$2000 for that bike in the is a fair price, you may be able to talk them down to $1500 (couldn't hurt to ask) but I wouldn't feel bad at all about paying $2000 for that bike. Also, I wouldn't be too worried about finding a more modern bike. If that one has been maintained as well as promised and you keep up the maintenance after you buy it it'll keep running for years. One of the things to look for on that bike is electronics, make sure all of the gauges work, there's no sign of arcing/burning around the connectors on the back of the fuse block, and that any previous owners haven't monkeyed around and replaced the stock wiring harness with lamp cords or romex, that sort of thing. Also, on the 83 listen for the cam chain slapping around while the engine is running. From time to time we hear about the spring on the tensioner getting weak and allowing some slop in the chain. Also make sure that the sight glasses on the front of the brake and clutch master cylinders are good and not beginning to dry rot and/or leak.
-Kyle On Thu, Jun 26, 2014 at 2:02 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > Rode when I was young (couple decades ago) and getting back into riding. > Took (and passed) the MSF BRC course, got my endorsement and was checking > out bike shops in the area. Found a good independent shop recommended by > some experienced riders, went there and chatted with the owner for half an > hour and while I was there noticed a super clean, low mileage (13k) Night > Hawk. The shop did all of the maintenance on the bike so the shop owner can > vouch that it was well maintained and regularly serviced. I casually asked > what an older bike like that would cost and he said $2000, which I'm > assuming is the starting point for negotiation and could be had for less. > After I got home, I found Paul's NH page, this group and the craigslist ad. > > http://evansville.craigslist.org/mcd/4481128963.html > > What kind of price should I be looking for? > > It had good, newer tires on it, no idea about the battery… what other > items and service should I be concerned with and ask about? Recent carb > cleaning and synchronization, brake pads, etc, the kinds of service items > that can lower or raise the price if they've recently been done? I'd rather > pay a little more for a bike that has had maintenance and service before > they become a problem. > > My plan is to just keep it for this season and get a more modern bike in > the off season, but I know I could end up just really liking the bike and > keeping it longer… especially if it doesn't nickel and dime me to death and > gives some miles in the seat with just gas, oil and tires for awhile. > > Thanks, > Bill > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
