Thinking about getting a 400.

[taijinian]

Hello all,

I am a current owner of GS500 who is entertaining the idea of switching to gsf400. I am trying to learn more about the bike including the current going price for them. For example, there is this specimen currently on craigslist.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/2906156488.html

Is it priced reasonably? Are the tanks hard to come by? What is the exhaust on that bike?

What in particular should be paid attention to when checking out a gsf400? Obviously, I will be doing a compression check, etc. But that goes for any vehicle. I wonder if 400s have some peculiarities that need to be watched out for.

Any tips are much appreciated,
Jenya

[Chris H]

Hi,
The front pipes are stock and it been cut off after the collector and some kind of after market rear has been fitted, looks quite nice.
The tanks are hard to come by as they rot out underneath.
Makesure it idles clean and revs smoothly as the small suzi's are prone to carb problems due to the o'rings drying out and leaking fuel causing rich running.
I'd take a good look at the head stock as the tank dent looks similar to what can happen after a head on hit, give you big balls!!!

[taijinian]

Thanks for the reply. If the tanks are hard to come by, then I may just have to wait until a nicer 400 pops up on craigslist. What about pricing? What is a going price on these bikes?

Jenya

[andrewsw]

B4's seem to get parted out with some regularity, it seems. DOn't know about tank availability.

'91 and '92 model years are preferable because '93s are slightly detuned (and personally, I prefer the white rims :))

Biggest problems, as already mentioned, are carb rings drying out. Not a huge deal, but once you crack into working on the carbs, it can be a pain. I'd be concerned about why it's being resold after only a year... Some reasons are valid and some aren't...

A

[andrewsw]

Note that there is at least one tank available on these forums right now... so, tanks clearly do come up...

A

[Squishy]

What o-rings are you guys talking about? I wanna check mine.

I went from GS500>GSF400, and must say its a good step. While from the same year and roughly same budget, the bandit 400 looks way newer and more expensive. The finish and detail is much better and less budgety. It has only a little more power but feels way faster due to the non-linear powercurve.. and it's so smooth at low revs.
Front suspension is less soft too.. but might be because of thicker oil i currently have.

[TJS]

Cafe your GS..... and take $1,100 cash to the guy. Be willing to walk away though. These bikes need good mechanical know how or a cheap mechanic friend for the carb work. If it starts from a cold start, idles nice after coming off choke, and rpm's return quickly to idle after a blip of the throttle, and you don't see or smell gas....buy it! These bikes are fun and don't come up for sale that often. That saying, if all that is good to go; then offer 1,200-1,300. You can still get a new tank from the dealer for like $800 or have the current on refurbished for ????depends on the metal work. My local dealer says his US wharehouse still has some.

[Craig806]

Ive got a tank for sale! check my part out post

[taijinian]

You can still get a new tank from the dealer for like $800

I am unlikely to pay $800 for a brand new tank. However, I may go check the bike out. When I buy a vehicle I always check engine compression. Is it easy to get to spark plugs on 400s?

Jenya

[andrewsw]

#1 yes
#2 sorta
#3 no
#4 yes.

#2 and #3 pretty much require pulling the tank and #3 is still a pain because of radiator hose, but doable. #1 and #4 can be pulled with the tank on, if you don't mind squeezing in the little gaps, and have the right spark plug wrench (I have one from the factory kit of a gs500, tubular hex thing with a rubber lining to hold the plug and has a hole through it to allow turning with a lever from outside the frame... how's that for a confusing explanation!! ;-)

[taijinian]

It isn't confusing at all and very helpful. So I may need to make it clear to the seller that I will be pulling the tank off to check the compression before I buy it. I really don't feel comfortable buying a used vehicle without as much as taking a look at spark plugs.

Thanks for the info.

[SS Adrenaline]

Hello all,

I am a current owner of GS500 who is entertaining the idea of switching to gsf400. I am trying to learn more about the bike including the current going price for them. For example, there is this specimen currently on craigslist.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/2906156488.html

Is it priced reasonably? Are the tanks hard to come by? What is the exhaust on that bike?

What in particular should be paid attention to when checking out a gsf400? Obviously, I will be doing a compression check, etc. But that goes for any vehicle. I wonder if 400s have some peculiarities that need to be watched out for.

Any tips are much appreciated,
Jenya

Im almost in the same vote as you are.  I also have a gs500. I want to get a gsf400 but still keep my gs.  I now have the hard task of finding one.  Im in canada and I think its going to be hard to get.  Is there any update from your last post?  Did you end up getting it?

[taijinian]

Nope, have not gotten that one.

[SS Adrenaline]

To bad it didnt work out.  I guess your search continues.  Good luck bro.

[taijinian]

Talked to this guy yesterday. He said the currently, the bike only idles when on the choke.  What could cause that?
http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/mcy/3012161491.html

I am thinking about going to check it out and measure the compression. What are gsf400's good compression?

Anything else I need to pay a particular attention to?