Learner bikes under $1,500?

[Alexofbbulgaria]

Ok I've decided I don't need the best or even the most powerful as my first Bike. I Spent all last night looking through this forum and realised the likelihood of me getting a 250cc bike in this range was going to prove to be a long uphill struggle that takes too much time.

New Approach to this is I want anything that will suit me to be mostly travelling round town but be able to reach motorway speeds and be averagely comfortable to go from Auckland to browns bay on weekends and the odd week day. I am 110kg and 185cm tall and will be travelling to the university of Auckland weekday, since Auckland is very hilly I feel I need a 250cc but can anyone suggest another bike that will do the job?

I really just want to start riding I have my learners and am rearing to go, please someone help me find my first bike :)

If you need any more info from me that will help with finding a good bike match for me just ask.

[FJRider]

Just get a 250 ... untill LAM's comes into effect. Forget about "highway speeds" capable. Get basic road (learning) experience with the 250 ... then move up after October.

Troll Trademe and all the classifieds in all the papers ...

[haydes55]

please someone help me find my first bike :)


The problem is once you get a cheap bike you'll love it so much you'll want a newer, faster sexier bike in no time haha.

For now check out GN250's (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/cruiser/auction-491999206.htm) such as the one linked. Millions of spares available, most people can say they started on one or have ridden one. very reliable aswell.

[GTRMAN]

something like this might be good for you, 'full' size frame is good for taller guys and they handle bigger riders ok. just a bit over your budget

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-481754032.htm

[Alexofbbulgaria]

something like this might be good for you, 'full' size frame is good for taller guys and they handle bigger riders ok. just a bit over your budget

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-481754032.htm

Man that does look good and yer it is a little bit out of my price range. I have my eye on a few cheaper auctions, I am waiting to see how much they go for before I start bidding. Plus at the moment im going round as many people as I Know that rides a bike trying them out.

Thanks

[akkadian]

Yeah wait a few months and get a 400. No worries with hills then. If you cant wait then a GN would do ya. Mrs GN125 is great. Hills...not so great

[Old Steve]

Just look at the ubiquitous Suzuki GN250. Older, original ones, might be down close to your budget. They'd be a good round town commuter and OK for a trip across the bridge to see your g/f.

[Alexofbbulgaria]

While looking on TM i found this and it seems pretty amazing but I am wondering how much would all the lil repairs usually cost to make it good enough to be re-registered?

[ducatilover]

Found what? There's no link.

[neels]

If it was me, I'd be saving my pennies and waiting until 1st October. I suspect there may be a bunch of 250's for sale by people who are living in caves and don't realise the rules are changing, and some newly legal bikes the turn up because there is suddenly a market for the largely ignored middleweights.

The more you rush something, the more likely it is you will make a bad decision. Unless it's deciding in 30 seconds that you should buy a ducati.

[Glowerss]

While looking on TM i found this and it seems pretty amazing but I am wondering how much would all the lil repairs usually cost to make it good enough to be re-registered?

Without actually seeing the bike...

If the bike has been de-registered, not on hold but actually de-registered, you're looking at a minimum 4-500$ to get it back road legal. That's without any repairs being made. You'll need a heap of shit such as the brakes being re certified, as well as taking it in for a very thorough examination. Then you have to buy a minimum of 6 months rego and some other rubbish. It's a 450-500$ endeavor. And that's assuming everything passes first time.

I wouldn't touch anything that's been dereg'd with a 10 foot pole unless you're CERTAIN of its road worthiness and all the components being absolutely sound. For a bike that costs, im guessing, less then $1500. I would avoid.


*edit, as far as LAMS compliant bikes goes. I've been poking around 400s for awhile now. There's some bargains to be found here and there. But largely there's just nothing. Bikes in the sort of 300-600 range are few and far between. There hasn't been a market for them in awhile, and not many of them are still being produced. Most of the 400s on TM are either non LAMS compliant (FZRs and the VFRs and CBRs and what have you) or old and fucked. Or just fucking old :p Lotta late 80s early 90s bikes. If you're mechanically minded, they're pretty cool to have. If you do decide to snap one up, be sure to get it checked out thoroughly.

[neels]

Or just fucking old :p Lotta late 80s early 90s bikes.
You mean like the 250 IL4's people have been paying stupid money for? Hell, I bought a low mileage 10 year old ducati for less than the usual asking price for a 20 year old CBR250, something wrong with that picture.

As for deregistered bikes, I agree if it's not stupidly cheap and you don't know exactly what you need to be looking for, stay away.

[Glowerss]

You mean like the 250 IL4's people have been paying stupid money for? Hell, I bought a low mileage 10 year old ducati for less than the usual asking price for a 20 year old CBR250, something wrong with that picture.

As for deregistered bikes, I agree if it's not stupidly cheap and you don't know exactly what you need to be looking for, stay away.

Exactly :P except the 400s aren't actually any more powerful then the stupid overpriced 250 IL4s. Don't rev half as high either! My current bike is an XJ400 diversion. It *JUST* falls into LAMS compliance. Its like 178kg with 53HP at the crank. Factor in Age and the like, I'd be amazed if its putting out more then 40 at the wheel.

Anyway, point being, LAMS in theory opens up more bikes to people on their L and Rs, but in practice I think the lack of any of em actually being around wont change much.

Although, some industrious importers have already started bringing in the restricted aussie LAMS compliant models. I saw a GSX 650 FU (restricted version) on trademe. Could be yours now for only 14,999$ + ORC! Which is a RIDICULOUS price for a bike that cannot be de restricted (that a word?) and you'll likely only use on your L and Rs. Granted, it would be a NICE bike to learn on :p but the price is still silly.

[nzspokes]

Exactly :P except the 400s aren't actually any more powerful then the stupid overpriced 250 IL4s. Don't rev half as high either! My current bike is an XJ400 diversion. It *JUST* falls into LAMS compliance. Its like 178kg with 53HP at the crank. Factor in Age and the like, I'd be amazed if its putting out more then 40 at the wheel.


My old GPZ 400 which I traded for my bandit is back on the market for $3900. Which is way more than I traded it for. My guess is they think it will be LAMS compliant. But at 170 kg and 60hp its way outside. Now that was a quick 400. But not legal.

Lams wont really make for faster learner bikes but bikes that fit bigger riders more safely.

[ducatilover]

I saw a GSX 650 FU (restricted version) on trademe. Could be yours now for only 14,999$ + ORC! Which is a RIDICULOUS price for a bike that cannot be de restricted (that a word?) and you'll likely only use on your L and Rs. Granted, it would be a NICE bike to learn on :p but the price is still silly.

I can derestrict it.

[Glowerss]

I can derestrict it.

Far out. The way I understood it, they restricted it via ECU, and so it would require a lot of tampering with the chip. There an easy way to derestrict em? Or were you talking about tampering with the ECU? :p

[koba]

Far out. The way I understood it, they restricted it via ECU, and so it would require a lot of tampering with the chip. There an easy way to derestrict em? Or were you talking about tampering with the ECU? :p

My bike doesn't have an ECU...

[ducatilover]

Far out. The way I understood it, they restricted it via ECU, and so it would require a lot of tampering with the chip. There an easy way to derestrict em? Or were you talking about tampering with the ECU? :p

Secrets I won't give out, they earn me beer :devil2: But, it's not overly hard.
Even with bikes restricted in the ECU it's usually a matter of swapping in a new "chip". Most of tham are a lot easier.

[p.dath]

I don't want to be a downer, but don't forget to put aside some money to buy some gear. In your bracket, you'll probably going to go with Textile gear. You're going to need a helmet, gloves, jacket, pants and boots.

Unfortunately a complete set of gear is usually around $1000.

[Alexofbbulgaria]

Without actually seeing the bike...



Sorry guys I was in such a rush that i didn't even notice that I hadn't posted the link. Here is the link
http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=495754070

after what you guys have said about the thousands I would have to spend I am now not so keen on a de-registered bike.

https://www.carjam.co.nz/report/?ref=3F31D27D

here is the car jam report i got on the bike to find out the following on the bike

VIN: 7A8GK121101105997
Plate: 98UKD
Plate type: Standard
Engine no: J403-111981
Chassis: NJ41A-105997

I heard somewhere that if it has the same plate plus chassis, VIN and engine then it flys through. It was quite an old post I was reading so times may have changed making it harder to re-register now.

[Alexofbbulgaria]

Found what? There's no link.

Sorry here is the link to another ive been looking at a GN250 from 2007 carjam says.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=497313100

and here is the carjam report i got on it

http://www.carjam.co.nz/car/?plate=LWMACNLC752011777

has anyone re-registered a Suzuki GN before and will it really cost thousands of dollars?

[ducatilover]

I'd buy it, you could have that on the road for under 1500 very easily :niceone:

[Fast Eddie]

its got mis matched side covers tho?

scrap yard..

[Alexofbbulgaria]

its got mis matched side covers tho?

scrap yard..

Which one? the 2007 or the older one? does it matter for re-registering with mis matched side covers?

[Fast Eddie]

haha im just f*ckn with ya.. should be fine. a very simple bike to work on/fix/repair.

my girlfriend runs one.. ticks over and does its thing rain sun or snow. Keep it covered in autosol and crc and they don't seem to rust or corrode at all.

neglect it and it will corrode and rust literally overnight ;)

and I mean literally..

[ducatilover]

neglect it and it will corrode and rust literally overnight ;)

and I mean literally..

I can vouch for this, I've owned two GN250s.
They're disturbingly simple to work on :niceone: and in theory (I'm hoping) can be made to go okay too

[Alexofbbulgaria]

I can vouch for this, I've owned two GN250s.
They're disturbingly simple to work on :niceone: and in theory (I'm hoping) can be made to go okay too

Sweet, is there a place I can take it before buying to see if it will fly through re-registering or get a quote? Or is there a website i can look up the prices? I just wanna have a good idea of the extra costs other than buying it off trade me

[ducatilover]

There's a thread on here started by Frosty (it's a sticky in one of the forums) that has everything you need to know

[Alexofbbulgaria]

what do u guys think of this??? It is a bit ceroded around engine I am sure i saw on last listing. . . I have got him from 1.5k to 500 starting bid. I am about to ask for 500 buy now and if he does I will take it. Only thing I wanna know is if the corrosion would be a major problem for getting it back on the road :)

http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=498928772

If it is a big problem no worries, I have my eye on a few GN250's and im sure ill get a good one if not this one

[ducatilover]

I wouldn't be worried about corrosion around those parts, except the exhaust, they can rot out the muffler (at the front of them)
I have a decent set of Japanese GN handle bars I'll send you if you buy one with shit looking bars

What I'd be checking on that is: Tyres, brakes, forks (if you bounce 'em up and down and see moisture on the forks) the shocks and chain/sprockets.

Fortunately, anything for a GN is available from China directly from the manufacturers Suzuki use, without mark up.
For instance:
New fuel tap set me back $4.90US
Gasket set $9US
Cam chain was less than $20US too :2thumbsup

Certainly a bit cheaper than my 600 is to run

[Alexofbbulgaria]

I wouldn't be worried about corrosion around those parts, except the exhaust, they can rot out the muffler (at the front of them)
I have a decent set of Japanese GN handle bars I'll send you if you buy one with shit looking bars

What I'd be checking on that is: Tyres, brakes, forks (if you bounce 'em up and down and see moisture on the forks) the shocks and chain/sprockets.

Fortunately, anything for a GN is available from China directly from the manufacturers Suzuki use, without mark up.
For instance:
New fuel tap set me back $4.90US
Gasket set $9US
Cam chain was less than $20US too :2thumbsup

Certainly a bit cheaper than my 600 is to run

Nice that give me alot of confidence that I am buying a good learner bike. Especially these low prices in case I brake something

[ycng76]

i have a 2005 suzuki gn250 (black) - not made in China. that I will sell once i pass my full next week. If you are interested to view, email me at ycng76@yahoo.com. Fyi, i bought this bike 1 month ago and it is in tidy condition overall. Current rego and wof

[ducatilover]

I would expect an '05 to be Chinese made as my '04 was.

[Alexofbbulgaria]

i have a 2005 suzuki gn250 (black) - not made in China. that I will sell once i pass my full next week. If you are interested to view, email me at ycng76@yahoo.com. Fyi, i bought this bike 1 month ago and it is in tidy condition overall. Current rego and wof

Damn just bought one, just out of interest how much were u going to sell for?

[ycng76]

$1500 is my asking price