Dear Lizette and Bill
Have you bought a GS yet? The one you describe sounds like a standard Paris-Dakar model with a few extra instruments. Prices for them in the UK are high (i just paid £4000 for an excellent 30,000 mile bike). They're cheaper in Europe, as they were one of the biggest selling models there.
If it is ex-police, the thing to look for would be an uprated alternator - the standard one is pants. Its essential if you plan to use extra power eating equipment like heated clothes and fog lamps. If the red charge lamp is flickering on at all when the engine is running, be suspicious - it may mean an alternator problem (the rotors die at about 30,000), or just a knackered battery.
The GS-PD is a solidly built go-anywhere machine. Two other things that go wrong with them are the dry joint in the shaft drive - which supposedly needs attention often in dry conditions, along with the gear-selector mechanism (yep, i got stuck in 4th on my second journey). Also, watch out for the side-stands - they are a little tricky to operate, and are often modified. With loads of luggage on the back they tend to topple forwards.
Hope that is some help.
Rob
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