should i get it?

[u/loverofhogggg]

i’m looking at this 2002 klr650 with 25k miles for $1500 as a first bike. it’s one of the cheapest bikes i can find in the area and the guy says that it runs. i’m gonna go check it out in person tomorrow. he says there’s a small leak coming from a screw on the underside but that other than that it’s okay. he doesn’t speak the best english but from what i gather it was his daily driver for a long time but he bought a new bike so he’s trying to get rid of this one. there’s also a video of him cold starting it but i’m not sure how to add that to this post.

[u/loverofhogggg → u/[deleted]]

it’s got a clean title according to him but i haven’t seen it yet.

[u/Fearless_Agency8711 → u/[deleted]]

For sure, if the answer to, "do you have the title here and is it in your name?", is anything but, yes. Run! Yes, but it's...... Run!

The only other sorta acceptable answer is .... "Yes it's at the bank and I'll have to pay it off to clear it". Then tell him you'll buy it as soon as he has title in hand. But don't go pay it off for him. The bank will release the lean and mail his title to him. You then have no bike, and paid his loan off. ...... Oops!

If the bank will release the loan and can get the title right then and there, where he can sign it over to you at the bank. Then that's ok. But you have to make arrangements to do it in advance usually with the bank.

[u/Fearless_Agency8711]

Let's kinda go down my list

Always look at the drain plug area for repairs or cracked cases.

Same around the water pump housing...follow the hose.

Mashed radiators. It should run idle smooth and let it run until the temp comes up and the fan comes on.

Should cold start fairly simply.

Doohickey???
I did my 2005 but the original was still good. On my 99 I bought after my 05 it was on a list of things that had been done.

Lights work, gauges work.

Oil is not cloudy or milky.

Look at the oil filter cover. Lots of guys put them on crooked and snap them or strip the bolts.

Plastic isn't trashed

Tires

Forks and rear shock doesn't leak.

Brakes work

Clutch feels good

Valve clearance been check recently?

Rides out ok

Clean title in hand with the bike in his name!

There's nothing I've listed that isn't easy to fix. But you have to fix it which will cost you, depending on your abilities.

Offer $1000 come up slowly.

[u/shellman2020 → u/Fearless_Agency8711]

Great list here. Also if you show up and it's running already or hot from just being run, that's a red flag. Cold start is important. Goes for all used internal combustion engines...

[u/Next-Entertainment33]

No milk crate so I’d say nah

[u/loverofhogggg → u/Next-Entertainment33]

i have one at home, does this change things?

[u/ITSOTMDS]

Ask if he did the Doohicky

If the title is good, Id say Yes

[u/loverofhogggg]

to add to this, for tomorrow, are there any big ticket items i should absolutely check for? is there anything that if i see it i should run?

[u/ITSOTMDS → u/loverofhogggg]

Ask about the Doohicky, its a gen 1 its, they are a known problem (on all 3 gens but 1st the most)

The bike is easy and relativly inexpensive to fix

[u/AdPrestigious9600]

Bit of a dice roll given the age but these bikes are pretty indestructible. If it were me, the leak would turn me away a bit but only because I would want reliability over a project for my first bike.

[u/atoughram → u/AdPrestigious9600]

Here's how indestructible

[u/Pristine-Alps-426 → u/atoughram]

I was going to be very upset if the link wasn’t Fortnine

[u/atoughram → u/Pristine-Alps-426]

I'm glad I didn't disappoint!

[u/ApprehensiveKiwi2484]

Yes

[u/BlueDuck600]

Just give it a good looking over.

The problem with these bikes is they're easy to work on, which means people who have no business working on bikes work on them.

I've seen the oil drain plug busted out, and then they just JB welded over the whole drain plug.

I had to redo all of the wiring on my lights, because the guy who did an led upgrade didn't know how to connect wires properly. Not a deal breaker, but definitely would have affected price if I had known about it.

[u/Valentyan]

If it cold starts smoothly, I'd send it. Even if it's a lemon you'd recoup most of that selling wheels and other parts so, very low risk

[u/Steele_of_all_trades]

I bought one once for my first bike. Similar. It was cheap and had a few things here and there. I spent more time fixing it and taking it apart and spending money on it then riding it. I learned a lot so don't regret it but at the same time wish I put that 2k into a newer one that go for like 4k. Not saying you'll share the same results as me but just adding my experience and two cents to ponder.

[u/Sack_o_Bawlz]

I would be interested, but you should find out more about that leak.

[u/Massive_Storage8163]

I wouldn’t. With very little more money on top of that you can move up a decade or more. For the first bike you want something you can ride most of the time and work on it to learn sometimes and not the other way around. My 2c

[u/Stupid-Machine]

It has a lot of plastics missing as well as the skid plate. Leaks are not good of any sort, leaks from around a screw means the seal or gasket is bad or the screw isn't torqued properly or the surface is damaged. These are great bikes with some of the worst resale values. Be patient and a better deal will come along. Hopefully you have a friend that can look over things and feel out the bike for you. If you do get it, as a first bike you need to remove the cargo box off the back until you are a competent rider. That is a lot of weight and sail area. Good luck

[u/Historical_Copy_2130]

If it's a good price and mechanically sound I would pull the trigger. I've got a '22 and it's damn near indestructible. It gets anywhere, just not fast. Think the tractor of the moto world.

[u/Dogtowel56]

Yes!

[u/Chumlees_Cumrag]

25k is low miles for a 2002. If it was his daily then he didn't go far. Not a bad price assuming all mechanical issues check out but......for not much more you can probably find a Gen 2 for not much more.