Topic: Decisions, decisions on potential project bike.

[Bailgang]

I've got the opportunity to pick up an 81 Suzuki gs1000 that's been apart for a long while. The story goes that the PO and taken the bike down to its frame and had everything professionally  repainted, everything meaning the frame, swingarm, tank, side covers and winjammer fairing but lost interest once all the painting was done and never put it back together. It sat disassembled for so long that the tri-trees are missing ..... and who knows what else which really wont be known till it's put back together. The only thing that hasn't been cleaned up or detailed is the engine which is still intact as well as the carbs. My friend who has it now got it from the family of the PO for free (PO died recently) but has absolutely no mechanical ability and has no clue what to do with it. He tried selling it on ebay for 1,200 OBO which I thought he was nuts and of course nobody even bothered to give him an offer. He was whining to me about wanting to get rid of it so I told him to sell it to me cheap, he thought about it for a sec and said $500.

If it were a 69 to 78 cb750 I might jump on it being all the paint and detail work has already been done and just needs put back together but my research has shown that most 80's bikes just don't hold their value as well as our beloved 750s do. It would be no problem finding another t-tree but being what all else is missing is still unknown and that could add up real quick. I don't like seeing a potentially good bike going to waste but I'm not sure on this one. Give me your thoughts on it.

[seanbarney41]

they are quality bikes to work on, handle better(although heavier) than a cb750, much more power, Mikuni carbs seem better to me too...do some research on what model gs1000 it is, I think there is a "g", a "e", "L"?...one of which is the ugly cruiser style which is hard to give away, sportier ones and standards seem to go for good money...
    If I were you, I'd find out what model it is...if its the cruiser? walk...if not waive $300 in his face and tell him it's really just a basket case after all. 

[Bailgang]

 Yeah I found out there are a few models of them and this one seems to be the cruiser model but not 100% sure. My friend is so unfamiliar with bikes that I had to go over there, look at the engine which was setting in a wheelbarrow to determine its size and then write the bikes vin# down so I could search and tell him what it was, he just knew it was a Suzuki. Another thing I'm not crazy about is the paint, the quality is excellent but the choice of custom colors ..... well lets just say silver and light purple doesn't fly with me.

[754]

If he balks at your offer tell him to run it thru ebay at 100 more, cause that will tell him what to do.
 Gotta remember get a bike cuz you want one of them, not just cuz it is there...

[Hannibal Smith]

 Gotta remember get a bike cuz you want one of them, not just cuz it is there...

That's for sure. I have passed on many bikes that I could have had for free or for a song. Never regretted it either.

[Bailgang]

There are too many unknowns going on because being it's been apart for so long it's almost a guarantee that more than just the t-trees are missing and it's those miscellaneous parts that can $20 and $30 you to death. That wouldn't be a problem if I actually liked the bike and planned to keep it but the only interest I have in this bike would be to assemble it with the hopes of quickly selling it. With that said I'm going to pass on it. Thanks for the input.