First bike? 1996, 90k miles, $1200 with gas

[E-Rock]

Hi folks! I’m new here, looking to buy my first motorcycle. I checked out the new owner posts and saw some great info on what to check on a used bike.
I’m going to a shop tomorrow that has a very well used (90k miles) voyager 12 for $1200.
Is this as much of a no brainer great deal as i’m thinking? The bike runs and everything that i was able to check (lights, stereo) works. Even if it takes something like a full rebuild, that would only set me back another few K and still cheaper than most other used bikes.

My dad’s a more seasoned motorcyclist and he says 30 years and 90k miles is too old, dry rot will have taken all the gaskets and seals hidden around this bike and i’ll be taking it to the shop every week to fix something.

Thoughts? This bike looks incredible. I only need it to take me to the beach and back (20 minutes, 35mph) and maybe pick up girls.

[Nails]

A 750lb bike is not your best first bike.

No, it isn't a super great deal, just typical for these bikes. $1200 is basically in the disposable bike range. The best thing about these bikes is that they offer a lot of value for not much coin. Lots of these bikes go well longer than 90K.

My first question would be "what's wrong with it?" If anything serious pops up right away, you have some grounds to make a fuss with the dealer. Otherwise, if it starts and goes, then ride it home. Maybe you'll end up beating it with big sticks and rocks and pushing it into the ocean. Or maybe it'll run fine until you kill yourself on it. No way to know.

Cull silly thoughts about full rebuilds -- not worth it. Save that few K and buy another bike. Maybe another one of these. Or maybe a more appropriate bike, even right now, like pretty-much any mid-size street bike.

I have a friend in the northeast, and I occasionally check prices. You live in a target-rich buyer's market. No need to rush.