Ninja 250 Purchase Help

jdollente · January 13th, 2014, 07:31 AM

Brand new to the forum. Wasn't sure where exactly to post this. Basically just finished my BRC course (offered for free for military members) and am now on the market for a new bike. Figured id start small, and after riding a buddies Ninja 250, I was convinced this was the way to go. Anyways, theres a bike for sale in the local area, and me being new, wanted to know if it was a good deal. Ill give all the details to the questions I asked

2009 Ninja 250 R
---17k miles; majority local; very very small town
---Regularly maintained and serviced
---Last service done in Sept of last year included new:
- brake pads
- tires
- chain
- oil
- carb flush
---Piston rings replaced once by dealer
---Crack on left tail fairing
---Chain guard missing
- Both of these resulted from the chain breaking on the road, whipping up and breaking both
--- Other then that, no aftermarket mods, bike is completely stock and parts replaced with OEM only

Listed sale price is $1000. Too high? Fair price? Keep looking?

csmith12 · January 13th, 2014, 07:42 AM

Welcome Jeremy!

Sounds like a fair (maybe even better than fair) deal to me but of course looking at the bike goes a long way to assessing value.

PartsNinja · January 13th, 2014, 08:11 AM

That is a very cheap price and this slightly worries me. The chain breaking can cause and enormous amount of damage if the free end of the chain strikes the wrong spot. Make sure you take this in to a dealer or trustworthy repair shop before you purchase it to check the engine case for damage.

If I were offering this bike for sale, I would be be more in the $1800-2000 range.

You will have to look LONG and hard to find a <$1000 deal on a running 2008+ bike with no title problems that isnt UGLY.

If the bike checks out, SNAG IT.

AND (shameless plug) Don't forget to check out www.OEMninjaparts.com if you decide to replace any of the damaged/broken parts on your new bike.

Brian · January 13th, 2014, 01:50 PM

I agree with what PartsNinja said. 2009's usually go for around the $3k range in good to great condition. At this time of year, and depending on where you live it may be give or take $500 less. $1000 is just screaming that there are bigger problems with the bike and sometimes they are hidden from what you can see from the outside. Just keep your eyes open, be aware if he is trying to take advantage of you or not. I know it has some miles on it and etc, but he's either lowballing the price for a good reason, or a bad one.

On the contrary, there are people who are just trying to get rid of the damn thing because their wives are screaming at them to get it out of the house, or to push up to a bigger bike and sell it before the spring.

Your Ninja will find its way to sensai..

Good luck! I just bought mine about 2 months ago.

JohnnyBravo · January 13th, 2014, 02:58 PM

Welcome to the forum...
Sounds like a sweet deal, hella cheap, so I would look at it good, you test ride it? What about the dealership an piston rings???
That's less than half a months pay unless your FNG

I'm no help I got a 300 off the lot for my first bike

Alex · January 13th, 2014, 03:38 PM

Sounds like a great deal. Make sure that the title is clear (i.e. the person selling you actually has the title paperwork in hand in their own name, and can sign the bike over to you when you purchase it). Make sure that it's not a salvage title, which would explain the relatively low value.

This sticky thread has some good links about what to check whenever you're looking at a used bike.

quarterliter · January 13th, 2014, 08:08 PM

Any idea why the rings were replaced?

Sykes92 · January 13th, 2014, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

On the contrary, there are people who are just trying to get rid of the damn thing

I got mine that way haha. The dude had rode it for 5 months, wanted a GSXR, just wanted to get rid of it (it was winter, bike sales are slow I guess) got it for $2550 in good condition, just some cosmetic scratches.
Came with:
Woodcraft Clip-Ons
Yoshimura Adjustable Rearsets
Shogun Frame Sliders (one damaged from OG owner crash)
HMF Slip-On Exhaust
Upgraded aftermarket air filter
Double Bubble Smoked windscreen.
+More

Sometimes deals are almost too good to be true. But I must agree with everyone else $1000 is kinda iffy for a 09.

cuong-nutz · January 13th, 2014, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quarterliter

Any idea why the rings were replaced?

My guess is that bike was not properly broken in and lost compression. I've seen this happen on 2 bikes already.

Ish · January 17th, 2014, 03:40 PM

I would jump on that deal.

The 2008-2012 250R go over $2,000+ here in Southern California regardless of mileage

January 13th, 2014, 07:31 AM	#1
jdollente ninjette.org newbie Name: Jeremy Location: Bay Area, CA Join Date: Jan 2014 Motorcycle(s): None yet Posts: 1	Ninja 250 Purchase Help Brand new to the forum. Wasn't sure where exactly to post this. Basically just finished my BRC course (offered for free for military members) and am now on the market for a new bike. Figured id start small, and after riding a buddies Ninja 250, I was convinced this was the way to go. Anyways, theres a bike for sale in the local area, and me being new, wanted to know if it was a good deal. Ill give all the details to the questions I asked 2009 Ninja 250 R ---17k miles; majority local; very very small town ---Regularly maintained and serviced ---Last service done in Sept of last year included new: - brake pads - tires - chain - oil - carb flush ---Piston rings replaced once by dealer ---Crack on left tail fairing ---Chain guard missing - Both of these resulted from the chain breaking on the road, whipping up and breaking both --- Other then that, no aftermarket mods, bike is completely stock and parts replaced with OEM only Listed sale price is $1000. Too high? Fair price? Keep looking?

January 13th, 2014, 07:42 AM	#2
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Welcome Jeremy! Sounds like a fair (maybe even better than fair) deal to me but of course looking at the bike goes a long way to assessing value. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

January 13th, 2014, 08:11 AM	#3
PartsNinja Ninja Parts Master Name: Dan Location: Houma, Louisiana Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ducati Streetfighter 1098, 2014 Honda CB1100 Cafe, 2007 SV1000S, Quite a few 2008-2012 Ninja 250s Posts: 366	That is a very cheap price and this slightly worries me. The chain breaking can cause and enormous amount of damage if the free end of the chain strikes the wrong spot. Make sure you take this in to a dealer or trustworthy repair shop before you purchase it to check the engine case for damage. If I were offering this bike for sale, I would be be more in the $1800-2000 range. You will have to look LONG and hard to find a <$1000 deal on a running 2008+ bike with no title problems that isnt UGLY. If the bike checks out, SNAG IT. AND (shameless plug) Don't forget to check out www.OEMninjaparts.com if you decide to replace any of the damaged/broken parts on your new bike. __________________________________________________ Add me on Instagram: @d_jalb Or follow me on eBay: PartsNinja
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

January 13th, 2014, 01:50 PM	#4
Brian ninjette.org sage Name: Brian Location: Boston MA Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): 08 250R Posts: 639	I agree with what PartsNinja said. 2009's usually go for around the $3k range in good to great condition. At this time of year, and depending on where you live it may be give or take $500 less. $1000 is just screaming that there are bigger problems with the bike and sometimes they are hidden from what you can see from the outside. Just keep your eyes open, be aware if he is trying to take advantage of you or not. I know it has some miles on it and etc, but he's either lowballing the price for a good reason, or a bad one. On the contrary, there are people who are just trying to get rid of the damn thing because their wives are screaming at them to get it out of the house, or to push up to a bigger bike and sell it before the spring. Your Ninja will find its way to sensai.. Good luck! I just bought mine about 2 months ago.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

January 13th, 2014, 02:58 PM	#5
JohnnyBravo Certifiable nontundrum Name: Harper Location: NC Milkshake stand Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16	Welcome to the forum... Sounds like a sweet deal, hella cheap, so I would look at it good, you test ride it? What about the dealership an piston rings??? That's less than half a months pay unless your FNG I'm no help I got a 300 off the lot for my first bike __________________________________________________

January 13th, 2014, 03:38 PM	#6
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Sounds like a great deal. Make sure that the title is clear (i.e. the person selling you actually has the title paperwork in hand in their own name, and can sign the bike over to you when you purchase it). Make sure that it's not a salvage title, which would explain the relatively low value. This sticky thread has some good links about what to check whenever you're looking at a used bike. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

January 13th, 2014, 08:08 PM	#7
quarterliter ninjette.org guru Name: Kevin Location: Madison Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Ninja 250 Posts: 465	Any idea why the rings were replaced?

January 17th, 2014, 03:40 PM	#10
Ish ninjette.org member Name: Ish Location: San Clemente, California Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 2001 KX125 2001 Posts: 85	I would jump on that deal. The 2008-2012 250R go over $2,000+ here in Southern California regardless of mileage

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