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/ManufacturersAnd 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).