Hi, I'm new and this is my first post.

I need some advice.

I have found a 2005 Sportster 1200cc that a guy just does't have time for. He has let this bike sit for about 4 months and just rust. (bike is at the beach) Well the other day I made an offer to buy it and we agreed on a price. So last weekend we were going to meet up and look the bike over and ride it some. Well the guy didn't show up untill late Sunday (last weekend). We tried to start the bike but it would not start. We did have a charger on the battery but im still not 100% sure the battery was strong enough to crank, but it did turn over.

Now another problem. I live about 2 hours away from the bike and the owner lives about an hour away from where the bike is. So neither one of us has had time to find the problem yet.

The guy works like 15 hours a day and he is in school. So he doesnt have time to mess with the bike or me for that matter and I'm pissed because I have already got a loan to buy this bike and I have bought a new helmet. So I have money invested already.

So this weekend I am trying to get the guy to leave the key with me so I can work on the bike. Im not sure he will leave the key, so then it is pointless for me to work on the bike because I don't know what ever I did will make the bike crank.

List of things I want to do, that I didn't have time to do last weekend.

1. I think the gas might be old. It has sit for at least 4 months but the gas is older than that.
2. check the fuses
3. check the air filter
4. check for spark
5. Try to drain the gas and add new gas. (float bowl I think)
6. put in a new battery

Now, If I do all of this, I will be putting my time and money into a bike that isn't even mine yet.

1. So, do I just offer the guy less money and take the bike home and hope there is nothing major wrong.

2. Or do I have the guy work on the bike himself, which will take forever

3. Forget this bike and not buy one. (this is the only one I can afford)

The bike is 2005 with 2,300 miles and I was going to pay $4,200

Please advise.
Thanks

 

tell him you will give him $3700 to take the problem off his hands.

 

$4200 for an 05 Sportster with 2300 miles?? Good price. Did you check to make sure the engine kill switch was turned to run?? I know, silly question, but it has happened. Did you pull the choke out?? How many times did you try to crank it? Does it have a security system? To many variables for me to try to guess.....

I am sure someone smarter than me can give you some good advise.........

 

I agree, offer less, get a trailer, take the bike and get it running again yourself if you want it that bad.

Or, look for one in better shape that you can afford.

 

Payless and tow it home. If he don't take your offer keep shoppin

[IMG]local://upfiles/57922/233D168E62434C9FBC327654096AE768.jpg[/IMG]

 

I had a similar problem with my bike when I bought it. It was described a "runs great" Well I drove 3 hours to meet up with the guy, when I get there, the bike is sitting in the back of his garage buried and covered up. He then tells me that the bike has not been started in two years. I ask him "I thought you said the bike runs good" in which he replies "well it did two years ago" So we get it out a cranked until the battery went dead and he has no charger. So I told the guy that I would absolutly not buy a bike that I could not hear run. So what we ended up doing was he knocked $500 off the price and I had him write me a written guarantee that there was no major problems with the bike (motor or trans). I took the bike home and had it running in 10 minutes, but it did need the carb cleaned. But now the bike runs flawlessly. I would tell him to knock the price down and it is sold. That is an extremely good price already for an 05 though. It is a risk, but with only 2300 miles I'm sure it just need some tlc. Hope this helps. Good luck

 

Be brave, offer him $3.200, he will agree to $3.500, bring a gallon of gas and spark plugs, change both, it will go. Carpe Dieam

 

I agree offer less and bring it home, then work on your bike.

 

Thanks for your help.

I was thinking about offering less money, but I just don't want to have a bike with major problems. But it is only a 2005 with 2,300 mils so I don't know if really anything could be that wrong with it.

Yes, the start switch was on. We tried to start with the choke in and out. I could smell gas but it didn't seem to have that fresh gas smell. I didnt see any oil or gas leaking.

The motor did turn over, but did not even try to start. So that is why im think it's gas or spark.

I have read the water in the tank will all go to the botton of the tank and float bowl. So I was going to loosen the float bowl drain screw and try to get the gas out. Also I was going to drain the tank and add new gas.

Another question. After looking on the oil dipstick there was oil at the very bottom of the stick (lower than the low mark) but it says to check oil when hot. So will the oil rise on the stick or will more go into the motor and be lower on the stick?

The owner said he just had the 1500 service done, but I think about half the things he has said is full of crap.

 

Add 7. New spark plugs.

But I would wait and do them at home. No since fixing it for him, fix it for you. I had the same thing with an 83 Yamaha 650 Maxim. Drained the carbs, installed new plugs. Scared the crap out of me when it started, wasn't expecting it to. Price is up to you, if you think it's too high for the shape it's in, offer lower. If you are not willing to pay full price now, don't ok full price if he declines your lower offer.