Help on 1995 Kawasaki ZXR250

[WanaGo]

Hey,

I'm currently looking at buying a 250, I have my trusty FXR150 at the moment, still have another year before I can get a bigger bike - but I can get a 250.

I have found a ZXR250 (1995 model) in mint condition, I'm just wondering if anyone knows much about them. being the 95 model, which I think is quite uncommon, most are below 91?

Does anyone know if they are a good bike, any problems, part availability?

Also - I have another option of a 1989 Honda CBR250R. Which do you think I should get?

Cheers
WanaGo

[MikeL]

I have another option of a 1989 Honda CBR250R. Which do you think I should get?


Let's see how complicated we can make this...
All Hondas are crap, therefore buy the Kwaka.
The Honda's 6 years older, so buy the Kwaka.
The ZXR's in mint condition, so...

Aw gee, I dunno...

J/k.

Actually, I'd probably buy the Honda, but what do I know?

[Two Smoker]

Go for the honda, heaps of parts and reasonably quick, the 91 model is better thts wen the CBR250RR came out, its a bit more refined. But if u want a really quick bike on a restricted/learner, get a Suzuki RGV250, they can smoke sum 400cc bikes

[curious george]

Honda???? WTF????
Firstly, what's each cost? The individual condition? MOre info please.

[WanaGo]

Hey,

The Kawa I can get for $4000, the CBR I can get for $3000.

Both are in pretty mint condition.

Kawa has done about 13000km, the CBR has done about 33000km I think.

I dont have much options, Im from Palmy - have had to hunt out of town.

I dont want raw speed of a 2 stroke. I want a nice reliable 4 stroke, that I can have fun on.... I have a FXR150 remember.

Cheers

[Two Smoker]

Fair enuff. Kwaka sounds a good buy, its dun low kays so hasnt been completely rooted like the CBR may hav been. Especially since the CBR revs to like 19000RPM. Go the kwaka i say, or keep looking.

[WanaGo]

The Kawa I reckon sounds like a good buy too.
Its a 1995 with 13000km vs a 89 with 33000km....

The Kawa redlines at 19000 or 18500.

The thing is, the Kawa is a 1995. I have never seen a 1995 before. Has anyone else? I didnt even know they were made.... hence Im not sure about parts.... but the owner seems to think that older versions parts will work fine.

oh - and the CBR has a brand new fuel pump ($600) as the other went faulty.

Cheers

[Zed]

The Kawa I reckon sounds like a good buy too.
Its a 1995 with 13000km vs a 89 with 33000km....

The Kawa redlines at 19000 or 18500.

The thing is, the Kawa is a 1995. I have never seen a 1995 before. Has anyone else? I didnt even know they were made.... hence Im not sure about parts.... but the owner seems to think that older versions parts will work fine.

oh - and the CBR has a brand new fuel pump ($600) as the other went faulty.

Cheers
Go for the ZXR with lower kms- sounds like a great deal for a 1995 year bike!

There don't seem to be many of this model in NZ, especially in the bike shops. You may find difficulty getting parts for it?

It's a nice looker, see pic attached of a '95 in Aussie.


Zed

[moko]

You say it`s a 95 but you didnt think they made them then.You`ll probably find that that`s when it was first registered rather than when it was made,first registered in N.Z. even,maybe someone imported it from elsewhere in that year.Only way to find year of manufacture here is to get the engine/frame number and ask the manufacturer,paperwork only shows year of registration which can be different for all kinds of reasons,good example is the 2002 Honda Hornet still in my local dealership,they`ve got new ones in as well but if I bought the 2002(at a big discount)the registration papers,no. plate e.t.c.would show it as 2004.BUT if I advertised it I`d have to state 2002 model or be breaking the law.
We didnt get the ZXR here ,only the ZZR and GPX 250`s,those at least are very similar.Seems to me like either the Kawas cheap or the Honda`s dear given the difference in age and mileage.As for spares,there`s always somewhere you can get them,especially in these days of the internet,I put wari onto a place in London that does Hurricane spares and that`s a model that we didn`t get here either.

[georgedubyabush]

reliable 4 stroke? sounds like you've already got one. I'd put the money in the bank for a year.

[jrandom]

Hmmm. For the sake of comparison, a chap living down the road from me is flogging a CBR600 for $5K (I think). It'd be about a '95ish. Save your cash, wait for your full license and buy something that'd smoke *any* of the above. Really.

[Wonko]

Echoing the above save your money, and then buy a 600 - 750 version of either bike IMHO. The price between them and a bigger bike is minimal, and a year isn't too long to wait. Might be better to spend the money on a course to reduce your waiting time.

If you what/need a bigger bike, go with the Kawasaki over the Honda. Less km's mean less work for you to do on it(generally).

have you checked out trademe's motorbike section?

[Zed]

Echoing the above save your money, and then buy a 600 - 750 version of either bike IMHO. The price between them and a bigger bike is minimal, and a year isn't too long to wait. Might be better to spend the money on a course to reduce your waiting time.

If you what/need a bigger bike, go with the Kawasaki over the Honda. Less km's mean less work for you to do on it(generally).

have you checked out trademe's motorbike section?
There is a '95 zxr250 on TradeMe at present...could be the same bike WanaGo is looking at?

[wari]

Yep ... save your money ... you'll be sick of the 250 in a year anyway and by waiting you will probably save yourself a thousand or two on resale/purchase.

:sunny:

[Motoracer]

Just so that you know, parts aren't that big of a problem. Mt Eden MCs here in Auck have lots of them comming in all the time. Even if that one is a '95, a LOT of the parts are interchangable with the slightly older yet more common models. But I reckon the rest are right on waiting for a year and getting a 6 hundy or something.

Its a lot better to take the chix pillion on a bigger bike than a 250. ;) (mind you, I've got a 250 so I'm not looking down on anyone)

[Andrew]

Although the ZXR 250 is a lot of fun, it has come at a price for me. Make sure that you check that the front forkes aren't pitted. If they are then look elsewhere.

The other thing to check is the discs. Make sure the front and rear discs are within min thickness. It will cost $500 to replace each of your front discs and about $300 to repace your rear disk.

Make sure that the cam chain ins't loose this is the other common problem with the ZXR250.

Depending on how long you decide to keep your bike it may be worth gritting your teeth and just waiting until you can get a 600.

[Indiana_Jones]

stick with da FXR until u get your full, I guess that's what I'm gonna do :kick:

WE LOVE YOU, WE'RE NOT WORTHY! FXR :not:

-Indy

[WanaGo]

Thanks all for your reply's.

Yes - it is the one of Trademe, I didnt want to say it as I didnt want anyone out bidding me, but Im going private with him anyway. (if it comes to that)

He has sent me alot of photo's, but I left them all on my work computer, and I have the day off tomorrow.

I work at Toyota, and I did a check on the VIN number, it has had 5 owners since it came from Japan. Thats a good point about age/year, I didnt notice whether it was first reg in NZ in 95 or what. I do have all the information, but again that is at work. it did 7000km or so before it came to NZ, now it has 13500km.

The guy rang up a bike shop in Chch, and asked about compression testing it etc, but was told that you cant really for smaller bikes....
I was going to fly down there, but its going to cost like $300. So Im a bit stumped at what to do.

I realise saving my money is a good option, but I really want a bigger bike. I use the bike every day to go to Uni on, its not just a weekend fun ride.

Cheers
WanaGo

[Antallica]

its not just a weekend fun ride.

Right on brotha! :angry2:

[Slingshot]

Buy them both and give one to your brother-in-law to replace his gixxer slingshot!!! :whistle:

I should be able to look at the CBR tonight for you I might even take the digital camera. I'll give you a call when we get back.

[WanaGo]

Hey there. Fancy meeting you on here!

Nice plan - pitty I have not enough money - I was even contemplating that! <cough>.

Thanks for going to look at the bike. Looking forward to hearing your report.

WanaGo

[WanaGo]

Just got a email from the guy with the ZXR, he said he just took it into a bike shop and got it checked over, and there were no problems. I emailed him with the comments some of you guys said.

Cheers
WanaGo

[MrMelon]

There's a dude I know here in wellington selling his 91 (i think) zxr250 for $1500ish.. It's got the new shape fairing on it, and USD forks anyway.

Why spend heaps on a 250 when it's only just really an in-between bike.

PM me if you want his number.

[WanaGo]

I have been trying to contact you. Yes I want his number.

I am going down to Wellington on Friday night, comming back Saturday lunch time. I would like his number. Please email it to me - easier than pm'ing me. kbl@quicksilver.net.nz

Cheers
WanaGo

[Big Dog]

If you only want to ride it for a year go the Kwak they tend to be more reliable and I found them more forgiving than the CBR. (important if you still think of yourself as a learner). When I had my Gpx I found it really reliable, fast and very forgiving of my begginner mistakes. Parts were a doddle to get as most parts are either parts bin or externally sourced. My old bike shop reckoned cb's were easier to get second hand parts due to how ofteen they were crashed in comparison. New parts were harder to get as a lot of parts were custom for each model. In true honda fashion every year could have a diffeerent part to do the same job.

Do what makes you happy not what everyone else says. Your only a young student once, (or twice :( ). Yes you could save a lot of money by sticking to the bike you have but biking is a passion therefore not logical.


Yours is the only opinion that counts. :niceone:

[WanaGo]

Thanks.

If ANYONE has a 250cc bike in Wellington that is wanting to sell, ring me asap 027 2415720, Im going down there tonight (leaving 5pm) will be there till about lunch time Sat.
I am looking at a couple of bikes when I am down there. More would be good!

Thanks
WanaGo