1984 Yamaha FJ 1100 $3,500

Ellensburg, WA

” YAMAHA FJ 1100 17200 MILES, RUNS GREAT LOOKS EVEN BETTER JUST HAD $1200 TUNE UP CHAIN AND SPROCKETS, TIRES OK $3500 OBO.” Click the image or link above to contact the seller.

More Yamaha FJs may be for sale here.

Recent Model Suzuki GZ250 $2,000

Seattle (Queen Anne / Fremont), WA

“Great beginner bike - This is my first bike and I bought from a friend in Jan. and after 6 months I feel like I am ready to get something bigger. Just took the bike to Aurora Suzuki a couple of weeks ago and got new rubber and a full tune so it is ready for summer weather. The bike only has a little over 3k miles on it, it’s a great commuter or beginner bike. $2,000.”

…As a new motorcycle rider, you have quite a few good quarter-liter cruiser motorcyles to choose from. The Honda Rebel, of course; the Yamaha Virago 250 (my favorite of the class); and Suzuki’s GZ 250. The GZ here only has one cylinder, but its looks and styling are tops. New, these bikes go for $3,249 from a dealership, so you’re saving considerable coin with this used one. The owner/seller didn’t specify which year his/her Suzuki GZ 250 is, and the image shown in the craigslist ad (and here) is a stock Suzuki image. It’s a great beginner’s bike, it looks a little different than the Honda Rebel, and it’s priced very well.

Click the image or link above to contact the seller.

More Suzuki GZ 250s may be for sale here:

1983 Suzuki GS550L 4,000 Miles on OD $1,200

Kent, WA

SOLD

“1983 GS 550 L with only 4000 miles, never been layed down or in an accident, runs and drives excellant. New battery and chain, 6 speed tran., windshield and after market horns, no rust in gas tank, licensed untill 8/2008. This motorcycle gets very good gas milage. Paint like new not faded, owners manual. $1200. OBO”

…This isn’t perhaps the most exciting motorcycle on Craigslist, but with under 4k miles at twelve hundred bucks, you’ll have a hard time finding a better, more reliable deal. It’s got some good extras, too: large windscreen and passenger backrest.

Click the image / link to contact the seller.

1983 Suzuki GS1100 Streetfighter / Rat Bike $1,500

Burien, Seattle, WA

PRICE LOWERED

” 1983 GS1100GK stripped of all the hardbags and windscreen and remade into streetfighter/rat bike.

Fresh oil, filter and plugs today 4/26. Many recent items such as clutch, steel braided brake lines, tires, Electrex stator, carbs synced…much much more. Have a book full of receipts! 49k miles.

Custom touches such as dual headlight, bobbed front and rear fender, Yamaha coil over rear shocks, Vance and Hines 4 into 1 exhaust, dynojet jet kit (stage 1) superbike bend handle bars, bar end mirrors, flush mount turn signals… A little cold blooded but runs very good, a very cool bike. Primered flat black and wetsanded. $1,700.”

Click the image or link above to contact the owner.

Suzuki Bandit 400 $2,100

Seattle, WA

” suzuki bandit 400 good condition very fast, race exhaust sounds sweet $2100.”

…another Bandit was for sale about two weeks ago, but this one is priced less. Owner didn’t say what year it’s from, but they’re somewhat rare. click the image to contact the owner. Previous Suzuki Bandit 400 post is here.

1984 Suzuki GS1150ESE $4,500

Portland, OR

“1984 Suzuki GS1150ESE $4500. Wasco pistons .40 over. New starter; New Battery; Metzler comp. K tires; New chain and sprocket; New Brake pads; APE clutch; Fox Shock. Carbs synched and vales adjusted. Two exhaust systems Yoshimura and Gardine. $4,500.”

…The spring of my junior year of high school I became a motorcycle guy. I loved the things, and I knew then that I wanted to ride the rest of my days if I could. The only thing I liked about my Southern California environment was that I could ride unencumbered by the nasty elements.

One of the first magazines I subscribed to was Cycle magazine, and the May 1984 issue was nearly my first. In it was a somewhat controversial article titled The Radical Ends of Motorcycling, the author tried to pick a fight between Harley Davidson and their riders and the “technologically superior” Japanese sportbikes and their riders. This big bore Suzuki GS1150ESE was the biggest, baddest thing my young mind had ever seen in motorcycling, and boy did I find it hot. Expensive and totally out of reach for me for quite a few years, but that only stoked my fire for such a bike.

The Suzuki GS1150ESE is a highly collectible motorcycle, partly because it represents the pinnacle of the venerable GS line. They don’t come up for sale very often, so if you’re looking for one, a day spent going to Portland and back is a small price to pay.

1986 Suzuki GS550 ES Seattle eBay

“1986 SUZUKI GS550ES great condition-drive daily and used for trips-exceptionally low miles 6,762-just had carbs rebuilt,oil filter change,front brakes replaced,new air filter and valves adjusted about 700 miles ago -aftermarket dmp led signals and aftermarket flasher (no cut wires all retain stock connectors)-tires replaced approximately 2,000 miles ago-avon road riders front and rear parts i have taken off that it will come with chainguard,front and rear signals, rear reflectors, original flasher, do not have original rear fender”

It’s a gorgeous day here in the Pacific Northwest, it’s 75 degrees, and the sky isn’t just blue, it’s cobalt. The Craigslist motorcycle ads are pretty dry of interesting, affordable motorcycles for sale, so I found this gem listed on eBay.

…The Suzuki GS550ES kinda got buried in the Interceptor/Ninja/GSX avalanche of uber-sport bikes of the mid-80’s. This is a very low mileage example of a solid sportbike that today is better than 95% of the riders who will throw their leg over it. It has a few nicks here and there, but if you’re in the Seattle area and are in the market for a good vintage sport bike (i.e., you don’t want to take a loan out for a current model bike that looks like all the other current bikes) check this one out on eBay. I’d recommend visiting the bike before bidding, if you live in Seattle, unless you know all about this era GS.

1985 Suzuki Madura 700 GV700 $1,500

Maple Valley, WA

“runs great
new windshield
good mpg
tires in great shape”

…Here’s Suzuki’s very short lived answer to Honda’s Magna Dynasty of the mid ’80s. The Madura was available in this 700cc size and 1100cc. Just like the Magna, the Madura sported a v-four liquid cooled engine. If you like a Magna, but want something perhaps not exactly a Magna, talk to the owner to check out this 700 Madura.

2001 Suzuki GZ250 $1,750 - Ballard, Seattle, WA

” 7,600 miles, good condition. Great starter bike. I’m selling because I’m upgrading to a larger bike. $1,750″

…You won’t be a beginner for long if you start right. Heck, my second bike was a 250. What I like about the GZ250 is that it’s not a Rebel. Seriously, Rebels are everywhere. Try something a little different. The GZ has a really cool cruiser look to it, and this one sports a rare hunter green. With under 8k miles, it’s just broken in. New motorcyclists, especially height-challenged and younger folks, this is a great beginning motorcycle option. Click the image or link above to contact the owner.

1991 Suzuki Bandit GSF 400 $2,900 - West Seattle

“14.7K Miles. Very clean and rare bike, the pictures say it all. $2,900.”

…Here’s another what some may call beginner’s bike that is really a wolf in sheep’s clothing. You can have mega fun on this guy. Light, tight, built to carve corners. Don’t let the ’small’ 400cc engine size lull you to thinking it’s a step above a scooter. The Japanese love the 400 class of bike - FZR400s and Interceptor 400s were some damn fine motorcycles. It has a ridiculously high redline - 14,000 rpm. If I were 70 pounds less, I’d love to have a 400. From an excellent, thorough rider-written review:

“You have to rev the snot out of its little 4-cylinder engine, but when you do, it goes like stink.”

You skinny, little people get to have all the fun. Click the image link to contact the owner.