Info on 89 ZXR250A

[Gixxer]

Trade and exchange dude.

when I started out I scored a 2nd hand James dean style jacket I found in the T&E for $100 with free cloves, a CMS lid from cyclespot for $99 , pair of jeans and work boots.

did the trick for a good 6 months untill I could afford some boots and pants, traded the jacket in on a touring jacket from a 2nd hand store.

still use them along with my 2pc teknic.

[Coldkiwi]

theres a big discussion thread about getting gear Melon. Just do a search with 'gear' in the string and you should stumble across it. Lots of ideas and recommendations

[Redstar]

the rear disk is truely expensive but my father in laws mate ginger restores bikes and hes got a lathe and a mill and can cut a disk from solid steel rod. big diameter lathe and he did one for a vfr 400 sweet. he does all the heat treating and hardening.
tried to aftermarket the disks for $200 ish but the dealers have no interest in this kind of inginuity but if you want to be put in touch let me know.

[750Y]

Start with a NEW helmet and any LEATHER jacket and Leather Gloves. wear Your sturdiest footwear and trou. Buy second hand initially where poss and search the bargain bins at motorbike shops for gloves. Try to spend above say $200 for a good lid (HJC are the best value/quality). These give You a good visor which is really important cos the cheap helmets have cheap visors that get scratched easy and soon(within weeks) You're riding in the rain at night You cant see shit except a blurred kalaeidescope of streetlights & headlights.
always push for a discount too. Over time You can accumulate the rest of the gear You need and if You start getting serious You will probably want to spend good money. I have thousands invested in my gears now, but it's taken me years to get there. For winter get a 1 peice rain suit and get it a size larger to make way for extra clothing and movement.
good luck. Remember over winter staying dry makes all the difference when riding. I used to have crap gear & i'd arrive at work soaking wet and have to put my trou & shirt on the heater to dry while i sat at my desk in my undies & tshirt. that was sad!.
It only happened a few times before i cried enough!
You will probably be looking at around $500 to get started.
a backpack is handy too with a rubbish bag inside for the dry stuff.
good luck and welcome to riding.

[MrMelon]

Well the bike sold at the start of the week

He decided to chuck it on trademe to see what he'd get, and got almost twice what I was going to pay.. ahh well.

I'm still on the lookout for something like this in the next couple of weeks in wellington

[MikeL]

I can echo that. It's all good advice especially about the helmet. I bought the cheapest (CMS) and after 6 months the visor is in a bad way. As for other gear most of mine is used: check out Cash Convertors and also in Auckland the Budget Shop in Onehunga Mall. I got a good pair of boots for $40 - lucky that they were my size because they were a real bargain. Leather jacket for $120, gloves for $20. The most expensive was leather pants at $200. Also bought (new) a clear plastic rain jacket with hood that goes under helmet for $90 from Mt Eden Motorcycles, and some plastic overpants for about $15 from The Warehouse. I'm now warm and dry for a fraction of the cost of buying everything new.