imagineer Posted July 16, 2015 Report Share Posted July 16, 2015 Any riders near NE Ohio looking for a fun toy? My Craigslist ad ---> 2002 Suzuki Bandit GSF1200 As much as I like riding this bike, my original intention was, when it was done, to sell it. Well it's done and I really need the shop space so this and a few other toys have to go. Since these pic were taken, the header got ceramic coated and I wrapped the pipes with titanium exhaust wrap. The CL pictures are new and show these changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan_c_F Posted July 16, 2015 Report Share Posted July 16, 2015 That's fuggin cooooool. GLWS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh1234 Posted July 16, 2015 Report Share Posted July 16, 2015 awesome looking bike, GLWS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted July 16, 2015 Report Share Posted July 16, 2015 I saw this beast up close. Very cool build. Runs great and sounds mean as hell with the little pipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imagineer Posted July 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Here’s a question for those out there who sell bikes on a regular basis…What am I doing wrong? I’ve had this 2002 Bandit 1200 on Craigslist for 12 days now and have had ZERO legitimate inquiries. Yes, I’m asking higher $$ for it, but haven’t even received one “would you take $#,### for it?” offer. http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/mcy/5125171874.html I buy and sell a lot on CL (mostly electric guitars on Cleveland and Columbus CL; over $5k/year) and almost never pay the asking price. When I have one for sale, at least half the people responding make a low ball offer (sometimes an insultingly low offer). I’ve also previously sold 2 motorcycles on CL, one in late summer and one in early spring. Each ad was on CL for less than a 24 hours before I was flooded with inquiries and had each bike sold (both for my asking price). So what about this Bandit is so unappealing? Is it that it’s been customized? Or that it’s a single seater. Are the pictures bad, or are there too many pictures?Is my ad too wordy? Really, I’m in no hurry to sell as this bike is a blast to ride, but I'm curious why there has been ZERO interest in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpoppa Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 The used bike market is really soft right now. The best time to sell is right before tax returns are sent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubba Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 My take? The summer is already starting to wane. Those looking for bikes for this season have mostly bought already. The other problem is that--while you've made some cool mods to the bike--most of the work (cosmetics) that you've done was done to please you and your sense of aesthetics. Unfortunately, unless you find a buyer that thinks exactly like you or just happens to have the same taste in bikes, what you're done is either meaningless or even detrimental to the majority of potential buyers and thus, your mods have severely limited your market size. If you don't have to sell and like the bike, hold on to it and ride it for the fall, store it for the winter, and then roll it out next spring in late March/early April. As Tpoppa mentioned, that's when spur-of-the-moment purchases of motorcycles with tax refund money burning a hole in the pocket usually takes place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 It's not a popular model. Most people on cl want either a Harley or a supersport. Most have never even heard of a bandit and see the air cooled motor and think 'slow piece of shit'. Most people are idiots and have no idea how great these bikes are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Wheeler Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Mods don't usually add value. The more a vehicle is modified, the less useful it is. A ten year old truck with a 6" lift and caged windows isn't the daily driver people are looking for. A specialized bike needs a specialized owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imagineer Posted July 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 All good input...Thanks. Bubba, you're spot on. I built, what I think is a drop dead sexy bike. Maybe I'm the only one with a taste for this look. Looks like I might have to suffer through riding this bike for the rest of the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubba Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 I built, what I think is a drop dead sexy bike. Maybe I'm the only one with a taste for this look. Nope. The Cafe/Bobber genre is still hot, at least here in Cincinnati; it'll sell to somebody who wants to have THAT look without the hassle of doing the work. You might think about posting it on some of the sites that are more oriented to the bobber/scooter/hipster (gawd, I hate that word!) crowd. Try posting on the AFJ site; there are few folks there that might be looking for a hooligan bike. Not MY cup o' tea....I'm old and enjoy the luxury of a front and rear fender and definitely NOT big on the loud pipe thing, but as a short-mileage-sunny-day scoot, it's prolly fine. I do like the old school look of finned jugs, carbs and the simplicity of air/oil cooling. GLWS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandit12 Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 I think the market has sucked for the last year or better so I haven't even posted my Bandit. My kids have their own bikes and the only time my was listed I was offered a completely rusted Dodge that needed the brakes and A/C fixed.It will just sit here and maybe I try to trade it for some guns or something. Good luck moving your bike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-bus Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 When I see a bike like this (very cool, btw), my first reaction is to wonder what's been "bubba'd" so-to-speak. When I don't know the builder, my first assumption is that it's been hacked by a backyard enthusiast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Cbus I looked this bike over and it's not a slop job. Builder is an engineer iirc and a bright guy. The welds on the rear cowl are nice and the paint work is good. If I didn't already have a b12 I'd probably buy this one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imagineer Posted July 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Thanks for the props Skull. I'm not a pro-welder or mechanic, but I try not to do crap work. It's a fair thing to be skeptical toward someone else's work and I don't take offense when someone tries to out "smart guy" me. As I mentioned before, I do a lot of buy/sell on CL, focusing on electric guitars (And no, I don't play; I just like building and working on them). Any time I read where a seller boast about upgrades or repairs they did, I am immediately skeptical that they screwed something up that will take time and $$ to fix. I just find this current CL situation confusing because the 2 bikes I've sold, a '05 Suzuki C50 and a '94 Katana 750 were nothing special or customized; just solid, good running bikes. Within an hour on CL, I was inundated with legitimate offers and inquiries for each. It was like a feeding frenzy. This time . . . nothing. I doubt it's the economy because I'm still flipping guitars quick enough, and doesn't matter if they're cheap replicas, custom builds or vintage. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Change your cl ad header to 'liter-class custom streetfighter' and see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imagineer Posted July 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Change your cl ad header to 'liter-class custom streetfighter' and see what happens. My wife suggested I add the word "Naked" to the ad title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-bus Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 The price looks pretty attractive. You did a nice job on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykill Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Bike looks great. Nice and clean. Mileage, the customization, and the fact it's not a popular bike is gonna make it tough. Imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imagineer Posted July 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Well, after lengthy introspection, I've decided I don't want to sell the Bandit. It's way too much fun. Now I've got the "first-world problem" of where I'm going to park a 3rd motorcycle? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan_c_F Posted July 31, 2015 Report Share Posted July 31, 2015 Build a complex system of hydraulic platforms in your driveway allowing subterranean motorcycle parking. It is the only hway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imagineer Posted July 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2015 That will be my plan B. So far, I've made space in the garage for the fat tire cruiser. Not the easiest thing to back in, but desperate times... In the workshop, I moved the lower shelf on of the workbenches to provide clearance to roll the bike lift underneath when not needed. I also made the wheel chock quick(er) release.I made a shelf to store the small mower above the big mover that freed up a parking space for the Bandit. In a week or so, I'll also build a fixed height riser table on casters for my Goldwing project bike. It's a long term project bike that can be rolled off to the side until I can get to it. It's a lucky thing I don;t sleep much... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted July 31, 2015 Report Share Posted July 31, 2015 So when you gonna ride that thang? Get a hold of me and we can go hoon around Wayne county and points south. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imagineer Posted July 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2015 Maybe, if I ever work normal people hours again. I'm still putting in 12-14 hour days, 6 days/week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted July 31, 2015 Report Share Posted July 31, 2015 Well cut that shit out! Or hire help....I happen to know a guy in search of gainful employment in industry with a solid background and education..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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