What "Jon" said. A thousand bucks cash, and you'll have the bike, almost guaranteed. If you can do some of the work yourself, you can save some cash on getting it going. Considering what it needs, the guy should be happy to get $1000 for a 17 year old bike that needs work. See what he says.
If I may offer some unsolicited advice, if you have not already done so, sign up for a MSC/MSF course in your area. You'll learn to ride properly in a safe environment, from trained instructors. It'll greatly improve your odds of surviving on the street.
Good luck.