Very excited to be checking out a savage tomorrow morning in Orange, CA.  The bike is a 2011 s40 with only 3000 miles.  It has a rebuilt carb and new battery.  This all leads me to believe that this guy bought the bike a while back, rode it a bit, then let it sit and fixed it up recently to sell it. He's asking $2700 so to me it seems like a steal.  I really just want to know the do's and dont's of motorcycle buying from craigslist. Thanks guys!

For what it is worth. I paid just under $4000 for my brand new 2014 S40.
I bought it in 2015.

Also, so many "unskilled" owners mess with their bikes which is obviously not good. Why was the carb rebuilt?
Locally I have seen practically brand new S40s, just a few hundred miles on them, for less than $3000.

Anyway, I advise a cautious approach especially on price. Good luck.

Blue book value for a 2011 S40 in my zip code is 2640. That's what a dealer would price an excellent condition, unmolested, completely stock example on his showroom floor.

The bike in the picture doesn't fall into that category. Modifications of unknown competence performed by the bikes owner lower the value substantially. The tires. if they are the originals, which they probably are since the bike has only 3000 miles on it, will need to be replaced. Even if the tread is not worn out, eight year old tires are not safe.

Even if the bike in the picture runs perfectly - which I'd be willing to be it doesn't - it's not worth anywhere near 2700 IMO.

It appears the last guy that looked at it "lost his lunch" on the pavement!

I am not all that up to date on California pricing - but in the Cincinnati area that is not a great price.....or a pristine bike.

The tank should be two tone color, the engine should be silver, it should have a front fender, the exhaust should be chrome.....this bike has been worked over in a very negative way.

It should look like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnZT6h-lyjc


Don't get in too big of a hurry.....shop around a bit and the right bike will come along.  It is not hard to find a nice Savage at a good price - you just need to look around for a couple of months.

Try using Tempest Search or Cycle Trader to look for a better bike.  It is much easier/cheaper to buy a good bike the first time.....than it is to buy a lemon and have to fix a bunch of problems.

I can't imagine having no fender. I get an occasional shot of sand in the throat even with one. If you decide you want one, that's expense.
The tank is not cool.
I think, even if it runs great,
I wouldn't want to be in it over 1800 or so.

If you need a fender let me know.

There is a really nice looking 2014 S40 with only 690 miles on craigslist EL Paso. The bike is located in Benson Arizona. The man wants $4000 OBO. I wouldn't mind betting it would go for a lot less.

Not too far from California.

The sad thing is......johahbronah has not signed back onto this site since he made his post, and he likely has not seen any of the "Good Advice" that we have offered.