a bike from 2006 and just 1000 miles... bad? - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

zby · 06-05-2008, 01:45 PM

Hello,

I'm considering buying a bike (Suzuki M50) from 2006 which only has about 1000 miles on it. Which means the owner rode it very occasionally and mostly stored in his garage (in Los Angeles), and I don't think he took any special care about filling the tank up etc. Can the bike be actually bad from not riding (rusted inside)...? How badly? Or am I paranoid?

Thanks!

Zbyszek

DrBob · 06-05-2008, 01:47 PM

1000 miles in two years is light usage, but not light enough to cause any damage. If the bike was 4 or 5 years old I'd be worried about dry rot on the tires, hoses, etc, but as long as he had the first service done there is nothing wrong with it.

aeagles · 06-05-2008, 02:00 PM

I bought my '06 M50 last summer with 450 on the clock. no problems. I negotiated the 600 mile service in the deal.

falconfan260 · 06-05-2008, 05:05 PM

I would not worry, I just bought a 1998 V-Star with 3,500 miles on it. That's only 350 per year. As long as it is taken care of it should be fine.

DaveAlvarado · 06-05-2008, 06:31 PM

You've got 2 things going for you.

First, the M50 has fuel injection and only 2 cylinders, so if the fuel system is all gunked up it's unlikely to start or run very well. A proper M50 should start immediately and runs without anything that sounds like a Harley "lope". It should just go putt putt putt putt if the stock exhaust is on it.

Second, the way the tank is designed, the bottom of the tank is right by the fuel fill hole. Unless the tank is full, you should be able to see exposed metal easily in natural light through the fill cap. If you don't see rust, you're probably ok. Bring a flashlight if you want to check further. The metal should be silver in color, not brown or anything like that.

Edit: Basically the M50 is so reliable that if his doesn't look clean and rust-free or it has trouble starting or running, just pass on it and find another. My M50 has more than 11k miles on it and I bought her a year ago next weekend. She still starts and runs like she did new. Well actually, better than new, the engine runs stronger after about 3k-4k miles.

Fishpart · 06-08-2008, 07:44 AM

Sounds like if the price is right it's time to buy.

cycloptic1dr · 06-08-2008, 12:02 PM

i bought my '02 VZ800 with 200miles on it back in FEB '08. that is very very very low miles for that year of bike. just had dealer check it out and did oil change, coolant flush and new plugs before i started riding her.

wildwolf · 06-09-2008, 09:08 AM

6 year old bike with 200 miles on it? Did they buy it for a garage ornament or what?

06-05-2008, 01:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
zby Newbie Joined: Jun 2008 Bike: none right now Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 7	a bike from 2006 and just 1000 miles... bad? Hello, I'm considering buying a bike (Suzuki M50) from 2006 which only has about 1000 miles on it. Which means the owner rode it very occasionally and mostly stored in his garage (in Los Angeles), and I don't think he took any special care about filling the tank up etc. Can the bike be actually bad from not riding (rusted inside)...? How badly? Or am I paranoid? Thanks! Zbyszek

06-05-2008, 01:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
DrBob In The Zone Joined: May 2004 Bike: several Location: Decatur, GA Posts: 2,765	1000 miles in two years is light usage, but not light enough to cause any damage. If the bike was 4 or 5 years old I'd be worried about dry rot on the tires, hoses, etc, but as long as he had the first service done there is nothing wrong with it. __________________ Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die tomorrow. You MUST obey the pug dog!

06-05-2008, 02:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
aeagles Ditch Magnet Joined: Sep 2007 Bike: 2006 M50 Black Location: Sadsburyville, PA Posts: 179	I bought my '06 M50 last summer with 450 on the clock. no problems. I negotiated the 600 mile service in the deal. __________________ Not sure what some of the above words mean? Look them up in our online glossary. The older I get, the better I was.

06-05-2008, 06:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
DaveAlvarado TurtleWax Taster Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Ft. Worth, TX Posts: 591	You've got 2 things going for you. First, the M50 has fuel injection and only 2 cylinders, so if the fuel system is all gunked up it's unlikely to start or run very well. A proper M50 should start immediately and runs without anything that sounds like a Harley "lope". It should just go putt putt putt putt if the stock exhaust is on it. Second, the way the tank is designed, the bottom of the tank is right by the fuel fill hole. Unless the tank is full, you should be able to see exposed metal easily in natural light through the fill cap. If you don't see rust, you're probably ok. Bring a flashlight if you want to check further. The metal should be silver in color, not brown or anything like that. Edit: Basically the M50 is so reliable that if his doesn't look clean and rust-free or it has trouble starting or running, just pass on it and find another. My M50 has more than 11k miles on it and I bought her a year ago next weekend. She still starts and runs like she did new. Well actually, better than new, the engine runs stronger after about 3k-4k miles. __________________ Current Mods/Accessories: OEM short sissy bar, MC Enterprises engine guard, Mustang Vintage Wide Touring seat, Kuryakyn Dually Iso highway pegs + Longhorn mounts, Highway Hawk floorboards, Tsukayu Corner hard bags Last edited by DaveAlvarado; 06-05-2008 at 06:33 PM.

06-08-2008, 12:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
cycloptic1dr Ditch Magnet Joined: Feb 2008 Bike: '02 marauder vz800 Location: cedar rapids, IA Posts: 155	i bought my '02 VZ800 with 200miles on it back in FEB '08. that is very very very low miles for that year of bike. just had dealer check it out and did oil change, coolant flush and new plugs before i started riding her. __________________ GET TO THE CHOPPA!!!!!!!!

06-05-2008, 05:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
falconfan260 Where Am I ? Joined: May 2008 Posts: 36	I would not worry, I just bought a 1998 V-Star with 3,500 miles on it. That's only 350 per year. As long as it is taken care of it should be fine.

06-08-2008, 07:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
Fishpart Fourth gear and illegal Joined: Apr 2005 Bike: 2007 Harley Davidson Electa Glide Location: York, Pa Posts: 783	Sounds like if the price is right it's time to buy.

06-09-2008, 09:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
wildwolf Fourth gear and illegal Joined: Jan 2006 Bike: 1999 vs800 intruder Location: Delta Junction, AK Posts: 705	6 year old bike with 200 miles on it? Did they buy it for a garage ornament or what? __________________

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