The 250 market

[FiendishRogue]

Rather than buying a bike here in the UK and shipping it, I plan on acquiring one when I get to you, as despite there being (relatively) more machines available here, the prices seem inflated in comparison to the machines i've seen on site in NZ.

There don't seem to be a large amount of dealers in the Welly(ish) area, or at least dealers that have 250s for sale (though admittedly i'm searching online from halfway around the world and there could be a great place that just doesn't have a website..).

I've read forum posts about the market changing due to the impending law changes (going to the allowed bike list rather than a simple cc max), but I think I still want a 250 for now (I presume lower tax? Forgive my lack of knowledge as not a clue about NZ motoring ), especially given my relative lack of riding experience (zero at riding in NZ!).

Ok, so what i'm really asking is: are the majority of 2nd hand sales done on TradeMe or similar sites? In general if you buy from a dealer is there any room for negotiation with price or are they fairly strict? Does anyone have any recommendations at all?

Thanks in advance.

[PirateJafa]

The "250 market" is often exaggerated. $3-4k will get you a nice second-hand two-fiddy either via TradeMe or a dealer.

[CookMySock]

NZ is not a big place. You can easily get on the phone and call around the dealers and buy something, and have them ship it or else take a trailer or van and go collect it.

It is very easy to use trademe, as there is a wide collection of bikes on there at any one time - a bike supermarket if you will.. Buyer beware applies - a few have bought faulty bikes and been unable to return them.

You will find most people wil drop 10% off their price when asked.

I think the law changes will not affect the learner-bike market much.

There is no tax related to engine size.

You will be perfectly ok buying a bike here. There is little or nothing to be concerned about.

And welcome to NZ!

Steve

[fizbin]

The law change is being postponed until late next year now from what i hear so don't let that influence your choice it could be a while before that kicks in.
like the guy a couple of post before says, 2-4 k should see you into i nice bike or you can pick a new one up for around 6-8 depending on what you want.
as DB said trade me is buyer beware but most people are straight up.
welcome to the site

[scracha]

Why not pass your test in the UK and buy a 600 or summit when you arrie here?

[Griffin]

Pleanty of good bike shops in NZ - TradeMe ok but buyer beware. Welcome to NZ when you get here

[FiendishRogue]

The "250 market" is often exaggerated. $3-4k will get you a nice second-hand two-fiddy either via TradeMe or a dealer.

NZ is not a big place. You can easily get on the phone and call around the dealers and buy something, and have them ship it or else take a trailer or van and go collect it.

It is very easy to use trademe, as there is a wide collection of bikes on there at any one time - a bike supermarket if you will.. Buyer beware applies - a few have bought faulty bikes and been unable to return them.

You will find most people wil drop 10% off their price when asked.

I think the law changes will not affect the learner-bike market much.

There is no tax related to engine size.

You will be perfectly ok buying a bike here. There is little or nothing to be concerned about.

And welcome to NZ!

Steve

The law change is being postponed until late next year now from what i hear so don't let that influence your choice it could be a while before that kicks in.
like the guy a couple of post before says, 2-4 k should see you into i nice bike or you can pick a new one up for around 6-8 depending on what you want.
as DB said trade me is buyer beware but most people are straight up.
welcome to the site

Ok that sounds great, reassuring to hear the voices of experience
And thanks for the welcome

[McJim]

You're not seriously considering going through the NZ learner - restricted - full licence system are you?

Bear in mind there is a time limit imposed between stages. Once you receive your learner licence you cannot sit your restricted licence for 6 months.
Once you pass your restricted test you canot sit your full licence for 6 months.

You can knock 3 months off one of these stages with an "approved course" and you can add a few months to the whole thing if you are under 25.

In the UK if you're good enough to pass you are good enough to pass....or it used to be that way in the good ol' days....

[CookMySock]

Rubbish. He can bypass the whole licensing system in ten days, for $22, with an exemption.

[FiendishRogue]

Why not pass your test in the UK and buy a 600 or summit when you arrie here?

Ah, two reasons...we're shortly to have an addition to the family so my attention will be elsewhere for a few months, meaning no time to practice for and take/pass test between now and coming over to NZ. Also a cost thing, over here the test is uber strict, to the point where you need to have either practiced for months and months on your own bike or else take a very expensive ($2000+!) 5 day intensive course in order to be prepared to pass the test :s

So, riding gets put on the back burner till we get to NZ!

[FiendishRogue]

You're not seriously considering going through the NZ learner - restricted - full licence system are you?

Bear in mind there is a time limit imposed between stages. Once you receive your learner licence you cannot sit your restricted licence for 6 months.
Once you pass your restricted test you canot sit your full licence for 6 months.

You can knock 3 months off one of these stages with an "approved course" and you can add a few months to the whole thing if you are under 25.

In the UK if you're good enough to pass you are good enough to pass....or it used to be that way in the good ol' days....

I've run out of time to take/pass the test over here otherwise yes would have done exactly that!

Rubbish. He can bypass the whole licensing system in ten days, for $22, with an exemption.

That's interesting to know, so if I apply for an exemption and say i've been riding/learning in the UK for 6+ months already they'll let me bypass the wait times then?

[CookMySock]

over here the test is uber strict, to the point where you need to have either practiced for months and months on your own bike or else take a very expensive ($2000+!) 5 day intensive course in order to be prepared to pass the test :s

Ick! Just come to NZ with any license and start from scratch here if you have to. The NZ learners license is cheap and dead simple to get, and you will have plenty of fun on your 250 for a few months.

if I apply for an exemption and say i've been riding/learning in the UK for 6+ months already they'll let me bypass the wait times then?

Almost guaranteed. If you can show them you were issued a UK motorcycle learners license more than 6 months ago, they will almost certainly let you sit your restricted license test right away. Very soon (a month?) after that, you simply apply for an exemption to ride your larger cc bike and they give it to you. Thats it.

They really do seem to hand out exemptions to all and sundry, so you will get one for sure, particularly if you can explain to them you have other (like offroad) motorcycling experience as well.

Search KB for "exemption" for lots and lots of reading material on this.

Steve

[FiendishRogue]

Ick! Just come to NZ with any license and start from scratch here if you have to. The NZ learners license is cheap and dead simple to get, and you will have plenty of fun on your 250 for a few months.

Almost guaranteed. If you can show them you were issued a UK motorcycle learners license more than 6 months ago, they will almost certainly let you sit your restricted license test right away. Very soon (a month?) after that, you simply apply for an exemption to ride your larger cc bike and they give it to you. Thats it.

They really do seem to hand out exemptions to all and sundry, so you will get one for sure, particularly if you can explain to them you have other (like offroad) motorcycling experience as well.

Search KB for "exemption" for lots and lots of reading material on this.

Steve

Fantastic Thanks for the suggestions!

[carver]

Rather than buying a bike here in the UK and shipping it, I plan on acquiring one when I get to you, as despite there being (relatively) more machines available here, the prices seem inflated in comparison to the machines i've seen on site in NZ.

There don't seem to be a large amount of dealers in the Welly(ish) area, or at least dealers that have 250s for sale (though admittedly i'm searching online from halfway around the world and there could be a great place that just doesn't have a website..).

I've read forum posts about the market changing due to the impending law changes (going to the allowed bike list rather than a simple cc max), but I think I still want a 250 for now (I presume lower tax? Forgive my lack of knowledge as not a clue about NZ motoring ), especially given my relative lack of riding experience (zero at riding in NZ!).

Ok, so what i'm really asking is: are the majority of 2nd hand sales done on TradeMe or similar sites? In general if you buy from a dealer is there any room for negotiation with price or are they fairly strict? Does anyone have any recommendations at all?

Thanks in advance.

i have a nice 250 i can sell you for 4k

[middleaged2wheeler]

Tax ??? anything over 50cc and power output of 2 kilowatts pays the same road tax or REGISTRATION as called here.
bikes of 100cc and 1200cc all pay the same rate of road tax. UNLESS you own a farm and can get a farm exemption and that brings it right down.
Hot topic this farm exemption, cars can get one years rego for $80--0 odd dollars if they stay within 20kms of property--ha ha. ANYWAY A WHOLE DIFFERENT TOPIC. cheers