First time buyer, what is a 1989 model Kawasaki Ninja 250 worth?

**Maha** · 22nd May 2016, 12:02

Just buy the fucking thing, you can always 'part it out' which can sometimes be the best option for a 27 year bike. You get what you pay for.

Price indicator? is what ever you are prepared to pay for it. Around $1700 seems to be the market value...dreamers.
I once bought a 600cc bike for a $1000, just had to rust proof the tank and recon the clutch over the next year or so.
In all honesty, if that's where you're are at the moment (looking to spend not a lot on your first bike) then offer what you feel is a fair price, he is you mate and may surprise and take the money. Just keep in mind that you'll be spending money on it so offer $900- 1000 if you can.

**5ive** · 22nd May 2016, 12:06

"Hey guys, so I bought my mates bike for $2000, but when I went for a WoF they failed it because of a problem with the 'x', and it's going to cost another $xxx to fix. Should I ask my mate for a refund, or try to sell it? What do I do guys?"

Don't be that guy...

**russd7** · 22nd May 2016, 12:10

a bike is only worth what some one is prepared to pay for it, firstly i would suggest rather strongly not to buy off ya mate, not very often a good idea, secondly if the bike was an absolute minter with a fresh warrant and six months or so of reg then i would suggest ya 2k might be ok. but everything you have said about that bike screams to me $500.00 max and only as a project if thats what you are in to. if the bike is as rough as you say then 18000 kms would scream BS to me.

remember a warrant of fitness tells you absolutely nothing about the bike, i have seen a 250 with a brand new warrant with badly leaking fork seals.

everything screams to me leave this bike and let your mate put it on Trademe

**Oakie** · 22nd May 2016, 12:46

Originally Posted by dman

If he got current registration and wof for it first before I bought it, would it be worth $2K then?

Not to me although a new WOF would help depending on any upcoming issues comments. (Still not $2k though).

Another perspective on it's value. It's done 18000km in 27 years so assuming the 18000km is true, that's an average of just 666km a year. It may mean that has sat unused for some time in one or more periods of it's life and that doesn't help much either.

**Akzle** · 22nd May 2016, 12:55

Originally Posted by Oakie

Not to me although a new WOF would help depending on any upcoming issues comments. (Still not $2k though).

Another perspective on it's value. It's done 18000km in 27 years so assuming the 18000km is true, that's an average of just 666km a year. It may mean that has sat unused for some time in one or more periods of it's life and that doesn't help much either.

-or-
it's been clocked

**Moi** · 22nd May 2016, 13:00

These are more realistic:

This could be a serious contender:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...1089795441.htm

Demand a WoF and 3 months rego, or offer quite a bit less
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...1079707283.htm

Unless you, or someone else, can take it for a test ride I wouldn't touch it with a forty-foot barge pole...

**dman** · 22nd May 2016, 14:43

Soooo.... wrong about the WOF, he now says it is until July. But registration expired a couple of weeks ago.

**AllanB** · 22nd May 2016, 16:36

Get that Yamaha above. Yeah it does not have the horn sport look but it's your first bike and anything sport should be the last thing on your mind ....

**russd7** · 22nd May 2016, 18:04

Originally Posted by dman

Soooo.... wrong about the WOF, he now says it is until July. But registration expired a couple of weeks ago.

sounds to me like you are wanting someone here to say "yeah mate that is gonna be an awesome deal and you should grab it real quick before ya mate chucks it on trademe and gets 5k for it."

if thats what you want then just go buy it and blame someone else for your cockup, otherwise listen to what most here have told you and leave it for ya mate to sell elsewhere and stop trying to come up with reasons that a shitter of a bike could possibly worth what he wants for it

**Jonno.** · 22nd May 2016, 19:09

Worth anywhere from 1000 to 1600. Wouldn't pay more than 1k. Actually I wouldn't buy it at all because there is 0 chance it's in horrible cosmetic condition and has been looked after.

If 1k makes such a huge difference to you, then you're going to struggle to replace consumables the are probably due yesterday, let alone when you face any real problems. Spend 2k and get a Scorpio or something.

**dman** · 23rd May 2016, 07:40

Went and looked at it last night with my brother and sister (who both are experienced riders), checked out well. But in the end I didn't buy it. The seller was firm on $2K.

**Akzle** · 23rd May 2016, 08:10

Originally Posted by dman

Went and looked at it last night with my brother and sister (who both are experienced riders), checked out well. But in the end I didn't buy it. The seller was firm on $2K.

totally worth making a thread about.

Anyway. We, the kb collective, think you've dodged a bullet.

Good luck to the prick. Trademe will let him know.

Is your sister hot?

**EJK** · 23rd May 2016, 08:45

Do you really want a ZXR? There are some newer and bulletproof reliable 250 bikes on Trademe (Suzuki GN250, Yamaha Scorpio etc).

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...1089795441.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...1067815537.htm

Does good drifts.

**Maha** · 23rd May 2016, 08:46

Originally Posted by Akzle

Anyway. We, the kb collective.

Is that the motorcycle equivalent to a knitting circle collective?

**Voltaire** · 23rd May 2016, 09:32

Originally Posted by Akzle

totally worth making a thread about.

Anyway. We, the kb collective, think you've dodged a bullet.

Good luck to the prick. Trademe will let him know.

Is your sister hot?

Gives you non biker types something to while away your meaningless hours

Nice to see the KB Collective has a spokesman