Buying a bike as old as me... a good idea or bad?

[Andrejd]

Heya,
Im very very new to all this and am due to take my CBT a week tomorrow. I currently have an opportunity to buy a Suzuki gs 125 in pretty good condition. Ive read a bunch of forum posts about not buying chinese and all the rest so i decided on getting a recognised brand, and with the very nice price tag the guy is also throwing in a jacket, helmet, cover, alarm, etc etc all for under 600 quid. BUT my only worry is the bike is 1990, one year younger than me, with only 12,500 ish muiles on the clock, is this too old a bike to be looking at or a worthwile investment into my future biking?

Cheers!
Andre

[Ichy]

The number of owners is important, the higher the number the more risk of serious bodging.

Make sure you check the expensive consumables, tyres, chain and sprockets. If you are really unsure see if you can get an experienced biker to go with you to try it out and check all the important bits.

125s do hold their value due to the nature of the licencing in the UK.
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https://www.metacafe.com/watch/1972097/how_to_behave_on_a_forum/

[CaNsA]

2nd bike - Born in 1991
3rd bike - Born in 1995
4th bike - Born in 1991

No problem

[TheSmiler]

Both of my bikes that I've owned have been older than myself (86 and 89) being born in 91, it all comes down to the condition of the bike.

How the breaks are, no binding or sticking
Is the chain in good nick
Any damage to the bike
How much rust is on the bike
Are the tyres legal limit
When it was last serviced (Oil Change)

Bit of advice if you are buying private, tell the seller you want to have him start it from cold. Then when you get there have a feel of the exhaust pipes by putting a cloth on them. Might be making this up but it will show any starting problems if it's done from cold.

The gear given to you isn't bad however be weary on the helmet, personally I'd purchase new (although I did buy second hand when I didn't have the funds).

Overall have you got any pictures A picture can tell a thousand words.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[pits]

[Zen Dog]

Nobody has pointed out that GS125's are rubbish. I had a go on one and everything was incredibly vague, even compared to a CG125. Gearchanges, handling, brakes, the lot. Prepare to be bored, but then thats true of most 4-stroke 125's. On the upside, the one I rode did have a gear indicator.

Zen Dog
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Current - '94 VFR750FR (Dead), '00 VFR800FI, '11 600 Hornet - Previous - '11 CBF125, '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[alexlawriewoo...]

I'd be more concerned about using a no-history probably-not-fitting helmet. My bike's terrific once it starts, six years older than me.
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Yamaha RXS100 [returned to mate], 1982 Honda CM125 [stolen], 1982 Suzuki GS850G

[Andrejd]

Went to see it today and found a few new things- Its missing a mirror (an easy fix so not much of a problem) and engine sounds good (no rattles or shakes) but its not been serviced in 6 months, and the bike has had 18 owners in the last 23 years. Its a little rusty on the front and back suspension and it has one key and no paper work to back up the 12500 mileage... after reading your replys (thanks for the advice about the helmet too, it looks pretty battered so I think a new one will be needed for sure) I'm leaning toward leaving the whole lot despite the nice price tag, what do you guys think?
That said if most of this doesn't affect the bikes performance, I'm not too fussed with the cosmetics of it- I just want a no fuss, reliable bike that I can get to grips with for about a year before i upgrade and get something bigger (Boring sounds good! No stress!)
Cheers

Andre

[Andy_Pagin]

18 owners in 23 years suggests no-one had it for any other reason than to get through their tests, and I'll bet it only got 'serviced' when something broke.

Walk away.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Muscle Bike Rider]

Walk away, better bikes around for the money, that many owners I'd agree nobody kept it long enough to do any of the basic servicing a bike needs.
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Previously Known As A5tra_G
Old Bikes :2010 Kawasaki ER6 F & 2000 Honda VTR Firestorm
Current Bike : XJR1300