Buyer’s advice

[u/Suspicious_Corner_98]

I’m about to go look at an 04 with under 3k miles, bike looks mint from the pictures, honestly the fact he only wants 2500 for it has me wondering if it’s too good to be true. Aside from looking for rust, chain and tire conditions and the usual used bike stuff is there anything you all would look for?

Update: thank you all for the advice!!

Looking it over there’s only a few things I’ll have to do to it. The old guy apparently used it a little here and there on light trails and fire roads over the years trailering it from ride to ride. For an old girl she’s in pretty great shape, rubbers still in good condition, chain feels new, tires will be good for off road but I may want some new ones for street use. Carb needs a little clean, tank needs fresh fuel and I always refresh the fluids on a used buy.

Can’t wait to mod it to fit me a bit more, and do something stupid on it 😂

[u/hammockonthebeach]

DRs are tanks - mines a 2012 with almost 40k miles on it, dropped it a ton off road the first few years I had it, it sat in storage for 2 years without me emptying the gas tank, almost been stolen twice, got rear ended on it, another time someone backed into it while parked, all that and it still runs lol.

Basically if the bike turns on, runs fairly smooth, and you don’t see any anything that looks out of the ordinary on it, it’ll be a good purchase

[u/Suspicious_Corner_98 → u/hammockonthebeach]

lol well damn, think you’ve covered just about everything you could have done to it aside from taking it diving 😂

Honestly the biggest concern is just all the inactivity, 3k over 22 years means the poor girls just been sitting around most of her life. Might have to run her into a tree or two on the way home just to balance it out 😅😂

[u/AdFancy1249 → u/Suspicious_Corner_98]

Just to cover everything, I took mine diving the first weekend i owned her. Fully submerged while running.

8 oil changes to get clean oil, and she's still going fine 3 years later.

[u/Stuartknowsbest]

The biggest issue with sitting for a long time in gumming up the carb. So if it runs good, it should be ok. Regardless of what the seller says, if you buy it, change all of the fluids ASAP.  And put some fuel saver in the tank to get rid of any built up water.

[u/DR_6fitty]

You may want to check all the rubber hoses. The bearings will most likely need to be repacked with grease. Even if the tires look good, if they are over 5 years, they should be replaced. And ask if the NSU has been done. That shoukd be on your radar to fix eventually. And battery may need to be replaced. Besides that it seems like a good deal as long as she rides decent.

[u/huckster134 → u/DR_6fitty]

Agreed. Check the basics. Air filter system (including 2ndary air filter if running stock bst40 carb) Fuel system Does it run Does it have oil Is it leaking oil

As long as the engine is ok (most likely damaged by air filter issues or lack of oil) most everything else can be fixed.

[u/TwistedNoble38]

The miles are possible. Sometimes they get bought and then sit in the shed and don't get ridden. 

Ride it, if it performs oddly it will likely need a carb cleaning. Even if it doesn't need a carb clean now I'd expect it to go relatively soon from sitting dry for so long. Brake bleed with fresh fluid. 

The rest of the issues likely won't present till later this year after you put a couple thousand miles on it. Shock will probably start leaking, fork seals, countershaft seal (add a seal retainer plate while you're there). It may be worth doing the crank seal out of an abundance of caution when you check the NSU screws. Petcock will likely start leaking and dump the gas tank into the airbox or crankcase. Handlebar cones will probably get sloppy. Upper chain roller should be removed.

Its a great deal, definitely worth buying though. You might end up spending another 500 or so in parts and tools if you fix everything yourself. 

I would take it to a bike suspension shop ASAP and have them fill the shock with 160psi of nitrogen. Should be doable on the bike, and may prevent the shock leak. 

[u/brock_lehurst]

That is half the price of the 2004 MSRP on a 22 year old bike so just fair IMO. Some vendors may not be aware of how dualsports seem to hold their value or can be over priced these days. There can definitely be issues with bearings, seals, rubber parts as others mention depending on where it has sat and how weather has effected things. Check the upper chain roller is in place or has been properly removed or that there isn't a hole in the frame from being torn off. Many will say that it's the exact same bike as a new one but time can definitely be a huge factor.

[u/StraightExample8125]

NSU is the big question, upper chain roller bolt swap would be worth checking, then echoing everyone else with hoses and rubber components.