How much?

[OTTer]

One of my son's friends friends is thinking of coming over to the dark side and getting a 1200 GS. He's looking at a 2005 in our local Honda dealership, 16,000 miles, 2 owners and no service history after 5,000 !!
I had a quick glance at it the other day and it looked clean but I wasn't aware he was interested at the time. I have offered to go back and have a proper look for him and although I am on my 4th GS(A) I'm no expert. The dealer is a friend of mine so should look after us and I have advised my sons mate to subscribe on here for the wealth of knowledge available etc.
So I guess the questions are apart from the obvious corrosion and final drive issues, as a quick guide rather than long list, what else should I/he be looking out for and what sort of price should he expect to pay?
Thanks fellas, be nice xx

 

[bisbee]

Any bling luggage etc ?

 

[JJH]

There are a few questions you could ask most importantly is it abs or not? Not beeing preferable. With such low mileage there are 1 or 2 things that might be waiting to bite you. The fuel pump controler beeing 1. Also fluids have they been changed gear box shaft and bevel. Also the brake fluid. Is the battery original? If the price is good go for it and give it to someone like Steptoe for a good going over. If the valve clearance has never been checked it's crucial to get them done. I would rather see a well maintained bike with mileage than a low mileage one with no history. The dealer is probly looking at it the other way low milage = big price. I would even change the altinator belt. Don't know about price but don't pay over the top. Jjh

 

[Wilsdorf]

Dependent on price, he would most likely be much better going for an 08/09 bike, or even a cheap twin cam - the older bikes at some dealers are looking far too expensive, and the new bikes are much much better IMHO, we have one of each GS, and there is little in it from 08 until the LC arrived - but the 08 bike is a big improvement, and much more enjoyable to ride.

Oh, and both our older bikes had to have very extensive gearbox etc. work carried out with a little over 20k miles, one were I was subjected to a catastrophic failure with the back end seizing up at around 80mph, fully loaded with passenger, luggage and tents on the motorway. So unless the dealer is throwing a decent, or BMW 12 month warranty, I'd definitely look elsewhere - the older abs are also a disaster, or at least a headache, waiting to happen.

 

[Bendy toy]

Look at the worst case scenario then work from there. Really bad problems are rare.

If a final drive needle roller goes titsup it wont just make the wheel wobbly. So as I could not afford low mileage, I went for an 08/09 because the final drive is stronger and the ABS is said to be more reliable. I thought the Mk2 gave best balance of cost to reliability.

 

[trainman]

One of my son's friends friends is thinking of coming over to the dark side and getting a 1200 GS. He's looking at a 2005 in our local Honda dealership, 16,000 miles, 2 owners and no service history after 5,000 !!
I had a quick glance at it the other day and it looked clean but I wasn't aware he was interested at the time. I have offered to go back and have a proper look for him and although I am on my 4th GS(A) I'm no expert. The dealer is a friend of mine so should look after us and I have advised my sons mate to subscribe on here for the wealth of knowledge available etc.
So I guess the questions are apart from the obvious corrosion and final drive issues, as a quick guide rather than long list, what else should I/he be looking out for and what sort of price should he expect to pay?
Thanks fellas, be nice xx

my ex 2006 GS, full luggage, non abs, 28k, is up with a local Jap main dealer at £5500, good time of year for a cheap price haggle, service issue may not bother me if bike looks like its been looked after (worst case its gone 11k on same oil), if tyres and pads are rough and/or dents and chips then walk away, check FD and suspension parts for movement too, if poss, and of course start it up from cold and have a good ride making sure the gears and all electrics do what they should