WTB: 250cc suitable for beginner < $3k

[Soul.Trader]

Hi, I'm looking for my first bike. I'm after a 250cc motorcycle suitable for a beginner. My top dollar is $3,000, so anything under that is considered. Prefer something in the Bay of Plenty area, but will travel for a good deal.

Regards,

Chris Doms

[awayatc]

Don't know what you after, but this is quite young with low mileage for a good price....http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-136621865.htm
Muffler not to hard to get and put on,
Revinning is only a little bit more then the price of registration,(forgot how much, done it myself a while ago...no dramas...Ring up VTNZ to find out)
Good luck

[Soul.Trader]

Thanks awayatc. I've seen that one, but the fact it's so young with a muffler in such poor condition seems quite suspect to me. Not to mention that it's lacking a rego, something just doesn't add up for a 2003 bike with 4000km. I'll keep it on my watchlist, but I'm not too sure about it.

Cheers.

[sunhuntin]

honestly, i wouldnt touch that with a barge pole.
gn250s are good to learn on, and are basically a rite of passage, but if you decide to get one, try and get a vintage one. the 80s ones are the best, whereas the modern ones just dont last as well.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-136401687.htm

when i started, i was on an 86 ginny. got hit by a car, and still she started first pop... bought an 06 ginny after that.
im now on a 98 virago 250, which i bought after getting sick of the 06 ginny being repaired more than ridden. bought her at 38thou k, and now sitting on 54thou and change... thats from november 06 to yesterday. bluff and back twice, without falter.

really, it depends on what kind of bike you want. ginnys are good because you can step from on of them to either a cruiser or a sportsbike without much difficulty, and the 80s ones are very forgiving when stuffing up gear changes, or stalling at the lights and all other things you do when learning.

[awayatc]

honestly, i wouldnt touch that with a barge pole.
.

Bikes are not like cars...they are a lot easier to check....I can tell you in 5 min wether its ok or not.....If a single cylinder doesn't smoke leak or rattle it is good enough. parts are easy to get...
The rest trust your own judgement.. , does the bike look and feel trashed, .what do you think of the seller....
Could have just put on a muffler to be loud and cool.....
I'd say 4000 km's not enough to trash it...I would definitely have a look if it is not to far....

[Romeo]

A 45hp stonkin' beast for under $3k.

This caught my eye. Learner friendly? Not really. Fun? YES.

[Wally Simmonds]

If you're anything like me, you'll get bored of the GN pretty quickly. I had an 88 and ended up selling it - now have a GSXRR 250, which is an awesome bike in comparison, but that's not comparing apples with apples

Looking forward to getting a CBR 600 in a couple of months.

[wildcat_lgf]

If you can stretch your budget a bit for the 2nd bike...
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=65500

[Soul.Trader]

Thanks for all the responses. Romeo - thast's a beautiful bike. Perhaps worth a look, thanks. Wildcat - that would make an excellent 2nd bike

[dnos]

Been thinking of selling my bike, for that kind of price i may part with it. If at all interested get in touch.
Its a 1990 Suzuki Bandit. 56odd k's from memory.

[Coyote]

A 45hp stonkin' beast for under $3k.

This caught my eye. Learner friendly? Not really. Fun? YES.

That'd be learner friendly. 250 4 strokes are good bikes.

Looks wicked too

[Waxxa]

It would be hard to go past a Suzuki GN 250, long time workhorse for Suzuki and at $3300 (incl. ORC) for a brand new bike with warranty this could be a consideration and certainly piece of mind in running over buying a second hand bike.

Even if you put some of the cost in financing it, it would be well worth it.
I used a mates' GN 250 for some time a while ago and they are great for what they are.

[sefer]

Don't discount a 2 stroke 150 as a first bike either, you'll pick a good one up for under that, and they'll easily keep up with pretty much every 250 4 stroke.