Advice on bike for sale?

**brianblaze** · 8th October 2012, 19:14

As stated, I've had a fair few bikes now, but this side of the world is a new thing altogether for me! Whenever I've gone to see a bike in Ireland, I had a mate come with me to check em and see how they were and if they were good value? I was spoilt in fairness, as he was a former Motorcycle Mechanic!

Anyway, I'm looking into checking out some bikes over the next few days, and on in particular is grabbing my attention! Problem is, it has a problem!!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-521056626.htm

But it might be something small, and if it is, that's a bloody bargain of a bike! Can any of you guys advise as to what it might be or what to look for?

Cheers!

**Glowerss** · 8th October 2012, 19:22

Originally Posted by brianblaze

As stated, I've had a fair few bikes now, but this side of the world is a new thing altogether for me! Whenever I've gone to see a bike in Ireland, I had a mate come with me to check em and see how they were and if they were good value? I was spoilt in fairness, as he was a former Motorcycle Mechanic!

Anyway, I'm looking into checking out some bikes over the next few days, and on in particular is grabbing my attention! Problem is, it has a problem!!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-521056626.htm

But it might be something small, and if it is, that's a bloody bargain of a bike! Can any of you guys advise as to what it might be or what to look for?

Cheers!

First, I'd like to suggest just having a poke around this forum a bit or use the search function, as this sort of thing gets asked on a daily basis and you could probably find heaps of good information!

Nannying aside, if it was me, I would stay the fuck away. Its a 20+ year old bike that's been thrashed to death every day in its life as sure as the sun rises. It might have a cheap buy in price, but you can rest assured that it'll cost you heaps in fixing the myriad of things that go wrong with it.

The reality is, that it hasn't been lovingly maintained all it's life with proper care taken by owners riding responsibly. It's a 250cc bike with an 18k RPM redline. It's probably had a long string of riders who were on their Ls and Rs owning for 6-12 months, thrashing it mercilessly, then flicking it off once they've achieved their full.

It's your money, but if it was me I'd be looking elsewhere. There are some well maintained older 250 IL4s, but the majority of them are well fucked. My suggestion would be look on the LAMS list for something suitable, or pick up a gn250/scorpio/cheap gpx/zzr250 until you can find something that makes you happy.

**FJRider** · 8th October 2012, 19:22

A "rattle" in the engine. And he is talking about putting a different engine in.

A (sport) 250 with 60,000 odd km's on it ... don't walk away.

RUN ...

Find one with NO issues. It WILL save you money.

**brianblaze** · 8th October 2012, 19:34

Good point lads! I've not really had to deal with any major engine issues is all, I've done the rest now! Thanks to buying a sh*t box GZ125 that had everything go wrong in two weeks!

Don't fancy doing that again! Cheers guys!

**mossy1200** · 8th October 2012, 19:45

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=520627800

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=520942115

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=521233384

stick them on your watchlist

**FJRider** · 8th October 2012, 19:47

Originally Posted by brianblaze

Good point lads! I've not really had to deal with any major engine issues is all, I've done the rest now! Thanks to buying a sh*t box GZ125 that had everything go wrong in two weeks!

Don't fancy doing that again! Cheers guys!

If the problem is top end ... a couple of grand on bits and work to fix.

Bottom end ... an imported motor ... about the same

Plus the hassle of having a bike that doesn't go.

But you might get a few weeks riding in before it goes bang ...

**brianblaze** · 8th October 2012, 20:00

Realistically, I just need six months of riding, then I'm selling it on again and heading south with the Missus, and she'll only go big distances in the cage! But I don't want to sell on something that's going to fall apart so I'll steer clear of the bad ones! Cheers!

**ducatilover** · 8th October 2012, 20:46

Being a ZXR250 it'll be wanting the cam chain tensioner serviced.
I'd go look at it if it were near me, chain tensioner on one of those is a walk in the park, but you'd want to make damn sure it's only that (their most common engine issue)

Mossy is on to it if you're wanting cheap.
That first one is a GSX250F Across, not a GSX-R, they're good little bikes, heaps of storage (tank is under the seat)
Second would be the most entertaining of the lot, but the one I'd be least likely to buy.
The GSX250 would be my pick, they're no ball of fire, but solid and comfy little bikes.

**brianblaze** · 9th October 2012, 18:43

Still looking around, have a few to see in the next few days. Picked up a lid today, so that's something!!!

No biking in the last 6 weeks.... I'm going mad!!!

**Rhys** · 9th October 2012, 20:04

I would be looking at the larger cc lam bikes, as up until now they have been full license holder bikes, so are less likely to have suffered from lack of servicing, being dropped and crashed

They should be easier to sell than the old trashed 250's

**brianblaze** · 9th October 2012, 20:06

Originally Posted by Rhys

I would be looking at the larger cc lam bikes, as up until now they have been full license holder bikes, so are less likely to have suffered from lack of servicing, being dropped and crashed

Most of them are outside the price range sadly

**ducatilover** · 9th October 2012, 23:24

Originally Posted by brianblaze

Most of them are outside the price range sadly

Mossy1200 on here recently sold a GSX550f or something similar for fuck all, and that should be LAMS compliant.

**Glowerss** · 10th October 2012, 11:22

Originally Posted by brianblaze

Most of them are outside the price range sadly

What kind of bikes are you looking for exactly? There's heaps of my bike which is an XJ400 on trademe for bugger fucking all. $2,000-$3,000 tops. They'd be a great bike for finishing up your licensing period. And at 144 kw/tonne they're pretty much as close to the allowed 150 kw/tonne as you're going to get.

I suppose if your only goal is an out and out full on sportsbike

then you're stuck with the beaten half to fucking death Il4s of the late 80s early 90s.