Frustrating searching for a used bike

[OddlyOrdinary]

Just wanted to vent, I'm very impulsive and have been looking for just two weeks. So I realize the good deals will show up eventually. But many of the people selling on Craigslist and cycletrader seem out of their mind.

Here's one where the guy just wants you to take over his payments:
http://austin.craigslist.org/mcy/2624701571.html
I'll quote, "The payments are $95 every 2 weeks for 4 Years. That totals $10,000 over the course of the loan. I know that sounds freakin' crazy but hey."

How do you get so upside down on your loan that you owe more in interest than the cost of the bike. Is your loan from uncle vinnie?

Another, used 6k miles and has been laid down for 4.850. More than I've been quoted OTD with a 2012.
http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/2618233110.html

I've seen at least four different bikes that had major scratches, broken fairings, and multiple thousand miles on the bike asking more than a new OTD price.

I work from home so I check two to three times a day and it's just been bugging me. It's looking like I'll find my first bike just in time to put it in the garage for winter. Thanks for letting me vent.

[Heed]

Yep.

I got the exact same problem. Thinking about just saying 'screw it' and buy new.

at least that way I can break it in myself and whatnot.

[OddlyOrdinary]

I'm thinking the same thing. I'm also bummed because I had a dealer selling an '09 brand new in Dallas promise to hold a bike for me. They were selling at like 3300, otd was around 3600. Called me up the next day to tell me it was already spoken for and he had made a mistake.

I was hoping to stay in the 3k-4k range to give myself extra cash to splurge on nicer protective gear. Looking to get out with gear+bike for 5k total.

The dealership down the street has had two CBR250R ABS's for three weeks. That kinda interests me too, but that blows my budget without any gear.

[coondog]

to me that would mean an 05-07 model. under 10k miles and $2k. can't beat that. dude just bought a blackie like my 05 in Houston for $1500, had like 3k miles-hardly ready for full synth fer chris' sake! said "americanlister" had 4 or 5 good ones, meaning pre-08 pig. also said plenty of rip off deals for the pig chumps, check it out, maybe you'll find an 08 for under $4k. no personal offense was meant in this post. to each his own brah, just wanted to give you a possible lead.

[massacremasses]

DUDE these people are crazy!! these prices are crazy!!

[calico1062]

I've had my perfect 2006 250R on Craigslist for $2300 for a month... it's perfect. In NJ. Just finally may have found a buyer. Guess it's all about where you are.

[highpsiguy]

I enjoy the thrill of the chase for a vehicle. Especially finding that perfect deal. If you don't enjoy it then go buy new. It takes time and it takes work. I'd rather invest my time than my money but that is just me.

[Bassman]

I sooooo hear ya! I've been look'n for several months. Many of the bikes I looked at were "iffy" to say the least. Two weeks ago I went to look a 3 different bikes all sold before I got there. I was sooo pissed. I ended up going to a local dealer just to sit on one and make sure it was still what I wanted. Come to find out this guy won it in a contest and sold it back to the dealer. I got the bike for tax, license, and registration. He had 3 phone calls and 2 peps in person asking for it while I still doing paper work, lol. These bikes sell because they are the sh##.

[Firehorse]

Buying new means that you'll have to decide which way to go on the break-in

How about the ebay classified ads?
http://dallas.ebayclassifieds.com/mo...output=gallery

[Yasko]

It's to early to by right now. Wait when the weather gets cold. Good things come to those that wait. Just keep putting your money away for the right deal like me. For $3k-$6k in DFW you can get a great steal of a bike after mid November.

Last year I got my 07 250 for $1k with 2500 miles on her.

[coondog]

Originally Posted by calico1062

I've had my perfect 2006 250R on Craigslist for $2300 for a month... it's perfect. In NJ. Just finally may have found a buyer. Guess it's all about where you are.

I had my darling girl on the list for 3 months at 1500 and nothing. Finally gave it to my mechanic who tweaked a few needs and put it out front at 2000. I bought it back at 1500 plus his parts and labor. No one else deserves her far as i see.

[coondog]

Originally Posted by Yasko

It's to early to by right now. Wait when the weather gets cold. Good things come to those that wait. Just keep putting your money away for the right deal like me. For $3k-$6k in DFW you can get a great steal of a bike after mid November.

Last year I got my 07 250 for $1k with 2500 miles on her.

Right on again my man. I didn't know it got that cold around DFW to have to store or get heated. How is the winter there John. Please answer personal mail if you do at all as I have things going on, not that you can escape alex "guru to whore" the BOSS.

[ninja250]

Originally Posted by ducducgooseit

Crazy crazy crazy

You crack me up dood.

But many of the people selling on Craigslist and cycletrader seem out of their mind.

You would not believe your eyes down here in SoCal, the land of the trashed streetfighters!
you ain't seen anything yet, Consider yourself lucky to not be looking in my market. lol
Carry on, you'll find one. You seem to be able to weed through the morons.
This is a good thing.

Now just be sure you see the bike in the daylight.
Rule #1

Rule #2
If it's in a garage or shed, pull it out and look at it in the daylight.

[choneofakind]

Look at pregens if you're worried about price. I got my '99 with 6300 miles on it, with all maintenance and it 100% stock condition (only 1 scratch) for $1600.

pre-gens go cheap since everyone wants the new body style.

[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Look at pregens if you're worried about price. I got my '99 with 6300 miles on it, with all maintenance and it 100% stock condition (only 1 scratch) for $1600.

pre-gens go cheap since everyone wants the new body style.

unfortunately that isnt always the case.. I found my new gen for cheaper then almost all the pregens on craigslist. The guy just wanted to sell it for a semifair price...

[OddlyOrdinary]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. If I can't find a bike in the next week or two I'll probably just wait until the winter. I'm one of the crew that really likes the new gen style much more than the previous version. But it looks like any solid running pre-gen sells consistently for $1,500. So I might go that route and casually watch for a new-gen to 'upgrade' to.

I don't really see myself upgrading to a bigger bike but then again maybe I'll get the upgrade fever down the road. But from the little riding I've done the turns are the most interesting part of riding to me. That's when I felt the most connected with the bike.

[coondog]

you can pretty much do whatever you want to the oldie and it will be taken by the girl. i will say the newbie units are gorgious over the pre-s, but i don't use plastics (fairings, bulbous noses, huge gauge pckgs. blah blah woof woof) so no diff. except performance for me. you say impulsive but are showing the restraint and patience which you must. Ride on.

[Yasko]

Originally Posted by coondog

How is the winter there John.

It gets down in the upper 20s in late winter. Any time it's lower than 38f, I take my car.

[2011Ninja250R]

I have a mint condition 2011 SE with a ton of extras that I am looking to sell. PM me if you are close enough and/or interested.

[cuz]

omg there crazy man i got mine used in HOUSTON bellair 09 w/4500miles 4 $2000 w/clean title just for the rear left faring crack which i relapsed for 4 $50 dude just cip searching good luck dont give up i was looking for around 7 moths i think i went a little crazy lol gl bro

[cuz]

ohh and i found it using craigslist w/ a app for android called craigsnotfication it looks like the peace sign purple great app again gl

[n4mwd]

Must depend on where you live. No shortage of them here in S. FL. Perhaps if you would be willing to take a drive...

kawasaky ninja 250 1999 - $780 (7863191871)

86 Kawasaki GPZ Ninja 900 - $600 (lantana)

2000 Kawasaki Ninja EX-500R - $1200 (Lake Worth, FL)

250 Kawasaki ninja - $1500 (Palm Beach)

ninja zx7 - $1500 (hallandale&i-95)

2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250 - $2800 (SW Miami)

[Hopmix]

same in atlanta. everywhere for sale. 2700-4000 for new gen depending on mileage

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/mcy/2629693039.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/mcy/2628353402.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/mcy/2626261535.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/mcy/2620218950.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/mcy/2609376024.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/mcy/2599189942.html

bunch more. 400 to ship to texas though. you could road trip it though in a truck for less. I would look in arkansas and Louisiana though. I saw a lot of good deals there when I was looking. That a reasonable drive for you.

[Hopmix]

Originally Posted by OddlyOrdinary

I'm thinking the same thing. I'm also bummed because I had a dealer selling an '09 brand new in Dallas promise to hold a bike for me. They were selling at like 3300, otd was around 3600. Called me up the next day to tell me it was already spoken for and he had made a mistake.

I was hoping to stay in the 3k-4k range to give myself extra cash to splurge on nicer protective gear. Looking to get out with gear+bike for 5k total.

The dealership down the street has had two CBR250R ABS's for three weeks. That kinda interests me too, but that blows my budget without any gear.

does he have any Non ABS? I love my CB- uh R.

[OddlyOrdinary]

No, just one black ABS and one Red. From talking with me it sounded like he was trying not to push the bike to hard like he didn't want to seem desperate. All of those bikes you listed sound pretty good. I have one potential lead from a dealer that's closed today, so we'll see how that goes. Also kind of screwed because of my location. I don't live within 120miles of a major city, and uHaul won't rent a trailer to Ford Explorers to tow a bike back with.

Anyone know why someone would want a bike with advertisements all over it like the monster bikes? Seems ultra tacky.

[Hopmix]

where are you in texas. Ill keep and eye out for reasonable deals. Also you can rent a Pickup form enterprise for 200 for the weekend. 120 miles is nothing bro. thats 2 hours. can do that in one day.

[OddlyOrdinary]

I'm in Bryan. I figured the uHaul or Budget pickup truck would be the best bet, but driving to Houston to find out the bikes not as advertised and blowing 120-180bucks would suck. I'd be much more open to it if I had one of those trailer in a bag things, or the motorcycle hitch carrier. Those seem pretty expensive though.

I have an application on my phone that alerts me to new ex250, and ninja 250 listings in austin, houston, and dallas that I started using yesterday so maybe it'll help.

It'd also help if I liked the pregen '00-'07s. I just don't much care for the look so I'd want a pretty good deal. Though I have though about getting a pregen and still watching for a newgen just less frequently.

[THE BIG SITT]

If I were you, I'd find one that was close to the price you wanted and try to negotiate with the seller. The one I got was listed for $3100 on CL and I got him down to $2500.