Big wussy bleat about dirt bike prices

[Padmei]

OK I'm tight as a tight thing - I own a KLR

Having a fling on the KDX200 the other week & reading marks' diaries on adv rider made me very keen on buying a small dirtbike.
I keep rooting my back picking up Gonzo & know if I had a smaller bike to throw around on the knarly bits I really wouldn't fall off so much- it's true -once Gonzo starts going it's bloody hard to correct the weight.
Anyway on with the bleat.
Looking at bikes - XRs KLX/KX DR basically anything 250ccish or under, not road registerable got no probs doing a bit of work on them.
C1990 bikes around $1500-1800 - What??!! they're 20yrs old & most would have been ridden around the clock. Parts prices & availability??
Looked at a shitheap IT175 rough as guts & they wanted $1000ono

Whats going on here?
Apart from the obvious that I've got to HTFU etc etc what do you guys think?

[Eddieb]

Owning an old BMW airhead and being of Scottish descent I'm only marginally less tight than you.

I had the same thoughts from reading the same things and have been looking up here and have found the same thing. Vehicles be they cars or bikes seem to have a rock bottom price point below which they just don't go unless it's a pile of scrap metal. For dirt bikes that price point seems to a lot more than you would expect given the age and condition of the bikes.

[pampa]

Interesting I bought for that reason a Kt 300 exc 2 stroke '02 (or was it '03) in average condition (or worse) ... and price would seem to me more reasonable considering bike and age than ones you mention ... and its orange!

It is road registrable if I were keen on putting $ ... and has most of road bits (missing horn)

So it seems Eddie is on the money here ...

[Padmei]

Owning an old BMW airhead and being of Scottish descent I'm only marginally less tight than you.

I had the same thoughts from reading the same things and have been looking up here and have found the same thing. Vehicles be they cars or bikes seem to have a rock bottom price point below which they just don't go unless it's a pile of scrap metal. For dirt bikes that price point seems to a lot more than you would expect given the age and condition of the bikes.


You don't know how happy I am to hear that Eddie. i thought it was only me.
I also wonder if they're like old surfboards/ guitars/ embalmed ex girlfriends who wanted to break it off with you, stored in the back of the garage - you never want to get rid of them just in case you find the time & or motivation to get back into them again.

[Ender EnZed]

I also wonder if they're like old surfboards/ guitars/ embalmed ex girlfriends who wanted to break it off with you, stored in the back of the garage - you never want to get rid of them just in case you find the time & or motivation to get back into them again.

You may well be onto something there. I have a couple of old dirt bikes sitting in the back of the garage that I would put on TradeMe for way more than they're worth if I was into the whole TradeMe for the sake of it thing. I don't need them for anything but they're nice to have and don't cost anything to leave sitting there.

(Way older than 1990 and probably not what you're looking for anyway. Yours for $2k.)

[Ender EnZed]

Double post.

[cooneyr]

Stop being such a tight arse padmei. I had similar thoughts about having something to throw around so sold the XLR125 I bought for the DB1k SBC and bought a 91 XR250R (might road reg later). Talk about a barrel of laughs. Had it on the single track in the trees and on the junior moto cross track out at the Waimak so far. With trail gearing I might even learn how to wheely over "stuff" and look cool like the other cool dudes on their 09 450exc's - cept it's old and looks like it. Plan on trying ride over, around or through anything that's challenging i.e. definitely not for adv riding (pretty flat out at 80kph).

[dino3310]

OK I'm tight as a tight thing - I own a KLR
Apart from the obvious that I've got to HTFU etc etc
you must be telepathic mate your reading my mind


Stop being such a tight arse padmei.

Faaark you to mate:rofl:

just get a BRP mate thats all you need:yes:

[Box'a'bits]

just get a BRP mate thats all you need:yes:
So how's that running now Dino? :innocent:

[Padmei]

Stop being such a tight arse padmei. I had similar thoughts about having something to throw around so sold the XLR125 I bought for the DB1k SBC and bought a 91 XR250R (might road reg later). Talk about a barrel of laughs. Had it on the single track in the trees and on the junior moto cross track out at the Waimak so far. With trail gearing I might even learn how to wheely over "stuff" and look cool like the other cool dudes on their 09 450exc's - cept it's old and looks like it. Plan on trying ride over, around or through anything that's challenging i.e. definitely not for adv riding (pretty flat out at 80kph).

Yeah but what did you pay for it? Then how much did you spend on it?
There's plenty of bikes out there to buy, andI know I'll have fun on it. I'm not asking for a minter just a hack.


you must be telepathic mate your reading my mind



Faaark you to mate:rofl:

just get a BRP mate thats all you need:yes:

So predictable Dino me old flower.
WTF's a BRP?

[JATZ]

Fark Padmei have I got the deal for you...........

[Woodman]

BRP = Big Rolling Pin.

or not

[Padmei]

Fark Padmei have I got the deal for you...........

When I mentioned hack I meant a small hack not a big hack.















Ooh not sure if Ishould post that-meh too late

[dino3310]

So how's that running now Dino? :innocent:

was meaning the 650, i consider the 600 as the LRP compared to the 650 :laugh:

im just waiting for the piston to get here:soon:

[dino3310]

So predictable Dino me old flower.
WTF's a BRP?

yeah me wits gone a bit sour this week, must be the withdraws.

Big Red Pig

[JATZ]

When I mentioned hack I meant a small hack not a big hack.

Ooh not sure if Ishould post that-meh too late

Noooo, 125 cc's of honda reliability, I'll even chuck in the spiders for free :yes:

[cooneyr]

Yeah but what did you pay for it? Then how much did you spend on it?
There's plenty of bikes out there to buy, andI know I'll have fun on it. I'm not asking for a minter just a hack.

So predictable Dino me old flower.
WTF's a BRP?

BPR = Big Red Pig = XR650R

Though long and hard about ditching the 950 and getting a XR650R or a 640LC4. Problem is the 950 is a heap of fun and bloody brilliant for multi day adv touring rides with luggage.

I paid rougly $2k for the XR250R but its reasonably tidy (one owner for 90% of its life). I guess I had a XLR125 to sell to help fund it so not a huge amount of additional input. What impresses me about it is it has a reasonably amount of stomp for a 250 with what feels like lotsa torque and it has trail gearing (which emphasises the torque). Feels way more grunty than the 96 Dr250 Djebel I got my licence on and is light years better for trail riding even though it is a generation older. If your gonna get a trail bike, get a proper trail bike i.e. KDX, XR TTR, dont get a bike from the adv/roady side i.e. XL, KLR (I have to put DR in here to given my experiances) etc.

[NordieBoy]

Noooo, 125 cc's of honda reliability, I'll even chuck in the spiders for free :yes:

You can't pass this one up mate!
I mean, free spiders!

How could you turn it down?

[Padmei]

I said tight not stupid

[Crisis management]

When I started looking for a dirt bike a couple of years ago I did the same as you Padmei, low budget and quickly got thoroughly sick of looking at rubbish for $2k or more. In the end I spent more on a low hours good conditon bike and haven't regreted it, it is reliable, parts are available, it has decent suspension and after 2 years of riding it, I still aren't a better rider than the bike is capable of.
Spend more now and then there is no need to upgrade later!

Just an aside, there is a lot of adventure trail rides going on around here and the 640 is too big for a lot of that stuff, maybe a 250 road registerable bike is the better way to go but it won't be as capable as a pure dirt bike.

[rogerh]

When I started looking for a dirt bike a couple of years ago I did the same as you Padmei, low budget and quickly got thoroughly sick of looking at rubbish for $2k or more. In the end I spent more on a low hours good conditon bike and haven't regreted it, it is reliable, parts are available, it has decent suspension and after 2 years of riding it, I still aren't a better rider than the bike is capable of.
Spend more now and then there is no need to upgrade later!

This is damn good advice. I still like the 640 (Enduro though) as it will handle more rough stuff than you would expect, can do two up off road, and can do more luggage than is reasonable. In the knarly stuff you need fitness and strength (and kahunas!) though. As an office worker, I find this keeps me on my toes, and is good for me.

But there is really no substitute for the advice above.

[Willdat?]

You really need to spend 4-5k to get good value for $ as the depreciation seems to plateau pretty impressively...someone had a TTR for 4k on here that looked like a pretty good buy.

I'm regretting going down the cheap road as I've managed one decent (half) ride in the last 8 1/2 months. I suppose you're always going to have loyal old Gonzo as a back up.

[Willdat?]

Looks like Thommo61, (has the KLX250 on here, was at Xmas toy run) is selling a 2000 XT 250 for cheap on TM...sorry can't link to it as TM is on phone!

[cooneyr]

...Just an aside, there is a lot of adventure trail rides going on around here and the 640 is too big for a lot of that stuff, maybe a 250 road registerable bike is the better way to go but it won't be as capable as a pure dirt bike.

Only problem is that there is not a lot of choice for late model road regable bikes - WR or EXC pretty much with a price tag of ~$4k+. Otherwise you are in XRR or TTR territory for the previous generation road regable ~$2k-3kl for average to crap old one that prob isnt reg, and $3k+ for a better one (may or may not be reg). Obviously there are other bikes like CRFX, KDX etc but they can't be road reg. Have to decide which generation and if road reg is important then buy the best you can afford.

If my XRR handles a few months of thrashing i.e. obviously not a basket case then I'm looking to reg it for getting between trails and for wife to get learners on. This is definatly not going to be a show pony and nothing is being done except basic maint i.e. no sus mods. Also ride it like you stole it comes to mind.

[Monstaman]

OK I'm tight as a tight thing -


Owning an old BMW airhead and being of Scottish descent I'm only marginally less tight than you.

I am a Dutch Quantity Surveyor and my wife is a Chinese Accountant ... anything ova 5 bucks is a major item of expenditure in our household and requires serious approval !:laugh:

Padmai, we felt the same when looking for Ellens bike, said to her we should be able to pick up a 250 for a coupla G .... ended up 4 and 1/2 for anything reasonable.

We wanted something of this century at least and the dollars did not seem to stack up really between an old hack and not so old hack.

250 seems to be a very popular size, accordingly the dollars seem to match!! .. .we are still having counseling :shit:

[countryguy]

You could always import one, just add it to a container bringing a car over.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/1670720595.html

or this http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/1663286841.html

[clint640]

This is damn good advice. I still like the 640 (Enduro though) as it will handle more rough stuff than you would expect, can do two up off road, and can do more luggage than is reasonable. In the knarly stuff you need fitness and strength (and kahunas!) though. As an office worker, I find this keeps me on my toes, and is good for me.

But there is really no substitute for the advice above.

Yep, & that Husaberg of yours is SWEET! Thanks again for the ride in the weekend. When it comes to 2nd hand trailbikes you often seem to get 4x the bike for only twice the money going from the $1k-$2K shitters to something worth $4k-$5K

I spose the trouble is, lots of people have $1K - $2K to spend on a cheap trailbike, chances are they don't know much about bikes either, apart from that their mate said 'get one of those XR250's they're really reliable', so although the prices for shagged 20 yr old trailbikes are stupid, there are plenty of punters out there who will pay them. Supply & demand.

[Crazy Steve]

OK I'm tight as a tight thing - I own a KLR

Having a fling on the KDX200 the other week & reading marks' diaries on adv rider made me very keen on buying a small dirtbike.
I keep rooting my back picking up Gonzo & know if I had a smaller bike to throw around on the knarly bits I really wouldn't fall off so much- it's true -once Gonzo starts going it's bloody hard to correct the weight.
Anyway on with the bleat.
Looking at bikes - XRs KLX/KX DR basically anything 250ccish or under, not road registerable got no probs doing a bit of work on them.
C1990 bikes around $1500-1800 - What??!! they're 20yrs old & most would have been ridden around the clock. Parts prices & availability??
Looked at a shitheap IT175 rough as guts & they wanted $1000ono

Whats going on here?
Apart from the obvious that I've got to HTFU etc etc what do you guys think?

I agree 95% of motorbikes For Sale atm in general are over priced..

I always like to look how hard something is to sale by doin this.....Then pricing it right !!!

How many people out of 1000 Randoms can ride bikes ? ? Maybe 200-300 outer 1000..
Now how many of that 200-300 are looking at road bikes ? ? Maybe 200 ? ?
Now how many of that 200 that are looking for 500cc Roadbikes and above ? ? Maybe 150 ? ? Etc Etc Etc.
Now for the 100 people looking for off roadbikes....
How many people looking at only Hondas...
How many people looking at only Kawasakis...
How many people looking at only Suzukis...
How many people looking at 1k-2k ? ?
How many people looking at 2k-4k Etc Etc Etc Etc.....

Leaving maybe one or two possiable buyers for thousands and thousands of road and off road bikes for sale atm....And hunderds of TYRE KICKERS !!!!!!!!

Crazy Steve...

[rogerh]

Yep, & that Husaberg of yours is SWEET!

Sure is. Its gonna get some hours put on it this week end if I have my way. Just surfing now for some ideas of where I could go for a little entertainment.

[Crisis management]

Sure is. Its gonna get some hours put on it this week end if I have my way.

Which Husaberg is it??? I had a ride on a 390 and that was absolutely lovely.......nowhere near as good as a 200 EXC of course, mutter, mutter....

Just another thought, how about an older trials bike? My TY250 cost me $900 and is still ok for trials (even thought half knackered) and great for slower tail riding but not into jumps etc, it may provide a may of getting riding skills at lower cost. You are in Trials heaven down there, they have events on all the time and it's a great way to learn a lot of off road skills.

[Ocean1]

Just another thought, how about an older trials bike?

Like this? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/auction-279900935.htm

Good price, wouldn't want to be full on all day though. I've been keeping an eye out for a longride, or one of the later Fantics, perfect trail bike.

[rogerh]

Which Husaberg is it???

05 FE450. Ex Mark in Te Aroha. With a rebuilt engine. Very very nice.....

And I believe the trials club down here runs events exclusively for the twin shockers. I looked at bikes similar to the TY, but the same rule applied to these as the other 250 machines about. 20 (30???) years ago when I was riding around the Wellington area, bikes like the Ty (mid to early 70's trials clunkers) were plentiful for $200 to $300. I prefered the 175 to the 250. It was a fantastic machine. I wish I had brought all I found, as it looks now like they would have been a pretty good investment.

But what really stumps me now, is that these very same bikes are now double the price or more. I looked at bikes like the TY's before I brought the Husaberg, but again the same experience Padmei is having occured.

I ended up wanting a monoshock trials machine, which was just too specialised, and I wanted a general trail bike. Enduro. Was really looking for a two stroke, as I enjoyed them the most in the past, but I sure do not regret ending up with a four stroke at this point. What I was not planning on however was serious machine that the Husaberg is. Just so easy to go really (and I mean really!) fast off road. I have riden a lot of bikes, but nothing ever like this machine. In rebuilding the engine, I came to realise just how trick the Husabergs are. It is pretty clear to me why KTM brought them. I love this machine, and was planning to baby it to try and reduce the maintenance, but it just begs to have its neck rung! And I have not even finished running it in yet....

[rogerh]

Like this? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/auction-279900935.htm

That is nice. but there will not be any!!! more bikes in my shed for a bit. Tempting as it is.

Lucky I can't afford it.

[Phreaky Phil]

My 10 cents worth (cant do 5 cents anymore ! ) I got a smaller bike a few months ago to compliment my GS. I got a 2000 DR350 for $1750. A bit rough around the edges but nothing a bit of TLC and $ wont fix. Had rego on hold. These bikes will go anywhere, OFF & ON Road. Air cooled. 6 speed gearbox. Bit heavier than the latest 4 stokes @ 114kg but ive already knocked about 5kg of crap off. Theyre pretty reliable and plenty of 2nd hand bits are available.

[NordieBoy]

KDX220 for $1500
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/auction-280706106.htm

[Crisis management]

05 FE450. Ex Mark in Te Aroha. With a rebuilt engine. Very very nice.....

And I believe the trials club down here runs events exclusively for the twin shockers. ....

The 450 would be nice....lucky bistard!

Hamilton runs 5 twin shock events a year, I'm planning on embarassing myself at one this year, once I figure out how to not look a complete nob on it (and get brakes with lining on them and tyres with less visible cracks in them...winter overhaul!) Having just spent 30 minutes riding the TY in the driveway practicing not falling off at low speed I can highly recommend trials as a bit of a work out...../ where's me beer?

[rogerh]

The 450 would be nice....

Sure is. Another bike I own that is a far better bike than I ever will be rider.

I ended up not going the trials way, but as a compromise :D I brought the wife a gas gas pampera. A trials motor in a very lightweight enduro frame. Not quite as good for practice as a trials machine, but not bad. A trials bike is pretty much untouchable for technique and basic skills practice. And I don't think you can have too much of that. Well I can't anyway.

The pampera is really good for the wife too (really!). Very confidence inspiring, and a great bike for someone who will not hammer it, with light weight, and low seat height.

[dino3310]

05 FE450. Ex Mark in Te Aroha. With a rebuilt engine. Very very nice.....


niiiice mate, awesome bike, i was eyeing it up but needed to sell the big first.

[marks]

KDX220 for $1500
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/auction-280706106.htm

looks good buying - spend 500-1000 on bits and youve got a good trailbike

[Ocean1]

I ended up not going the trials way, but as a compromise :D I brought the wife a gas gas pampera.

You can have your cake and eat it too...

[CrazyFrog]

3 DR350's on TM at the mo, seem to be priced right....

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/auction-270795933.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/auction-280734529.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/auction-280902410.htm

At that price Padmei, you could afford to have a lot of fun on them and still get money back when you onsell it.

[monchopper]

I think internet sites like trademe have had a big influence in the price of second hand bikes.
When I was a kid in the late 80's the only way to buy a bike was to wait for the saturday paper week after week pray for the right bike at the right price.
Because the paper was local the number of readers was low, therefore price was dictated by demand. ie low.
Now the audience for a bike for sale is nationwide there aren't any 'local' prices.

In 1987 I bought a 1981 DT175 for $600, I can now buy a similar bike
DT175 (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/auction-281794390.htm) for 1400 ono.

I know it's not a like for like comparison with inflation etc, but supply and demand factors have changed with nationwide internet sites.

[Padmei]

Totally agree with this. The days of the quiet bargain are gone with T me being so easy to sell by.

Have you noticed tho if you are wanting something there aren't many around & they're expensive however if you have an item to sell that you've paid good money for they're all selling really cheap.

I wish I was consulted when they drew up the rules for life

[warewolf]

When my mate picked up the mid-80's DR250 bush-pig, it was a runner and complete (for an off-road hack) despite needing work. He paid <$400. Later while getting parts the bike shop staff commented that anything whole and running commands a minimum of $1000, so he got a good deal. Which implies anything half-decent and/or wof standard is a long way north of that.

I still struggle with NZ pricing. In Aus, the minute it rolls out the showroom door it loses 30%. Here they (sellers) seem to want 90% of the new price for a bike a few years old with moderate-to-low kays. Almost like straight-line depreciation rather than exponential.

[soundbeltfarm]

i got an xr 250 here in the shed i put new fork seals and new clutch cable for it then bought a crf 230 for the farm
the xr rough and not sure if she running rich since the kids played with the carb one day.
if i clean the spark plug it will start but after that it is a bit hit and miss, once shes warm she starts all good.
when i went to get my crf they said they would give me 500 and spend couple hundy and then they reckon they would sell it within couple weeks.
so people must want them.
it has all the wiring loom for lights and stuff so prob be road reg with work.
but like one person has said i kept it thinking i'll do it up one day but that day will never come i dont think and the whip giving me grief to get rid of it.

[slowpoke]

Haha, so it's not just me then?! Faaark, was lookin' for months trying to find something to bash up a few paddocks and hopefully sharpen/find some skills but got thoroughly depressed at what was available and what it was going for. It amazes me what people will pay for a 20year old XR.

They'd be a good investment, buy up every XR you can get your mits on, wait for the price to stabilise at an even more stratospheric level and flog 'em off.

I've just picked something up (prolly spend more time fixin' the bloody thing than riding it), but that $2k-ish bracket is a frikkin' nightmare.

[monchopper]

The price of a bike that is road reg'd (or at least can be road reg'd) is so much higher than a bike that hasn't been road reg'd.
It's nearly impossible to road reg a bike in NZ. It's a disgrace, a bike is either road worthy or it's not and you shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get a road worthy bike on the road.

If they made is easy to put a bike on the road the price of these bikes would decrease (supply and demand). Buyers would then get better bikes for their buck and you would see a general increase in the quality of bike on the road.

Here in the UK it's a piece of cake. I just bought a mint Husky 2004 TE450 with 40 hours on the clock for NZ$2600, it cost me NZ$350 to get it on the road (includes 1 years tax and 1 years insurance). Try doing something like that in NZ for under $3K

If fact it's a bit of a joke in the UK, you can get something called a daytime MOT (WOF) and all you need is a rare reflector. So you'll see KX500's etc with no lights etc riding legally on the road.

[Padmei]

[QUOTE=monchopper;1129707407]IIn 1987 I bought a 1981 DT175 for $600, QUOTE]

About that time I sold a DT 175 for $350 just to get rid of it. Hell if I'd kept it I'd be able to trade it in on a new Husaberg!!

Whats the UK equivalent of Trademe?

Just had a look on the Aussie ebay after reading WW's thread & like the US ebay am amazed how few bikes are listed on there for the size of the population. We must be the biggest 2nd hand online traders in the world.

The Aussie prices didn't seem too disimilar to prices over here either.

[monchopper]

[QUOTE=monchopper;1129707407]IIn 1987 I bought a 1981 DT175 for $600, QUOTE]

About that time I sold a DT 175 for $350 just to get rid of it. Hell if I'd kept it I'd be able to trade it in on a new Husaberg!!

Whats the UK equivalent of Trademe?

Just had a look on the Aussie ebay after reading WW's thread & like the US ebay am amazed how few bikes are listed on there for the size of the population. We must be the biggest 2nd hand online traders in the world.

The Aussie prices didn't seem too disimilar to prices over here either.

In the UK ebay has 1000's of bikes and parts, I do all my shopping on ebay. It's be down to population density. In the Uk with 60 million people in an area the size of the South Island, it's not that hard to go and see a bike or have it couriered for not too much money.
Some bikes here have amazing prices. Old DTs, XTs and RDs (Not sure what the love affair with Yammies is all about!!).
Check this old DT400 out $10,000 DT400 on EBAY (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yamaha-DT-400_W0QQitemZ130370825669QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Mot orcycles?hash=item1e5ab4edc5)

[Padmei]

Velly intelesting.
Some beaut bikes there. Again not as many xr250s as NZ tho.
Cheers Mono

[cooneyr]

The price of a bike that is road reg'd (or at least can be road reg'd) is so much higher than a bike that hasn't been road reg'd.
It's nearly impossible to road reg a bike in NZ. It's a disgrace, a bike is either road worthy or it's not and you shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get a road worthy bike on the road.

If they made is easy to put a bike on the road the price of these bikes would decrease (supply and demand). Buyers would then get better bikes for their buck and you would see a general increase in the quality of bike on the road.

Here in the UK it's a piece of cake. I just bought a mint Husky 2004 TE450 with 40 hours on the clock for NZ$2600, it cost me NZ$350 to get it on the road (includes 1 years tax and 1 years insurance). Try doing something like that in NZ for under $3K

If fact it's a bit of a joke in the UK, you can get something called a daytime MOT (WOF) and all you need is a rare reflector. So you'll see KX500's etc with no lights etc riding legally on the road.

Any you think it is a bad thing that we have "strict" rego wof requirements!!! I really dont think that having a system that makes it easier to reg bikes is going to increase the quality of the bikes on the road. We are talking about kiwi's here - any old POS will do. Hell we have one of the oldest average regod car ages in the western world.

It really isnt that hard to reg a bike in NZ and the cost is almost exactly the same appart from the higher rego cost - bloody ACC. All you need is reciept for proof of ownership, a declaration that it isnt stolen from the cops if you dont have previous ownership papers, a brake check and the indicators/tail light etc. Two peices of paper, some dosh and a up to WOF standard bike. How hard is that?

[warewolf]

Just had a look on the Aussie ebay after reading WW's thread & like the US ebay am amazed how few bikes are listed on there for the size of the population. We must be the biggest 2nd hand online traders in the world.You are presuming that ebay is the primary listing place for bikes... may not be the case.

In NZ, classified advertisers don't pay to list. So you get lots of listings from speculative sellers just to see if they get a bite. When you have to pay to list (ebay, most Aussie classifieds) only the serious sellers will list, and the price will be much more realistic.

And also in Aus, or at least NSW, when you buy a used vehicle you have to pay 3% stamp duty - that in itself discourages 'churn'.

When I was shopping for my road-reg 250 trailie in 2003, they were hard to get and pricey. Often by the time I'd found the ad, the bike had sold - within 48 hours of listing. Might be different now with trademe well established (more choice).

[Padmei]

Well I'll put an end to my little whinging session.
After talking to people who know a lot more about bikes than me I've decided it'll take a Lotto win for me to be happy. Any bikes around the $1000-1200 I wanted to spend aren't gonna be worth the effort & cost to get them trailworthy (remember I'm only after an ugly fun lite bike not anything special)
In the meantime old Gonzo with good knobs is a lot of fun.

[Woodman]

In the meantime old Gonzo with good knobs is a lot of fun.

Thats the spirit.................