I wasn't in the market, REALLY! It was just a quick cruise through the madison CL after checking XS650.com, finishing morning chores, taking snows off mom in laws car. Kinda waiting for it to warm up and take survivor out for it's first real ride of the year. Then THIS shows up.
2002 Suzuki Bandit 1200s in near-perfect condition for sale. Always stored in a garage, never outside. Very low mileage, but will need carb cleaning (not currently running), new tires, maybe a battery. Asking $500 OBO. Please call with any questions or offers:***-***-****
I almost flagged it as spam and moved on. It had already been up for two hours.
but what the heck it's a local phone number, so I call. Guy sez I had one email but you are the first call, 70 miles away. I say I'll take it, be there in 2 hours, guy says fine. He said tried to run last year but gas ran out of air box. Just wants it out of garage. Title shows he's owned it 12 years put on 6,000 miles. His buddies all sold their bikes, he just quit riding. Perfect condition is a stretch but no more than typical 15 years of garage storage, minor dings. Zero electrics. Put it in fifth motor turns free, clean title, 28,000 miles. tires are goners. I hand him the money (at $500 I am NOT dickering) and load up,
The van is no longer a virgin.
Get it home, wife approves! We always play "what did you pay?" She's pretty darned good, knowing I'm REALLY not looking for more bikes, her first guess $800, when I point thumb down she says well YEAH!
Battery toast, go get a new one. $71. It cranks, starts, no funny noises but won't keep running, add gas to tank, crack the carb drains, run out some old rancid stuff. It immediately starts and runs just fine. Wife says HEY there's gas pouring out over here! Shut it down, it's a mix of gas and oil streaming out of the breather vent tube, saw the cap in the tool box. there's about 2 quarts of oily gas running down driveway. Put a pan under it ,dump oil, and remove filter. About two gallons come out of the 3 quart sump! Refill with fresh oil and fire it up, I am seriously fogging the neighborhood. Get on the gear and head around the block. about a mile of smoking, gradually tapering off. 4 mile country block and it's running good, no smoke. Gear up and put on 50 miles. Sweet bike, will do the clean up, check up, needed maintenance and order tires today. Clean, good running "modern" gentleman's express for less than 1K and about a day's labor all in. Grin!
https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/suzuki-bandit-1200s-road-test
2002 Suzuki Bandit 1200s in near-perfect condition for sale. Always stored in a garage, never outside. Very low mileage, but will need carb cleaning (not currently running), new tires, maybe a battery. Asking $500 OBO. Please call with any questions or offers:***-***-****
I almost flagged it as spam and moved on. It had already been up for two hours.
but what the heck it's a local phone number, so I call. Guy sez I had one email but you are the first call, 70 miles away. I say I'll take it, be there in 2 hours, guy says fine. He said tried to run last year but gas ran out of air box. Just wants it out of garage. Title shows he's owned it 12 years put on 6,000 miles. His buddies all sold their bikes, he just quit riding. Perfect condition is a stretch but no more than typical 15 years of garage storage, minor dings. Zero electrics. Put it in fifth motor turns free, clean title, 28,000 miles. tires are goners. I hand him the money (at $500 I am NOT dickering) and load up,
The van is no longer a virgin.
Get it home, wife approves! We always play "what did you pay?" She's pretty darned good, knowing I'm REALLY not looking for more bikes, her first guess $800, when I point thumb down she says well YEAH!
Battery toast, go get a new one. $71. It cranks, starts, no funny noises but won't keep running, add gas to tank, crack the carb drains, run out some old rancid stuff. It immediately starts and runs just fine. Wife says HEY there's gas pouring out over here! Shut it down, it's a mix of gas and oil streaming out of the breather vent tube, saw the cap in the tool box. there's about 2 quarts of oily gas running down driveway. Put a pan under it ,dump oil, and remove filter. About two gallons come out of the 3 quart sump! Refill with fresh oil and fire it up, I am seriously fogging the neighborhood. Get on the gear and head around the block. about a mile of smoking, gradually tapering off. 4 mile country block and it's running good, no smoke. Gear up and put on 50 miles. Sweet bike, will do the clean up, check up, needed maintenance and order tires today. Clean, good running "modern" gentleman's express for less than 1K and about a day's labor all in. Grin!
https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/suzuki-bandit-1200s-road-test
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