Should I even think about buying this bike?

[jtascone]

Really need your honest opinions. I have an 03 Nomad1500 and have put 38000 miles on it over the last 5 years. It now has just under 48000 miles and still runs like new. While looking around on Craigslist, I happened across this 03 Nomad. I contacted the guy selling it. He said he has owned it for only 2 years and bought it off the original owner. He said the bike has been stored in a heated garage it's entire life and has been meticulously maintained. Oil changed since day one every 2500 miles, and said it runs perfect and needs absolutely nothing. He said the bike is completely stock and has been since day 1. Only kicker is, it has 92000 miles on it. I told him I was really looking for something with MUCH lower mileage and thanked him for his time. Well today I receiveda text from the guy and he said he really wants to find this a new home before winter so he doesn't want to store it. He offered if to me for$1800 and said he would deliver it. Am I crazy for even considering this? Or should I not let that kind of mileage scare me away for that price? Thoughts and opinions PLEASE!

[redjay]

I dont understand why you want to buy a bike the same year as yours but with higher mileage ?

[jtascone]

Well I originally inquired about it because this is actually the color combo I wanted when I bought my black Nomad. And the guy had a great price on it at $2800. I thought it would be great to have one of each of the colors they offered that year. And I could split my ride time between the two to keep miles down on both.Once I found out it had 92000 miles on it, my interest obviously faded. But when he texted me today offering it to me for $1800 it's really got me wondering if I can really even go wrong?

[Monkeyman]

The tins are probably worth $1800. Assuming the paint is in great condition, buy the bike, swap the tins (including the gas tank) and any misc items the "new" bike has that you don't (highway pegs, light bar, etc) and sell the "new" bike with your black tins for $1800. Other than some labor, you've just changed the color of your bike for free. Just a thought.

[DragonLady58]

What Monkeyman said! You could swap out tins, and ride the high mileage bike around town, and ride your other on long trips, swap them out when on vacation and traveling....
Let me just say this....When I first got into a Nomad, I had another 2001 that I picked up at a really great price. Had 92,000 miles on it, looked really good, ran great, was bone stock. Was building up the Big Bore 1500 that resided in my other 2001. She had 65,000.
Anyway, the high mileage bike, I tuned her up, changed fluids. 3 weeks later I rode her from S. Oklahoma to Sturgis for a week. Left there, rode back thru Ok. down to New Orleans. Then to Panama City, Fl. Then to Birmingham, Al. to visit family and friends.
Then back to Ok. Did not miss a beat....
Rode that bike for several years. put a ton of miles on here....probably about 25,000 during that 2 year period, countless trips to Houston to visit my brother. Then off to Fresno, then to L.A., then back.
Once I got the other 2001 with the heavily modded Big Bore Thunder 1500 running, I started rebuilding the hi mileage 2001, which had right at 130,000 miles on there.
Only things in that engine that was out of spec were the valve guides (puff of smoke when she started), rings were worn pretty good cause I normally cruised at 80-85mph on the long trips. The only mods I did to that bike before going all that way was to install 8" Drag Specialities pull back risers, with drag bars, braided lines, a solo seat, gutted the mufflers, K&N air cleaner element, crash bar chaps, and a custom cut SS radiator guard....
That in itself should be a testament to the 1500 Vulcans durability/reliability. And when I ride, I ride like I'm on a mission, year round.
These bikes are rugged, reliable IF you look them over and listen to all their noises regularly.
I still have that bike for parts....and I change out the tins, bars, pipes regularly every few years for a diff. look and feel so I don't get bored....

[Chuck A.]

I wouldnt send a dime to him with him offering to deliver at the lowered price. Make sure that the deal is real and in person. Pay when you hear it running and after testing the second gear out.

Have a coworker friend that just got burned on Ebay. He bought a truck from a woman 'veteran' that was about to deploy. $1600 dollars for a $4000 truck. I tried to tell him at that deal a local car lot would snatch that up in a hurry. For $600 more she would ship it to him here in Alabama from Oklahoma. I told him that was a scram! NO,,, he check it out. OK, right. Went to a store and got ebay cards at $200 a pop. $2200 worth. Sent them to her and the truck was sent the same day. NOT!, Ship a truck before payment recieved??? no truck yet! told him or reassured him it would be here by this passed Wednesday. All phone numbers and emails for her have been disconnected now. And the delivery service has no license or listing in the state of Ok.

[DragonLady58]

Originally Posted by Chuck A.

I wouldnt send a dime to him with him offering to deliver at the lowered price. Make sure that the deal is real and in person. Pay when you hear it running and after testing the second gear out.

Have a coworker friend that just got burned on Ebay. He bought a truck from a woman 'veteran' that was about to deploy. $1600 dollars for a $4000 truck. I tried to tell him at that deal a local car lot would snatch that up in a hurry. For $600 more she would ship it to him here in Alabama from Oklahoma. I told him that was a scram! NO,,, he check it out. OK, right. Went to a store and got ebay cards at $200 a pop. $2200 worth. Sent them to her and the truck was sent the same day. NOT!, Ship a truck before payment recieved??? no truck yet! told him or reassured him it would be here by this passed Wednesday. All phone numbers and emails for her have been disconnected now. And the delivery service has no license or listing in the state of Ok.

Yea, I've seen that one before Chuck....major fraking scam....it used to be all over Craigslist....

[andyvh1959]

I agree on changing out the tin and body work if you want a different color. Then sell the bike to break even. That said, an 03 with 92,000 miles is only just over 5,000 miles per year. If properly taken care of its not unreasonable for a bike that was actually ridden and enjoyed for many years. A lot of people think a motorcycle can get to 100,000 miles or much more. I know of many many bike with 100,000, 200,000 and MUCH more miles and they are still running strong. My 94 BMW has nearly 190,000 miles on it and could be ridden across the country right now.

With any CL purchase, cash only on site in presence of the item and seller. Otherwise its just too likely a scam. NEVER send payment for anything on CL. If the seller is legit and honorable they'll hold the item till you're there to see it and pay for it on the sale. Any payment sent before is likely never to be seen again, same for the item.

[BrokeAss]

"High mileage" is a relative term. For those in FL, AZ, TX, etc.. with a year round riding "season", 92k is low for the year. On the other hand, here in Ohio buyers consider a bike used up and worn out with 30k. I'm a flipper and found a great price on a VTX1300, but then saw it had like 110k on it. It was lady ridden, original owner, and they were from FL. The husband ASSURED me the bike was sound and ready for another 100k. It's a Honda, I believed him, but as a flipper I'd never be able to unload it on anyone here in Ohio.

[andyvh1959]

Yup, same up here in Wisconsin. I have seen older bikes wasted with less than 5,000 miles on them, and older solid bikes with 90,000+ miles on them. But its the 5K bike, cleaned up and running right the one that might sell after a lot more work.

My 03 1600 Classic shown in my avatar, I bought at 29,000 miles, sight unseen other than pictures and a short video of it running. It was 300 miles away but the deal was solid. I got to the seller, settled the cash, mounted the plate and rode it home. $1200.

[MAS Tequila]

Do what makes you happy.

Maybe you would have a blast playing with it, and learn a bit more.

If it runs acceptable and the transmission is solid, you can sell the engine for $1200-1500.

[degreaser]

an '03 Nomad delivered for $1800 ,,, are you going to buy it? Did you get it? so it has 92,000 miles, so lets say you ride that bike for another 3 years at 10,000 miles a year, so that's 30,000 div by $1800 so you get to ride that bike for 6 cents a mile, I think that's a pretty good deal

[jtascone]

Yes I'm getting it. Just waiting for the guy to call me with a date he can deliver it. I figure for that price I can't really lose.

[mick56]

Originally Posted by jtascone

Well I originally inquired about it because this is actually the color combo I wanted when I bought my black Nomad. And the guy had a great price on it at $2800. I thought it would be great to have one of each of the colors they offered that year. And I could split my ride time between the two to keep miles down on both.Once I found out it had 92000 miles on it, my interest obviously faded. But when he texted me today offering it to me for $1800 it's really got me wondering if I can really even go wrong?

Don't jump to conclusions. The poor bloke sounds like he is desperate for some cash. It could be any one of us, having to sell our most precious possessions, to put food on the table. Hard times are all around at the moment.

[sam]

what mick56 said that is were I am at with my 05 need it gone fast. iove my bike I got it new. it's posted in the for sale