1995 S2 Thunderbolt - Opinions, how much to pay?

[mikesundrop]

Hey everybody, new member. My company recently hired a new guy and in our introductory conversation the topic lead to my current daily rider, an SV650. Well, turns out he has an all original (tires and everything) 95 S2 Thunderbolt that has been sitting in his house on a carpet since new with less than 4k miles on it and he's willing to part with it.

I've been dead set on my next bike being an XB, Ideally an 12S, but this is a time capsule machine and there's no competition - he's not dying to sell it but he shares my admiration for Buells and wants it to go to a good home.

No discussion of price has been made so far. So, what does everybody think? KBB exc is $2395 and it will need new rubber, but I don't want to haggle with the guy as we'll be working together. Also, the HP ratings available online for the bike range from 65 to 101 - is there somewhere I can find reliable specs?

Sorry for the long post. Thanks.

 

[aaronbuell]

95 were pre-thunderstorm motors so it will have low hp numbers. The thunderstorm motors were rated 100+ at the crank. I payed 4600 for my 98 S3 about six years ago with 4500 miles on it.

 

[mikesundrop]

That's the thing, it seems like the 95 is more of an oddity than a great bike. Its value is owed to its scarcity.

I'll test ride it, that's what really matters. If I can only buy one Buell I gather it probably shouldn't be a 95 S2. I guess you can always put thunderstorm heads and cams and all on it, but by that time you could buy a decent XB.