Buying a bike - things to check for? (GPZ 500)

[Snorty]

So I'm going to (hopefully) buy a bike tomorrow.

I was just wondering is there anything someone like me (not exactly mechanical minded but I know some basic stuff) can look out for?

I.e. what kind of things should I walk away from or question

Any help appreciated, cheers.

[moppy]

Ask how old the tyres are, when fluids were last changed, has it been standing for long, and plenty more questions of that vein. I had a good site for this somewhere, will try and find out.

But in general ask questions about things you want to know the answers for.

[serlant]

the easiest thing to check when buying from someone unknown is that its stone cold when you get there, if not I would be asking questions. as for the list of what to look out for, how longs a piece of string? main things I would check are brakes, suspension, making sure the engine doesn't make odd noises and starts fine from stone cold. easiest way would be to take it around the block going through all the gears checking the brakes and suspension and making sure it rides ok. tyres can be replaced easily, same with brake fluid etc, suspension and brake components and engine internals not so much.

Edit, the type of person the seller is may also indicate something, if you turn up and they guy is well spoken and dressed and polite, and the place is tidy and he looks the type to take care of things i'd expect the bike to be in better condition and if i turned up he walked out of a council flat in trackies and greeted me with ere 'bey.
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04 CBR1000RR, 1995 Husqvarna TE410, 1998 VTR1000(Sold), 1990 XJ600(sold), 1996 KH125(dead and sold)

[whitedevil]

https://www.ex-500.com/wiki/index.php/Buying_a_Used_EX-500


https://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html
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GPZ500 sold ~ CBR600FS-2 sold ~ ZX6R sold ~ Street Triple R

[Snorty]

Well I bought it...

Was cold when I got there. felt the engine all cold.

Started up on the button, sounded great.

Got it home in a hire van, what an effort that was, sat in the back holding it when going round bends.

Took it down the road... wow it's fast! Faster than the ER5s I've been learning on... hard to believe it's just 10hp difference, it felt like it literally took my breath!

[dextersaurus]

GPZ500s are fantastic first bikes

Enjoy!

Get some pics up

Dunc

[Snorty]

[Snorty]

Oops this upload thing is confusing

[Snorty]

[dextersaurus]

Ahh the older model.

Keep an eye on the flywheel, the older models when they get some decent miles on them tend to shed some magnets and throw them about off the flywheel. The newer ones bolt straight on, apparently.

16" wheels are interesting too, but a nice bike!

Looks like a decent model. What year? how many miles? HOW MUCH £££?

Dunc

[Snorty]

£400 t&t 22k on clock seems a good deal to me. Apparently camchain has been replaced so hoping magnets already done.

So much faster than I was expecting, v happy