Im in a motorsickle pickle. My buddy is offering me a friends-only price of $1900 on his 99 road star 1600 with 95k miles on it, identical to this guy with the addition of a crash bar and highway pegs:
I've ridden and wrenched on the bike and it's a smooth operator and clean for the miles. I've got a completely chopped out hardtail Suzuki Savage and the road star would be be a good compliment for my garage. Here's the biggest problem:
I told myself the next bike is a Harley. I've only ever had the Savage and have never experienced the leaky, heavy, lopsided rumble of American Iron and God damnit do I want it bad. By summer's end I'll have the cash for an older sportster, but only if I don't buy this Road Star...
I told myself the next bike is a Harley and God damnit do I want it bad.
Sounds to me like you answered your own question! In my opinion, sure it may be a good deal for your buddies bike, but it sounds like you have been wanting a Harley and I think you should just hold out for what you truly desire.
Get what you want but keep your Savage, older bikes are notorious for being ornery bastards sometimes. People can bash Jap bikes all they want but they're usually ultra reliable. Don't get me wrong I love my bike and it hasn't let me down ever but stamp H-D on anything and the price goes up at least 50% or at least it seems like it.
I say get what you really want, but if you could make some money of the vstar than go for it. Maybe when that new MC show comes out people will be all amped up on bikes and you could ride it for a few months, sell it and pick up a bike in the cooler months..just my .02
Skip it. It's not exactly a screaming deal. With 95k, it'd be a bitch to resell (worse once it rolls over), and even being Japanese and presumably well-kept, it's got enough miles that expensive things can start to fail randomly. I'm sure somebody has one with twice that on it and absolutely no problems, but it's not a good bet, especially if it's not a bike you want to keep for a long period of time.
Seriously... You buy this "thing" and you are not going to be happy with it (by what You've said). I see these "things" on CL for sale everyday. I'm sorry but I don't see $1900.00 (w/95k miles) as a deal.
Like the past two pages of people said, pass on that shit. Get what you want, you'll be happy you did in the end. I do this kinda shit all the time. I save up for a part and right when I just have enough money, Something pops up in the classifieds I have to have because it's a sweet "deal" and set myself back another couple of months
I don't know how California works, but here in Philly, you'd have to find a real assbag to buy that thing for that kind of money. If you are willing to take on a project, that kind of money would buy an old Ironhead out here. It'd be rough, and might not run, but it would be HD.
If that is a screaming deal out there, ask yourself exactly how much fun it's going to be to chop that bike up, and then have it go tits-up and need some rebuilding. And where will those parts come from? And how much will they cost relative to what that bike's worth? Your Ironhead/Evo sporty will always be worth the few grand you paid for it if the bitch runs and rolls - and if she don't, you shouldn't have much problem finding the bits and pieces to make her do so.
It's your money, and your life, but I think you'd be hard-pressed to get anyone to tell you to pull the trigger on this deal.
Skip it. It's not exactly a screaming deal. With 95k, it'd be a bitch to resell (worse once it rolls over), and even being Japanese and presumably well-kept, it's got enough miles that expensive things can start to fail randomly. I'm sure somebody has one with twice that on it and absolutely no problems, but it's not a good bet, especially if it's not a bike you want to keep for a long period of time.
That Suzuki is a good scoot for hitting the highway if your looking for a reliable average Joe ride(no offence to Joe). You can get those things for under 2grand with less then 30grand on the clock.
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