Find me a 250

[250learna]

Hey :spudwave: , im after zxr 250 or alike, am on a budget ($2500) but i mite be able to go up a few 100 for a nice specimen :niceone:

If you have anything like this drop me a line and we can go from there, i am willing to go up north if the bike and the price is right.

[Eddy]

Hey mate, welcome to KB :spudwave: . The best way to find a nice 250 is to just keep looking on trademe and get the trade & exchange on thursdays when it comes out so you dont miss out on the good deals. I just got a '92 ZXR250 for $1600 and its in fairly good condition, so theyre around all you gotta do is keep looking.

[Storm]

Welcome to the site mate. Do you have any mechanical knowledge regarding bikes? If not, I'd recommend having someone who does have a good look at any bike you are looking at buying. As Eddy says, theres some real bargains out there, but there are also some complete sh^tboxes that look good on the outside. Also, bludge test rides on as many bikes as you can to get a good feel for what suits you, and ask around if you have particular models in mind on this site and other places to see if the particular model has any weird habits, etc you should know about
Best of luck

[250learna]

thanks for the welcome :banana:
I have been on few bikes but mechanicaly I dont know much, but have a m8 who does and is happy to go around and have a look with me :2thumbsup

i have my sites on 1 on trademe 50k on the clock, its a 1989 new warant and reg with helmet and tank bag for 2800... thats over my budget as my overdraft can only stretch so much, but I have a nice brother who is willing to lend me a few bucks if im short :niceone: . Judging by the fact that everyone else is selling them for 4000+ im guessing this isnt too bad? :confused:

But a 92 for $1600? ...how did you get that? and where was I when this was going on? :spudwhat: :brick: :brick: :brick:

Any ways thanks again your words of wisdom are much apreciated

[Coyote]

I just got a '92 ZXR250 for $1600 and its in fairly good condition, so theyre around all you gotta do is keep looking.
Holy beegezus!!! $1600 for a fairly good condition ZXR?!?!?! Lucky, lucky bastard

As you can guess from my reaction, 250, ZXRs don't come cheap. Dealers tend to price gouge these bikes are they are the best bikes to get for your learners/restricted. No matter what condition, the tend to sell them for 5500, same goes for CBRs and FZRs

I thought I was lucky to get a low k CBR for 5500, but 1600?!?!?!

[Coyote]

Oh yeah, Wilkommen to the site :niceone:

[Eddy]

Holy beegezus!!! $1600 for a fairly good condition ZXR?!?!?! Lucky, lucky bastard

Its a good score aye :2thumbsup

Just needs a bit of work on the fuel system, only got 33,000km on the clock and its only got a couple of small scratches and a small crack thats been plastic welded. Rang up about it as soon as i saw it on trademe & got my old man to go check it out for me :banana: , the guy wanted $1800 but somehow he got him down to $1600 :done:

I paid $3000 for my 1990 zxr250 (the one thats in my profile) and that only had 36,000km on it, had it re-sprayed & polished the rims since i got it because it had some plastic welding on it.

[250learna]

so you guys think $2800 is a gud price for a 89 zxr250 with 52k on the clock? its got new warrant an aftermarket exhaust and comes with helmet and a tank bag but back tyre is a bit bold :spudwhat:

only catch is its in taranaki and im in wellington so id have to go up and if it looks like its bout to crap out then trip will be for nothing :confused: ...but then again if all goes well (as i've been assured it does) ill be riding home on my new best friend :banana:

if you see a better or similar deal can you please let me know as the guy wants to wait few more days to see if he gets a better deal :angry2:
Thanks

[Ghost Lemur]

Why not get the guy to drop it into a bike shop for a pre purchase inspection. You pay for it, but it'll tell you exactly what the condition of the bike is (more so than the fact it's got a wof).

[250learna]

Why not get the guy to drop it into a bike shop for a pre purchase inspection. You pay for it, but it'll tell you exactly what the condition of the bike is (more so than the fact it's got a wof).

hey thanks for the advice, makes sence.
what should i expect to pay for a shop to do a check (compression etc) and does anyone know a good bike shop in New Plymouth as im not from around there

I rung around and have been told that New Plymouth Motorcycle Centre are the guys to talk to as they are Kawasaki dealers? They said they will check whatever i like and it will cost $55 per hour

What kind of things should i ask them to check?
dont be shy, share your wisdom :niceone:

[Coyote]

What kind of things should i ask them to check?
dont be shy, share your wisdom :niceone:
I'm not wise, but I'll tell ya some basics

Make sure it has tyres

You would be lucky to get a bike that age without rust, but make sure it doesn't have really bad rust thats likely to get worse and fail your warrant in the near future. When I got the CBR, I had minor rust under the seat, but it's all good

Make sure the engine is working, thats a must, unless you want a restoration project

Make sure it is the bike advertised, when I was searching for 80 MXers, his was not always the case
Ask for the age of the tyres, if applicable


And if I think of anything more, I'll post it up soon

[250learna]

this is what i have been told

just been fully serviced
new plugs filter etc
4stroke 16 valve
mint condition
after market exhaust.
colour is red black grey.
great bike for a learner.
very economical on gas.
5 months warrent left
+hjc zf7 helmet
and tank bag
back tyre is a bit worn

have been sent a pxt of the bike but i cnt see much in it but can tell its a zxr250 and that its red gray black

the guy seems nice, i have emaild him asking him to take the bike to New Plymouth Motorcycle Centre as have been told by other shop in region that they will know most about kawasakis. said m willing to pay for the check which i think is fair. M waiting for reply if all goes well hopefully will have the bike in less than a week :banana: :banana: :banana: :2thumbsup

[Eddy]

The bike sounds good, very good idea to have a pre purchase inspection done. It should give you a good idea of the condition the motor is in. The only advice i can gve you is what my tutor at polytec told me & that is to listen for a low knocking sound coming from the engine when it is idling, if theres a knock then it will probably need the big end rebuilt in the next few thousand km's. thats just what i was told anyway. hope the bikes good, might see you crusing round welly sometime.

[250learna]

I need some help the check up was done today and they found the following

*Needs rare tyre
*needs rare breakpads
*rear calipers needs stripping
*chain needs cleaning and lubing
*front guard cracked on r/h side
*clips broken off c/r tail oanel on inside
*l/r front bottom fairing broken
*screw missing under front fairing
*screw missing bottom front centre panel
*front break leaver bent
*l/h mirror loose
*oil looks like it needs changing
*oil leek from l/h engine cover
*r/h foot peg bracked broken (cracked)
*Rear disc getting thin

Compression
#1 Cylinder 60psi
#2 Cylinder 60psi
#3 Cylinder 60psi
#4 Cylinder 60psi

*front brakes pulsate
*front end bent (triple clamp?)
*f/h handle bar bent
*batery needs acid and charging
*front sprocket and chain + chain needs adjusting

Remove rear seat & front seat
remove tank and side faring
carry out compression test
clean and refit plugs
reasamble all remaining parts back to bike
check and adjust tyre pressure
test ride

Note : motor seems good

8:30 to 11:30 $151.88 :confused:



Any thoughts, how much is the bike worth judgeing by the report?
Is there point even buying it? Are any ofthe above serious problems?
Help me guys I'm lost!?!!?

Ohh and is it just me or is that a bit expensive for a pre purchase test?

[Ixion]

I need some help the check up was done today and they found the following

*Needs rare tyre
*needs rare breakpads
*rear calipers needs stripping
*chain needs cleaning and lubing
*front guard cracked on r/h side
*clips broken off c/r tail oanel on inside
*l/r front bottom fairing broken
*screw missing under front fairing
*screw missing bottom front centre panel
*front break leaver bent
*l/h mirror loose
*oil looks like it needs changing
*oil leek from l/h engine cover
*r/h foot peg bracked broken (cracked)
*Rear disc getting thin
..

*front brakes pulsate
*front end bent (triple clamp?)
*f/h handle bar bent
*batery needs acid and charging
*front sprocket and chain + chain needs adjusting

Are any ofthe above serious problems?
Help me guys I'm lost!?!!?

Ohh and is it just me or is that a bit expensive for a pre purchase test?

I make no claims to expertise, other than 40 years experience. So my opinion is much as much or as little as you choose. Having said that:

Some of these are really quite minor faults. The shop has done a through check and picked up everything they could find. But it is a 15year old bike. There is going to be wear and tear. And things like tyres do wear out.

Loose mirror, missing screws, these are minor. Annoyances at most. The broken fairing, front guard etc you can see and judge for yourself.
You should assume on getting a full service immediately you buy any bike, so that will take care of the oil, battery, chain etc. But will cost I guess several hundred dollars

More of concern for you may be that it looks like there is some fairly expensive maintainence comming up. New tyre, pads and maybe a brake rotor (they're NOT cheap), and some other work.The oil leak may or may not mean anything. At 50000 km a few minor weepages are not a big issue. But a major leak might be. Only someone who knows the model real well could say whether leakage at the point is a Bad Thing.

But the worst in the report is the indication that it's had a crash. If the forks are bent that's *bad*. But, they do indicate that it may only be the triple clamp needs adjusting. Not such a big deal, but you still need to talk to the seller and have him tell you the truth about the crash. The front end misalignment, bent bars and lever, it's certainly been dropped, though maybe not badly. I guess maybe the cracked foot peg bracket could be knocked back on a WOF. Depends how bad the crack is, you can see and judge that for yourself.

End of the day, it's going to cost you a chunk of money not too far down the road (maybe up to $1000, though that may be pessimistic). But on the other hand running a motorcycle is never going to be cheap. You need to decide if your budget can handle it.

Personally I think that's a pretty reasonable list for a 15 year old, 50000+ km bike. But you need to bear in mind that it's not like buying a new one. Can your budget stretch to buying it and the maintainence needed? And will you find anything better ? I've seen a lot of 15 year old bikes that are in a LOT worse shape. Running old motorbikes, or old cars, is expensive, no mater what

Also it sounds like the motor is pretty sound (nice even compression readings, and they note it sounds OK). That's a pretty good start.

[250learna]

I got an email back and the guy recons the batery is new and the oil was changed 150km ago, he will let me have it for $2500

is that a fair price...keeping in mind all the things that need fixing and the kms on the clock and year?

[250learna]

Got it!! Yay now waiting for an after market back disc t ocome in as the back disc is not "getting thin" its fu%$d.