Did I F up? - passed on a 2003 sv650s for $1300…

After waiting months for a low mileage sv to pop up, I found one… 2003 sv650s. The owner was a young kid who I know flips bikes. He’s only owned it for about six or seven months and has put on under 1000 miles on it. The bike has 10,000 miles on it.

So I got there and the bike definitely had rust issues. The rear shock was rusty. The chain was very rusty and shot. The sprockets were a bit rusty, and the calipers and the caliper bolts looked a bit rusty as well. The rubber brake lines were noticeably cracking and looked like they were on the edge of busting at any moment. The tires definitely were shot as well. I almost didn’t feel safe taking it for a test ride. But I did and the motor seems to be good. It sounded good and It shifted smooth. I only got it to fifth gear, but the motor and clutch definitely seemed good from what I could tell. The forks were not oily and did not appear to be leaky, but the dust covers were definitely cracking. I also noticed the big thick rubber puck under the clip on handle bars was noticeably cracking as well.

After starting at 3000, I told him I had to pass due to all the replacement parts it would need. I kept telling him that my price would probably insult him, and he kept telling me to just give it to him… so I hit him with 1800, and he seemed fine. I test drove it, told him that I could barely turn the thing because of how warped and V shaped the front tire was, so I had to pass. He again encouraged me to give him any price. I threw out 1,300 thinking there was no way he’d take it, but he said sure. I am almost suspicious now about why he would accept such a crazy low offer.

After two hours of tire kicking, i told him I’d buy it. I tried loading it in my sienna mini van, but it wouldn’t fit. So I passed on it because I couldn’t fit the thing in my van.… it probably would have fit if I took the front fairing and windscreen off, but we ran out of time since he had to go to .

Did I fuck up?