a new needle and needle seat

I have spent approx $250 so far on it (battery , carb float, raptor petcock , filters , oil)  other than that the bike is in pretty good shape and wasn't left outside and shouldn't need anything else (Knock on wood) and if my GF doesn't want it I should be able to get $2500 here in Canada where everything is overpriced going by the prices on kijiji.
so I am only 50 dollars over my original budget so far not including the hours i have spent on it. i will worry about the cam tensioner and oil plug issues if it gets a few 1000 more miles on it (why hasn't Suzuki fixed the cam issue is beyond me .)

You should expect to do some carb/tank cleaning and possibly replace some carb parts such as the float and or float needle along with the other things you will  replace that could be dry rotted or rusted.  If you like doing the work yourself then its prob worth it & if you tell him about the issues you will have to fix I assume he will come down in price.

Dave wrote on 05/19/14 at 10:21:37:


Some guy in western Tn has ELEVEN Buell Blast used for rider training starting at $1500. Craigslist. Four colors all low mileage. 2005-2010s.  A good buy for Buell fans.  

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ec25d8d3df&view=fimg&th=14615a92696b76
3b&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ_NCcji1q5ABFiCtDux6WtDKAD0YK2fmgp4I
sWGtF9kvNPrCdE5cFXwK9P4Iay42v-bSfInDXDS5PC1AyvEFINiV8CXrIXxV9vxl55or_IlmM2P9Fs-C
0rNI5A&ats=1400559006963&rm=14615a92696b763b&zw&sz=w898-h485 86 $600 runs but on the fence about getting it still i have looked all over on Craigslist here in CA AND FOUND NOTHING FPR LESS THIN $1900.

william wrote on 05/19/14 at 21:27:41:


I watched craigslist for 3-4 months before I found either one of my bikes. Patience grasshopper. If you buy the 86,  you may be 3-4 months fixing it until you can ride it anyway.  

You are probably right, I think I will be patient, save some more money, and keep looking.

william wrote on 05/19/14 at 21:47:01:


Location might have a big influence on pricing.  The California bikes might just be more expensive then in other places.....and I am not sure you can buy one from out of state and bring it back to California.

I know that if I look at bikes in the Cincinnati Craigslist....they seem to be listed pretty high.  If I look at the surrounding Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville or Lexington the prices seem to be lower for the same year and condition.

A lot of folks don't know what their bikes are worth, and they just go to Craigslist and see what the others are asking to establish a price.  If you see one you like go ahead and contact them.....and start a dialog.  If the bike doesn't sell quickly they are likely to start lowering the price.  Don't lowball them in a way that might offend.....just let them know you are interested and would like to buy their bike.....but the price is just a bit more than you can spend.

Another option is for you to place a listing letting folks know you are interested....even in non-running project bikes.  If you find one that needs a little work....you might get a good deal.