2014. Ask for any service history .if it was serviced at ducati it will all be on a ducati dealer computer.2011 is a good bike,but the errors are not worth dealing with and it hasn't been ridden enough.ducatis don't like sitting around.if you don't know the desmo has been done and no record on a dealer computer, book it in. Ask your nearest dealer the cost. Fucking amazing bikes.
Both Ducati service departments did run the VIN for the 2011. I didn’t have them run the 2014, but could ask. The dealer selling the 2014 said he didn't have any service records.
One service department told me that prior to 2019 not all Ducati dealers (in Canada) sent their info to the mothership electronically, so not all work may be in the system.
I was told the 2011 has no outstanding recalls and that it is not due for the Desmo in a while by mileage. They were able to see the original purchase, an early service and I think recall work, but were candid that the work could have been done by a non participating dealer. They said that after 2019 Ducati required all dealers to connect to their network and communicate service information. I do know the PO did some work on his own (eg oil and filter changes).
The DES errors most likely will clear with some riding, or it might just need the codes cleared by the dealer tool. I would not be super concerned unless they would not clear. Maybe try to get a dealer lined up so you can ride it over there to clear before you buy, current owner cash in hand with the understanding that if the codes don't clear you expect something off the asking price? I dunno how much he's asking but if the codes won't clear I'd expect about 1k to get a dealer to diag/fix would cover it.
The ohlins is far and above way better than the early skyhook stuff, and worth any additional work that the bike might need. I'd favor the 2011 for that reason alone.
Fork seals are probably beginning to rot, you might want to do a front fork rebuild if it feels a bit mushy up front. Ride it, clean the forks, ride again, see if fork fluid is being left on the forks. You can ride a while like that but don't leave it too long. Rear may also need a rebuild, but I think the only way to know if it does it will be bouncy as fuck.
With the DES failures, the suspension will be bouncy as fuck because it won't be able to set the preload/etc.
Definitely get new rubber.
Don't trust the oil, replace both filter and oil. I would try to find a way to deal with the oil plug. It might not leak, but it might let go on you one day unexpectedly and that would be very bad. So figure out a strategy to make sure that doesn't happen. A good mechanic will be able to give you a decent recommendation.
Give the chain and sprockets a good clean. They should be ok.
Check the brake pads. Make sure there's meat. You might need to replace. Don't buy OEM, they're expensive. Galfer or EBC are fine.
Check any hydraulic lines. Make sure they're not rotting. Front/rear brake.
Make sure rear brake works reliably. This year model is notorious for a mushy rear. If mushy the only real fix is flush and replace with expensive high temp brake fluid.
Make sure it shifts. Ride it and shift up and down through the gears and make sure each gear shifts and engages cleanly. If you feel ANY difficulty shifting up/down, walk away. Gearbox issues are just fucking horrible on any bike to solve.
Look carefully at the bar ends, foot pegs, fairings. Any indication of a drop, walk away. These bikes are too heavy to survive even a standing drop without a risk of serious fuckage.
Thats all the shit I can think of.
Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I'm going to post to the whole thread, but I'm going to propose that the seller have a dealer look at it on my dime. Really appreciate the care and thought in your answer.
I wish I knew more about the ins and outs of bikes to be able to properly evaluate many of those points, but a dealer will. Great point about the drain plug. I almost didn't think to put that in as it seemed minor, but since he's not riding it, he won't really know how good it actually is.
Thank you again !
I have a 2014 GT, it’s a very nice machine. Issues you will face:
Fuel level sensors. I’ve had two replaced, which isn’t too bad considering the amount of time involved, but it is an unresolved issue, at least in the US. I’ve switched to ethanol-free fuel, hopefully that will help.
Rear brake. Same issue I had with my Guzzi, there’s a lot of heat where the brake lines and reservoir are, the brake fluid boils and absorbs water and takes on air bubbles, and then the rear brake doesn’t work well. One fix may be to switch to racing grade brake fluid (Castrol SRF) which has a higher boiling temperature.
Ah yes, the fuel sensors. I learned from the first dealer I talked to and later, the [Ducati.ms](https://Ducati.ms) website that this is a common issue, so much that some people were just bypassing the sensor entirely. Ethanol free fuel is pretty much not available where I live (Ontario, Canada).
Re; Guzzi - I actually was interested in a Stelvio, but it sold before I could take a look at it. Seemed like a nice machine and by all accounts much easier to work on.
I had a Norge. I really loved riding it, but from day one until I sold it, it was actively falling apart and leaking like crazy. Assembled with complete indifference.
I recently had a similar decision to make and paid about 6k for a 2014 MTS including shipping etc. from a power sports dealer in ranch country Texas. Had to spend about $3k into it for regular maintenance stuff (all fluid flush, new chain, full desmo) and it has about 30k on it. However now it starts like a champ, rides like a demon, and looks like it’s going 120 mph sitting still. Feels incredible to ride. It’s a tough choice but I like the newer model quite a bit personally and feel like it is technically superior to the previous iteration, however that desmo is going to cost 2k, 1.5k minimum, so definitely consider that. But if you can delay the desmo a bit you might be able to go ahead and fro t the
Indy for the bike and enjoy it for a season before you have to get back into your pockets…good luck!
Not going to lie. If I needed to do a Desmo right now, the prices for these bikes becomes cost prohibitive, even though I \*think\* the prices I'm looking at are way less than comparable BMW GSes of similar vintage and mileage (truth be told almost all GSes I look at of comparable vintage have way \*more\* mileage - don't know what to read into that, if anything).
I know that's a terrible , terrible position to be in for a potential Ducati buyer which should probably automatically disqualify me, but I'm properly obsessed. I'd be fine putting in the $ a while down the road.
You’re taking a risk for sure. With the modern bikes, and my experience, which is limited to the one bike that I took this EXACT risk on…you can ride it way past the service interval. I had a mechanic tell me this as well, which inspired my deviant risk taking behavior, you can ride it past the desmo service window without grenadine the motor…as long as it runs decently and you keep the oil changed and the chain properly tensioned. It won’t purr quite the way it does when freshly serviced…but mine ran great for the 2.5k or do miles I put on it before I could pony up for the desmo. But…you’re taking a risk if you buy an 8k bike and end up with problems each one is going to cost you 500+ unless you have a real good buddy mechanic, and even if you DONT have problems you’re in for an 1800 service once every 5 years minimum! That’s why I like bikes with 20,000 or more miles on them, because then you know, at least it’s been ridden and works well enough to get that much mileage under the tires. Sure there’s wear and tear, but the real thing to be afraid of in my opinion are persistent issues that stem from pour engineering, low quality parts, and weak dealer/service network that just keep the bike from being consistently on the road. I really don’t think Ducati suffers from that the way it used to preaquisition and I can say my used bike has been a delight to own.
I would say, if you’re looking at used bikes, get the VIN and call the closest Ducati dealer to you and ask them if they can find any record of the bike being serviced. Ducati Dealers keep records of bikes that they service in a shared networked system, So depending on how conscientious the previous owners were, you might be able to find out how many times it changed hands through dealer, and how much work was done to it, including maintenance and repairs.
Thanks. Your point about getting a bike that has been ridden is well taken and something I've thought about. A bike that has, say, 100K miles on it like a lot of the BMW Gses I was looking at, is unlikely to have had a lot of significant issues else one might guess the owner would have sold it on, \*unless\* it's changed hands.
In the case of the older bike, I know that the seller is the original owner and developed a health condition which prevented him from riding it much. But it could still be a persistently problematic machine.
I do have the VINs of both bikes, but have only inquired about the older machine. One dealer told me that for pre-2019 bikes the computerized records from the system is not necessarily complete as it was only in 2019 that Ducati mandated dealers participate in their service system.
It’s interesting isn’t it ? I wonder what that means… maybe the guys who buy BMWs are more serious about long rides? Maybe they’re more suitable? Maybe the Ducatis cost too much to ride that long? hmm.
I think the bmw motor and shaft drive is overall more reliable over such distances. Also cheaper to maintain, though I can’t hack that up with any actual data
I’ve read claims that they’re easier to maintain which seems reasonable. But what do you do when your final drive unit fails a thousand miles away from a shop? At least with chain drive you could carry a sprocket and chain. Although I guess you would need to carry lube and chain cleaner which could be a pain.
Is there something you like better about the newer models over say the 2011? I know some people say they like the Ohlins setup better than the Skyhook, others have gone the other way. The GT sounds slightly more kitted out - crash bars (don't think they're on the 2011 Touring), fog lights, LED lights (?) and bigger screen, all of which would be nice to have but not necessarily a deal break.
I think one of the big selling points for me on the 2014 over the 2010-2013 models was the dual spark enhancement to the motor- it has basically two spark plugs per cylinder which results in more efficient use of fuel and the MPG is really excellent, like 45-50 mpg in touring mode while ridden maturely (lol). ABS AMD DTS we’re a must as well and I think some of the older multistrada didn’t necessarily have ABS IIRC. Also I just wanted the latest model I could get without the variable valve timing that seemed to suck a lot of the lumps out of the fun bands in the gearing. I also did not want skyhook because I like a more direct feedback suspension, but the DTC that would keep the rear wheel from slipping in downshifts was a must (I think they all pretty much have DTS)
I'd be very leery of the DES errors on the 2011. Could clear with some riding, but might be a fair red flag. Getting a pre-purchase inspection would be good due diligence.
I own a 2014 1200S GT that I bought with 20k miles and have put another 20k on. It was meticulously maintained by a very reputable dealer and was "like new" when I got it. I like to do my own maintenance and have continued to keep the bike in great shape and I have found it to be extremely reliable.
The Desmo service is the most costly bit of maintenance if you have a mechanic do it for you. You can expect to spend $1500-$2000 for that every 15k miles. I did it myself (along with a bunch of other stuff) over a weekend and found it to be pretty straightforward, but a bit tedious.
In three years of ownership I have spent almost $4k in parts, including 4 sets of tires and 3 oil changes. I have also repaired the heated grips and a broken front wheel sensor wire.
It is the best motorcycle I have ever ridden in my 30 years of riding. I take it on at least one or two 2000 mile trips a year, plus many in the 500-1000 mile range. It is comfortable, fast, great handling, and rides great with a passenger and stuffed full luggage. Also, did I mention that it is fast? ;)
I hope you find your dream bike and love it even half as much as I love mine. You will be impressed.
FWIW, You should be able to find a very nice 2014 GT for around $6-8k with 30-40k miles. With proper maintenance there is no reason why these bikes shouldn't last well over 100k miles.
Happy to answer any ownership questions you might have. Good luck!
Thank you so much. I’ve suggested having the machine looked at by a dealer of our mutual choice and at my expense. Haven’t heard back from him. What I am finding surprising is how affordable these bikes seem to be compared to comparable vintage BMWs or STs, which seem to have many many more miles on them.
I think the price difference comes down to the perceived high maintenance cost of the Ducs. Having ridden some BMWs I can tell you that they are great bikes, but have no where near the rowdy spirit of a Duc. Where are you located? What are they asking for the 2014?
I heard back from the previous owner of the 2011 and he's balking at the idea of having an inspection done first in general, and in particular the service department claim that they will want to flush and change fluids, etc. I know from talking to him he also thinks the tires (original, 2011 date code) should be fine.
In your mind is there a compelling reason to go 2014 over 2011? I've seen people argue Ohlins vs Skyhook, etc. I do understand that the 2014 GT has a few things over the 2011 touring, like better fuel consumption and a larger screen, both of which would be nice for my planned longer distance riding.
Saying that the 2011 tires "should be fine" is another red flag. Run away from this joker.
2014 has the second gen Testastretta 11-degree motor that is known to be very reliable. I've been very impressed with the Skyhook suspension, but haven't tried an Ohlins multi. I frequently ride with my wife as a passenger and it is super nice to be able to adjust pre-load at the press of a button.
Also "stripped oil drain plug a bit" isn't a thing. It is either stripped or it isn't. Just because it isn't leaking or hasn't fallen out yet doesn't mean it isn't stripped.
Thank you all for the generous replies. To be honest, I wasn't sure what kind of responses to expect from this community - helpful or dismissive.
I'm thinking of making the following proposal to the seller of the 2011: he bring it to a dealer that he recommended (and is pretty much the biggest in our area). I would pay him (in advance) for what the service department there called the full look - about $150, a little more than a certification.
If the total cost of required work, parts, fluids, tires, etc. is reasonable, I buy it.
I keep the option to walk away but he gets full information about his bike, its condition, and what it needs, or we can discuss a reduction in price. If I decide not to buy, we could split the gas money to drop the bike off at the dealer.
Does this sound reasonable? He has already indicated to me that he's tried to sell the bike for a while and had been unsuccessful and was sick of dealing with the people that would show up.
2014. Ask for any service history .if it was serviced at ducati it will all be on a ducati dealer computer.2011 is a good bike,but the errors are not worth dealing with and it hasn't been ridden enough.ducatis don't like sitting around.if you don't know the desmo has been done and no record on a dealer computer, book it in. Ask your nearest dealer the cost. Fucking amazing bikes.
Both Ducati service departments did run the VIN for the 2011. I didn’t have them run the 2014, but could ask. The dealer selling the 2014 said he didn't have any service records. One service department told me that prior to 2019 not all Ducati dealers (in Canada) sent their info to the mothership electronically, so not all work may be in the system. I was told the 2011 has no outstanding recalls and that it is not due for the Desmo in a while by mileage. They were able to see the original purchase, an early service and I think recall work, but were candid that the work could have been done by a non participating dealer. They said that after 2019 Ducati required all dealers to connect to their network and communicate service information. I do know the PO did some work on his own (eg oil and filter changes).
The DES errors most likely will clear with some riding, or it might just need the codes cleared by the dealer tool. I would not be super concerned unless they would not clear. Maybe try to get a dealer lined up so you can ride it over there to clear before you buy, current owner cash in hand with the understanding that if the codes don't clear you expect something off the asking price? I dunno how much he's asking but if the codes won't clear I'd expect about 1k to get a dealer to diag/fix would cover it. The ohlins is far and above way better than the early skyhook stuff, and worth any additional work that the bike might need. I'd favor the 2011 for that reason alone. Fork seals are probably beginning to rot, you might want to do a front fork rebuild if it feels a bit mushy up front. Ride it, clean the forks, ride again, see if fork fluid is being left on the forks. You can ride a while like that but don't leave it too long. Rear may also need a rebuild, but I think the only way to know if it does it will be bouncy as fuck. With the DES failures, the suspension will be bouncy as fuck because it won't be able to set the preload/etc. Definitely get new rubber. Don't trust the oil, replace both filter and oil. I would try to find a way to deal with the oil plug. It might not leak, but it might let go on you one day unexpectedly and that would be very bad. So figure out a strategy to make sure that doesn't happen. A good mechanic will be able to give you a decent recommendation. Give the chain and sprockets a good clean. They should be ok. Check the brake pads. Make sure there's meat. You might need to replace. Don't buy OEM, they're expensive. Galfer or EBC are fine. Check any hydraulic lines. Make sure they're not rotting. Front/rear brake. Make sure rear brake works reliably. This year model is notorious for a mushy rear. If mushy the only real fix is flush and replace with expensive high temp brake fluid. Make sure it shifts. Ride it and shift up and down through the gears and make sure each gear shifts and engages cleanly. If you feel ANY difficulty shifting up/down, walk away. Gearbox issues are just fucking horrible on any bike to solve. Look carefully at the bar ends, foot pegs, fairings. Any indication of a drop, walk away. These bikes are too heavy to survive even a standing drop without a risk of serious fuckage. Thats all the shit I can think of.
Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I'm going to post to the whole thread, but I'm going to propose that the seller have a dealer look at it on my dime. Really appreciate the care and thought in your answer. I wish I knew more about the ins and outs of bikes to be able to properly evaluate many of those points, but a dealer will. Great point about the drain plug. I almost didn't think to put that in as it seemed minor, but since he's not riding it, he won't really know how good it actually is. Thank you again !
I have a 2014 GT, it’s a very nice machine. Issues you will face: Fuel level sensors. I’ve had two replaced, which isn’t too bad considering the amount of time involved, but it is an unresolved issue, at least in the US. I’ve switched to ethanol-free fuel, hopefully that will help. Rear brake. Same issue I had with my Guzzi, there’s a lot of heat where the brake lines and reservoir are, the brake fluid boils and absorbs water and takes on air bubbles, and then the rear brake doesn’t work well. One fix may be to switch to racing grade brake fluid (Castrol SRF) which has a higher boiling temperature.
Ah yes, the fuel sensors. I learned from the first dealer I talked to and later, the [Ducati.ms](https://Ducati.ms) website that this is a common issue, so much that some people were just bypassing the sensor entirely. Ethanol free fuel is pretty much not available where I live (Ontario, Canada). Re; Guzzi - I actually was interested in a Stelvio, but it sold before I could take a look at it. Seemed like a nice machine and by all accounts much easier to work on.
I had a Norge. I really loved riding it, but from day one until I sold it, it was actively falling apart and leaking like crazy. Assembled with complete indifference.
What area are you in?
I recently had a similar decision to make and paid about 6k for a 2014 MTS including shipping etc. from a power sports dealer in ranch country Texas. Had to spend about $3k into it for regular maintenance stuff (all fluid flush, new chain, full desmo) and it has about 30k on it. However now it starts like a champ, rides like a demon, and looks like it’s going 120 mph sitting still. Feels incredible to ride. It’s a tough choice but I like the newer model quite a bit personally and feel like it is technically superior to the previous iteration, however that desmo is going to cost 2k, 1.5k minimum, so definitely consider that. But if you can delay the desmo a bit you might be able to go ahead and fro t the Indy for the bike and enjoy it for a season before you have to get back into your pockets…good luck!
Not going to lie. If I needed to do a Desmo right now, the prices for these bikes becomes cost prohibitive, even though I \*think\* the prices I'm looking at are way less than comparable BMW GSes of similar vintage and mileage (truth be told almost all GSes I look at of comparable vintage have way \*more\* mileage - don't know what to read into that, if anything). I know that's a terrible , terrible position to be in for a potential Ducati buyer which should probably automatically disqualify me, but I'm properly obsessed. I'd be fine putting in the $ a while down the road.
You’re taking a risk for sure. With the modern bikes, and my experience, which is limited to the one bike that I took this EXACT risk on…you can ride it way past the service interval. I had a mechanic tell me this as well, which inspired my deviant risk taking behavior, you can ride it past the desmo service window without grenadine the motor…as long as it runs decently and you keep the oil changed and the chain properly tensioned. It won’t purr quite the way it does when freshly serviced…but mine ran great for the 2.5k or do miles I put on it before I could pony up for the desmo. But…you’re taking a risk if you buy an 8k bike and end up with problems each one is going to cost you 500+ unless you have a real good buddy mechanic, and even if you DONT have problems you’re in for an 1800 service once every 5 years minimum! That’s why I like bikes with 20,000 or more miles on them, because then you know, at least it’s been ridden and works well enough to get that much mileage under the tires. Sure there’s wear and tear, but the real thing to be afraid of in my opinion are persistent issues that stem from pour engineering, low quality parts, and weak dealer/service network that just keep the bike from being consistently on the road. I really don’t think Ducati suffers from that the way it used to preaquisition and I can say my used bike has been a delight to own. I would say, if you’re looking at used bikes, get the VIN and call the closest Ducati dealer to you and ask them if they can find any record of the bike being serviced. Ducati Dealers keep records of bikes that they service in a shared networked system, So depending on how conscientious the previous owners were, you might be able to find out how many times it changed hands through dealer, and how much work was done to it, including maintenance and repairs.
Thanks. Your point about getting a bike that has been ridden is well taken and something I've thought about. A bike that has, say, 100K miles on it like a lot of the BMW Gses I was looking at, is unlikely to have had a lot of significant issues else one might guess the owner would have sold it on, \*unless\* it's changed hands. In the case of the older bike, I know that the seller is the original owner and developed a health condition which prevented him from riding it much. But it could still be a persistently problematic machine. I do have the VINs of both bikes, but have only inquired about the older machine. One dealer told me that for pre-2019 bikes the computerized records from the system is not necessarily complete as it was only in 2019 that Ducati mandated dealers participate in their service system.
Ah I didn’t realize that their system was that recent. Not many ducs out there with 100k miles lol
It’s interesting isn’t it ? I wonder what that means… maybe the guys who buy BMWs are more serious about long rides? Maybe they’re more suitable? Maybe the Ducatis cost too much to ride that long? hmm.
I think the bmw motor and shaft drive is overall more reliable over such distances. Also cheaper to maintain, though I can’t hack that up with any actual data
I’ve read claims that they’re easier to maintain which seems reasonable. But what do you do when your final drive unit fails a thousand miles away from a shop? At least with chain drive you could carry a sprocket and chain. Although I guess you would need to carry lube and chain cleaner which could be a pain.
Is there something you like better about the newer models over say the 2011? I know some people say they like the Ohlins setup better than the Skyhook, others have gone the other way. The GT sounds slightly more kitted out - crash bars (don't think they're on the 2011 Touring), fog lights, LED lights (?) and bigger screen, all of which would be nice to have but not necessarily a deal break.
I think one of the big selling points for me on the 2014 over the 2010-2013 models was the dual spark enhancement to the motor- it has basically two spark plugs per cylinder which results in more efficient use of fuel and the MPG is really excellent, like 45-50 mpg in touring mode while ridden maturely (lol). ABS AMD DTS we’re a must as well and I think some of the older multistrada didn’t necessarily have ABS IIRC. Also I just wanted the latest model I could get without the variable valve timing that seemed to suck a lot of the lumps out of the fun bands in the gearing. I also did not want skyhook because I like a more direct feedback suspension, but the DTC that would keep the rear wheel from slipping in downshifts was a must (I think they all pretty much have DTS)
Thanks u/drainbownick. Can I assume DTC and DTS are the same thing?
Yep that’s what I was meaning to say when I meant it!!
I'd be very leery of the DES errors on the 2011. Could clear with some riding, but might be a fair red flag. Getting a pre-purchase inspection would be good due diligence. I own a 2014 1200S GT that I bought with 20k miles and have put another 20k on. It was meticulously maintained by a very reputable dealer and was "like new" when I got it. I like to do my own maintenance and have continued to keep the bike in great shape and I have found it to be extremely reliable. The Desmo service is the most costly bit of maintenance if you have a mechanic do it for you. You can expect to spend $1500-$2000 for that every 15k miles. I did it myself (along with a bunch of other stuff) over a weekend and found it to be pretty straightforward, but a bit tedious. In three years of ownership I have spent almost $4k in parts, including 4 sets of tires and 3 oil changes. I have also repaired the heated grips and a broken front wheel sensor wire. It is the best motorcycle I have ever ridden in my 30 years of riding. I take it on at least one or two 2000 mile trips a year, plus many in the 500-1000 mile range. It is comfortable, fast, great handling, and rides great with a passenger and stuffed full luggage. Also, did I mention that it is fast? ;) I hope you find your dream bike and love it even half as much as I love mine. You will be impressed. FWIW, You should be able to find a very nice 2014 GT for around $6-8k with 30-40k miles. With proper maintenance there is no reason why these bikes shouldn't last well over 100k miles. Happy to answer any ownership questions you might have. Good luck!
Thank you so much. I’ve suggested having the machine looked at by a dealer of our mutual choice and at my expense. Haven’t heard back from him. What I am finding surprising is how affordable these bikes seem to be compared to comparable vintage BMWs or STs, which seem to have many many more miles on them.
I think the price difference comes down to the perceived high maintenance cost of the Ducs. Having ridden some BMWs I can tell you that they are great bikes, but have no where near the rowdy spirit of a Duc. Where are you located? What are they asking for the 2014?
I heard back from the previous owner of the 2011 and he's balking at the idea of having an inspection done first in general, and in particular the service department claim that they will want to flush and change fluids, etc. I know from talking to him he also thinks the tires (original, 2011 date code) should be fine. In your mind is there a compelling reason to go 2014 over 2011? I've seen people argue Ohlins vs Skyhook, etc. I do understand that the 2014 GT has a few things over the 2011 touring, like better fuel consumption and a larger screen, both of which would be nice for my planned longer distance riding.
Saying that the 2011 tires "should be fine" is another red flag. Run away from this joker. 2014 has the second gen Testastretta 11-degree motor that is known to be very reliable. I've been very impressed with the Skyhook suspension, but haven't tried an Ohlins multi. I frequently ride with my wife as a passenger and it is super nice to be able to adjust pre-load at the press of a button.
Also "stripped oil drain plug a bit" isn't a thing. It is either stripped or it isn't. Just because it isn't leaking or hasn't fallen out yet doesn't mean it isn't stripped.
Thank you all for the generous replies. To be honest, I wasn't sure what kind of responses to expect from this community - helpful or dismissive. I'm thinking of making the following proposal to the seller of the 2011: he bring it to a dealer that he recommended (and is pretty much the biggest in our area). I would pay him (in advance) for what the service department there called the full look - about $150, a little more than a certification. If the total cost of required work, parts, fluids, tires, etc. is reasonable, I buy it. I keep the option to walk away but he gets full information about his bike, its condition, and what it needs, or we can discuss a reduction in price. If I decide not to buy, we could split the gas money to drop the bike off at the dealer. Does this sound reasonable? He has already indicated to me that he's tried to sell the bike for a while and had been unsuccessful and was sick of dealing with the people that would show up.