Motorcycle repair?

I am looking around for a motorcycle to buy, but I don't know if I'm better off buying a newer one at a pretty hefty price, or an older one with "minor" problems. The one I've been looking at is a 86 Suzuki I think maybe 650cc? (forgive me for not knowing more) It looks good. The owner says "it leaks gas". What does that mean? I'm sure there are several things it could be. I have enough mechanically inclined family members that I'm thinking they could do the repairs, but I don't know what parts I'd need to look for, or how much they run. Yeah, any ideas, I'd appreaciate.