Cafe Bike $2,300

[7470racer]

I know I may get some flack for posting here, but hoping you may know of someone interested and not getting much movement from CL. Short story version: 1982 Suzuki GS650; 9,100 mi, clean Mass title from previous owner, I never registered; Runs/ shifts A1, fun to ride. This is not your run of the mill clubman bars/ rattle can flat black everything resto-mod. I have a laundry list of mods and new components, but also very stock for reliability. PM or reply to posting for more info or to take a look. $2,300 b/o, cash is king and very motivated. Need the cash for other ventures.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

Why would you get flack? That's a lovely clean bike.

[Sheppo]

Nice ride

[jwm2k3]

Wirelessly posted

Why would you get flack? That's a lovely clean bike.

Agreed.

[7470racer]

Thanks for the good words. I know these Café bikes aren't for everyone but hope you all find I've done a tasteful build. I've tried the usual genre specific forums, but most of these people are around the country and coming to Mass from Oregon for a $2,000 bike is not likely.

Now, any takers???? I do not want to E-Bay this thing. I've never sold anything this big on there and can only imagine between the fees and E-bay trolls bidding, it is a hassle- no?

[jbmass]

Nice looking, glws

[lord1234]

Try http://www.thegsresources.com

[Rossco]

That bike is amazing! GLWS!

[breakdirt916]

only flack you would've gotten, is if you omitted the price

but it's there...so no flack!

[xxaarraa]

Beautiful, good luck with sale!

[jwm2k3]

Ya, just chill, someone form here (local) will step up, its def cool. Its tax return time so it will happen sooner or later. I do honestly believe there are enthusiasts of this type of bike here...mostly us older riders trying to re-capture a bit of danger-youth fun stuff!

Id love to have it but my wife would cut my balls off.

[DynoTune]

nice job, looks slick.... price is fair as well... someone buy this!

[7470racer]

Try http://www.thegsresources.com

It's there. Just a lot of - "cool bike", from guys in Canada. No offers, nothing.

I'm trying to be patient. Put up for sale over two weeks ago including CL, lots of compliments, only one low-ball offer. I just thought the price, time of year and what it is, it would have generated more buying interest. And the fact, I do need to sell it sooner rather than later.

[oVTo]

Beautiful bike. I'm definitely lusting for it, but I'd be a victim of spousicide if I bought a bike a right now. GLWS.

[OreoGaborio]

We BETTER not give you no flack, jack!

Sportbike after sportbike can get boring after a while. This thing's cool.

[7470racer]

Last bump for a while. Can't figure it out. A CB550 "Café" with less mods and in my opinion not as much bike as this, has a much higher market value? Weird.

[virtualbong]

That would be fun to take to work each day.

I suggest posting your list of mods to show how much you have put into it.

Or you can PM me your bottom line and I may possibly take it off your hands.

[Slyder]

Now, any takers???? I do not want to E-Bay this thing. I've never sold anything this big on there and can only imagine between the fees and E-bay trolls bidding, it is a hassle- no?

I sold my last two GSX-R's on ebay. Craigslist and the douche-baggery there is more of a hassle than ebay was, both times. I also got jerked around pretty good by some local idiots when I ran an ad in the paper where I use to live.

It's been a few years, so I'm not sure what the fees would be like. I have a feeling someone else might know, or you could find out easy enough with a little research. They weren't bad last I knew...and my last GSX-R sold for a bit over $5k. The only annoyance with ebay is the "will you ship the bike" questions. I've also had one or two ask if I'd end the auction early if they promised to buy it. Ignore those trolls.

It's worth a try, and if it doesn't sell it only costs a couple bucks.

[Tunertype]

I haven't had any luck on EBAY. "SOLD" two bikes on ebay, but the buyer never paid. Not a huge deal, but a bit of an annoyance. Then I sold them on CL without much problem. Free to list unless you add some features and fee if sold is $60 under 2k $125 over 2K so it's not like they would take 5% of your $50,000 bike sale it's a flat fee.


Ya just gotta find the right buyer for a custom project. It can be hard cause they have to have the exact same taste as you for the bike to be worth double to triple it's book value. You really shouldn't expect to sell any vehicle for a reasonable price in less than two weeks. The only way you get a quick sale is with a really low price. Otherwise you have to wait for the right customer.

[boosten lebaron]

I can give you some advise since i flip old universal jap bikes in my spare time.
First up its a beautiful bike. Looks like its done right. Not to far gone from the original bike. Still with plenty of meat on it for the new owner to customize if they wanted to.
My recommendation to get it sold is to adjust your price. I know its not what you want to hear but thats whats stopping it from selling. The smaller gs bikes are dead last in terms of desirability from the cafe/resto/ujb bike crowd. I sell hondas at twice the price of gs's even though i prefer a nice gs over a honda. You cant really compare the 2 in terms of price. The honda will always win simply because its a honda and no other reason.
Ive probably sold a dozen cafe bikes in the last 2 years and i found a few tricks to selling. The price really cant go above $2k in this area. They just dont sell easily unless its a honda and even then they go up to about $3k. Its a little harder selling a nice bike to believe it or not. Youll get people saying they wished it was painted a different color or had different bars. Stupid things to be sure but thats why i find it easier to sell cleanish original bikes, Its easier to sell it to the dreamer and they can build it how they want.
Ive also found it much better to stage the cafe bikes in pics. Get 1 or 2 nice clean photos in a nice area (I use a beach or if its a ratty bike a junk yard, yours should be the beach or along side a diner) then do some black and whites or odd angle pics. I dont know why it sells quicker that way but it does. My usually cafe buyers are hipsters or old men. I think the odd photos grab them. MY original ujb ones almost always go to guys in there 20's looking for a build. They dont want one thats already done so they get the regular pics showing the bike.
I know its a killer but id probably price your bike at around $17-1800. From the pics it looks like a great clean bike and id probably try to ask more for it too but in my heart i know id settle in a lower range. Sometimes it worth it to just keep it and ride.
Id start on craigslist like youve already done and i would place it in the boston and hartford ct listings. Almost everyone of my bikes sales comes from those 2 cities. Its harder to sell cafe bikes out in the woods and alot harder to sell the smaller cc (>200) out in the woods as well. The city people dont care about power or speed, they just want to cruise around.
Looking at it i kinda wish i had the money to offer you for it. Sadly i just built a hondamatic for my wife and its taking up my extra space. GLWS.

[FAST GSXR750]

Wow that's nice! On facebook try Northeast Cafe' Racers Convergence you can friend that group for free and post it there. Also try Ct Rockers its a cafe' club down in Cromwell Ct with no fees to post i think. Good Luck.

[7470racer]

I knew I could count on you guys to talk some sense into me. I have an upcoming vacation (also what I needed the $$ for). I'll re-evaluate when I get back if not gone by then. You're right, I was thinking while this isn't a Honda, the bike is right and worth the money. Reality may be to adjust my expectations. I just can't accept the guy that offered "$800 cash, I can pick up Tuesday".

The list of mods is lengthy. Besides, seeing in person is the best gauge of what has been done.

I also have an 1990 FZR1000 I am selling. Just ran through E-Ghay and not even close to what I need or worth. Cost me $15 w/ reserve. I also have this bike on there. Another $15. Multiple "what is your reserve" questions, nice bike!, nothing really indicated anyone was ever serious - never got close. Never doing this again.

[boosten lebaron]

it can be tough to sell an older bike.
The fzr maybe a tough sell too. The fact that its a 1000 will help get you more money but its not a bike most people search for. itll be more like i have x amount of dollars and i want the biggest bike i can find. Much like the gs i think the fzr is a really nice bike. i wish i could get rid of one of my extras to pick up one of yours.

[tsorfas]

FZR 600 or 400 would be easier to sell than 1000.

[Tunertype]

I knew I could count on you guys to talk some sense into me. I have an upcoming vacation (also what I needed the $$ for). I'll re-evaluate when I get back if not gone by then. You're right, I was thinking while this isn't a Honda, the bike is right and worth the money. Reality may be to adjust my expectations. I just can't accept the guy that offered "$800 cash, I can pick up Tuesday".

The list of mods is lengthy. Besides, seeing in person is the best gauge of what has been done.

I also have an 1990 FZR1000 I am selling. Just ran through E-Ghay and not even close to what I need or worth. Cost me $15 w/ reserve. I also have this bike on there. Another $15. Multiple "what is your reserve" questions, nice bike!, nothing really indicated anyone was ever serious - never got close. Never doing this again.

Just don't do a reserve. If it's a real nice bike you can put it at a low starting price and get whatever comes to you. If it's probably not going to generate the interest start it at the lowest you would take for it and take what happens. Then it's $0 to list. Reserve is stupid anyways. Why would you bid on something when you don't even know what the seller wants for it? I never bid on a reserve auction unless the reserve has been met and I know I'm not wasting my time with some rediculous reserve. Plus when you list for free it doesn't matter if you get no bids because it doesn't cost you anything unless it's sold. So list on ebay at $1900 or whatever your bottom dollar is and if it generates interest and gets bids you'll get more if not at least you'll get your minimum or not pay any fees.

Also a good strategy on CL. Don't list a high price with negotiations in mind. Maybe list a price that is $100 over your firm minimum and alot more people will call you. If you list too high all you get is low ballers that will offer you like $800, but if you list at the right price you can usually find someone who will pay just about asking. You can also start high and drop it $100/week until it starts generating interest without much low balling. If you really have no idea what the market will pay for it.