How much for an '89????

[martypants]

Gotta get this out of my system, 250 prices are so overated! I definatly need to change jobs and start importing! Have been looking for 3 weeks now, first bike I look at is what I want, black ZXR, very tidy, 1989, $5995......can have it for 5500 the guy says.. now I know about my impulsive buying devil on my shoulder, so I smother him and have my daughter drag me away, must look around, must look around, after all it is almost 20 years old!! looking, looking , looking... find another one, black ZXR, untidy, cracked fairing, numerous dents, scratches 1989, $5995 ......can have it for 5250 the guy says. No thanks. Id pay $4000 tops for it. Get the feeling that learners are getting a raw deal cause we have to go thru this bullshit license system, I know that maybe I should look at cheaper alternatives, but I dont want to! When I bought my car I wanted a skyline, I didnt go and buy a 1965 mini! Whats the license system abroad like, and if the 250 restrictions dont apply, whats the prices of 250's like? Would also like to know how much a used ZXR, CBR, ZZR etc costs to buy and import? Excuse the long post, but felt the need to vent somewhere. Maybe just to keen to get back on 2 wheels, will keep looking around.

[Paul in NZ]

Suck it in and buy a GN 250 or the new Yamaha. They seem expensive but the hold their value well.

You pay for performance.....

[ManDownUnder]

What Paul said. I suspect the high performing 250s cost a lot because of demand - i.e. there ar a lot of people not able/allowed/licenced to ride bigger bikes...

So the suply of 250s is low relative to demand... = inflated price.

Go the GN250 or similar ($3300 new...!) go for your full licence as agressively as you can and sell the GN in exchange for a bigger bike while the GN holds as much residual value as possible.

The only caviat would be to change up to a bigger bike only when you are capable of rding it... and not killing yourself. Always an important aspect to consider.

[DingDong]

Fuel prices have boosted the demand for small bikes I think...
But the prices sound like crap to me, 5-6k for an old wreak! (thats what your looking at) 6k will buy a new Hyosung 250 (sp?) sports bike.

If I were you... Id buy a bigger bike for you 5k (you'll get a good one for 5k)and just avoid the cops until you get a full licence...

[McJim]

I totally agree that there is a ridiculous trend towards paying $6,000 for a 50 year old 250cc bike with more than 1,000,000km on the clock. The only way to stop people from asking these ridiculous prices is to stop paying them.

I spent $6,500 on a 2003 VTR with 3,600km on the clock coz I wouldn't pay $5,000 for anything older than 2000.

At the end of the day it's a bike you will only have to spend 9 months on before you get your full licence and buy the bike you want.

If it's speed you want though - get a 2 stroke - my wife's 150 is faster than my 250.

[hellnback]

Yeah, just buy a bigger bike, you can pick them up reasonably cheap! Then all you need to do is not crash into anything, not get pulled over & not have it stolen.... hmmm risky? I think so.... better than paying a fortune for a 250? maybe....

[McJim]

Get a decent ZXR400 for about $5,000....And put 250 stickers all over the bugger - no one ('cept bikers) will know any different!

[Coyote]

At the end of the day it's a bike you will only have to spend 9 months on before you get your full licence and buy the bike you want.

Or 18-24 months if you're under 25. Which is a long time on a GN

Get a RG150. They're quick and cheap. I used to have a CBR250RR. Great bike but too expensive, so I sold it and gave my parents back the money. Still have to owe them the money spent to fix it after crashing it

[-df-]

I really wish I'd kept my ZXR250C. Purchased it back in '99 for $1,900!!! (although I got it pretty cheap then as it needed a little plastic welding, but no scrapes on the bike).

could have sold it for $6k...who would have thought that back then.

I remember looking at a pretty good condition 86-87 fzr250 for $950 thinking...yeah...not that cheap and moved onto getting the ZXR.

Oh how times change.

[MidnightMike]

BUY MY BIKE!!!!

Much better than the gn250 and the other crap.

[Theatre]

If it's speed you want though - get a 2 stroke - my wife's 150 is faster than my 250.

What this man says, get a 2 stroke! Even if it goes completely tits up, you're never going to spend the savings over the zxr on fixing it. You could look into the 250 twins such as the VTR or the GPX, they dont seem to go for such ridiculous prices as the 4s. Remember seeing a hornet going for a decent price on tardme a while ago too.

[martypants]

Thanks for the offer, will pass at present, nice bike tho.

[martypants]

I had a mighty GT380 many years back and rode it down to hawkes bay, remember lying in bed that night thinking that a swarm of bees had invaded my head! Me and my mate stoppd on one of our smoko breaks and he told me he didnt want to follow me anymore due to the oil fields developing on his helmet! haha Think I want a 4 stroke this time round. Was thinking bout the bigger bike small stickers, but thought I'd get to my 9 months and get busted coming back from booking my full! Thought briefly bout the gn and scorpio, that was it tho.

[T.I.E]

250's are expensive, and if your starting out buying the gear with it is a bit much.
for alot of younger ones or first timers, it is cheaper and better to get a car.
bit of a shame.

[Ixion]

250s aren't dear. Nor are 150s. 250s that manage to evade the intent of the law are dear.

If you MUST have 200kph while on a learners- don't complain if it costs.

You can pick up completely serviceable bikes for < $1000. Entirely adequate for learning to ride - and having a whole heap of fun, which is what it's supposed to be about.