Where did you find your 250?

[komohana]

i was initially looking for something in the 750cc and above range, used, with oh...about $3k to play with, so was hunting craigslist and local paper when i noticed a 250 for $1,500 on the website of a local radio station that lists what people call in to sell during a 'trade radio' program they air. the name it was listed under plus the bike and phone number made me realize that this was my landlord who several months ago mentioned he was selling his wife's ninja 250 for $3,200 or something like this. read this at work and came home to find landlord on property and so asked him about it.
2003
1,800 miles
$1,500 ?!?!
+test ride =
SOLD!

[Purspeed]

Craigslist

Had a deposit with Advanced Kawasaki in Anaheim, CA (great owner), but they couldn't get my bike in time.

[jpnfrk]

Couldn't help myself and had to do some stats, here's what we have so far:

Dealership: 13
Craiglist: 12
Other: 5

So far so good...

[00v_Lucky]

Update on the list

Dealership: 13
Craiglist: 12
Other: 5



Stealership: 1

[GreezMunky]

Bought both my bike and my husbands from a dealership. Paid in full for my bike Sept 08 and picked him up 23 Oct 08. Paid in full for my husbands bike very end of Dec 08 and his bike just came in end of Feb 09. Granted the reasons we got our bikes so quick after we paid for them was because we had deposits on them all the way back in July/Aug 08..

[BradtheAg]

went back to the dealership today. the salesman i talked to was pretty nice but he also sold me very hard on getting a 600cc bike. he spoke highly of the 250 as a beginner bike but said he thought i would get bored with the lack of power quickly, which is a big concern i already had. i love the idea of starting with such an easy bike to learn on with the 250...but i'm also somewhat addicted to HP and when he started up the zx-6r i was hooked. i left more the dealership more confused than when i got there.

[kkim]

he started it up and you were hooked on the HP?

I think he saw one when you came walking through the door. It's their plan to sell you a more expensive bike after selling you the 250. He's just testing you to see how gullible you are. Learn to ride the 250 and when you are sure it is holding back your superior riding abilities, then move up to the 600.

[BradtheAg]

yeah i definitely understand the upsell process...its that just i had already had these same concerns before i talked to him. i read today that the bike does 0-60 in 7.5. my z06 did it in 3.9. i am just not sure it will be enough bike. i worry about being scared to get on the highway with it or just being underwhelmed and disappointed with the performance in general.

on the other hand i've never even ridden a motorcycle before so i really have no idea what it's like.

[kkim]

if all you are looking for is straight line speed, you bought the wrong bike. I recommend a busa.

If you value a light, highly maneuverable bike that can attain a high entry and exit speed through a turn, then you have the right bike. Have you done any high speed cornering yet with your bike? If not, you have not ridden the bike at all close to it's potential and I suggest you learn how to first before "moving up".

[BradtheAg]

i've never ridden any motorcycle ever.

[Alex]

Though they both run on gasoline, a motorcycle and an automobile aren't nearly as similar as some might assume. What makes motorcycles so entertaining for those that are into speed and control, is that their power is almost irrelevant to the entire experience. It's also what makes most motorcycle racing so much more interesting to watch than most forms of car racing. On bikes, it really is 90% rider performance, 10% bike performance. In cars, the ratio is pretty much flipped. Want to go fast in a car on the street? Stomp the gas pedal and steer. Might be loud, might be fun, might even be entertaining. But it certainly isn't a display of any skill. Even "fast driving" on twisty roads takes very little skill in a car.

On a bike all of that changes. An unskilled rider on a GSX-R1000 with 160+ hp will be embarassed every time by a skilled rider on a Ninja 250 with 26 hp, as long as the road isn't perfectly straight and level for as far as the eye can see. The real and lasting thrills on a bike aren't from drag racing, or tucking down and going 180 mph. For one thing, going fast in a straight line doesn't really prove much to anyone who's into bikes. Any schmuck with $5K can pick up a used literbike (or even a 600) and hit 150 mph faster than any car on the road in a straight line. Doesn't mean anything. It won't give you the rush you're looking for, all you'll remember is that guy you saw pulling away from you on a twisty road on a 20 year old piece of crap bike while you were giving everything you had on a theoretically much more capable bike. It's about the handling. It's about getting the most out of a machine. It's fun. We promise.

[kkim]

Dammit... something's wrong here... Alex and I agree on something.

[BradtheAg]

that makes sense alex. i see you also own a zx-10r. which of the two bikes do you prefer to ride?

its pretty hard to shop for a product you've never used before so excuse my ignorance on all this. i was dead set on the 250 before i walked in to that dealership. now i'm completely conflicted.

[Alex]

I put more miles on the 250 this past year than the ZX-10R. They both have their place, but more often than not, I have more fun on the 250 on the street. I take the 10R out from time to time on the street, but it's mostly my trackbike. It's much more taxing to ride quickly on the street than the 250, and while that has its own appeal, sometimes I'm not in the mood for that.

The 250 teaches a rider how to hold corner speed, how to use momentum, how to keep a bike in the proper gear, teaches cornering lines, all of that. It's also a very forgiving bike. It allows for a rider to make small errors without those errors coming back immediately to smack them in the face. I'm most specifically talking about throttle control here. What happens if you unintentionally give more throttle than planned on a 250, perhaps if you hit a bump in the road while on a turn, or if your hand jerks a bit because you weren't concentrating? Very little. What happens if you make the same error on a bike with 4+ times the power? Well, a bunch of things could happen, from the rear wheel spinning up and stepping out, the front end getting light or even lifting, or even just unintended acceleration that spooks a new rider and causes them to run wide.

Aside from the accommodations for small newbie errors, it's often more fun for experienced riders to wring out a bike rather than using a small fraction of the capabilities of another bike. It's fun to redline a bike in 4 gears and realize that you're still not breaking the law much. My 10R nudges 100 mph in 1st gear, and has 5 more gears. Entertaining on the track, but just silly on the street. It's fun to keep up with much more powerful bikes on the 250. I know I'm doing more with less, it takes focus, and it's terribly entertaining.

Look, nobody's telling you to never get a powerful bike. And even as we type these things out, we know there's a good chance you'll ignore it anyway and buy whatever catches your fancy in the showroom. But what we are telling you now is something you'll learn eventually on your own one way or another, if you do end up getting a bike and growing into an experienced rider.

[BradtheAg]

i can't really argue with any of that. i decided on the 250 in the first place because all i read about it was that it was the perfect beginner bike. i probably just got carried away today because the zx-6r was so damn gorgeous. and LOUD.

as for ignoring what you're saying, i value the advice given on this board very much so nothing you say is falling on deaf ears. i trust the opinions of the people on this board who have been there and done that more than a salesman who sees me as a big fat commission. that salesman is trying to put food on the table whereas the people here are here because they love motorcycles, i get that. and that's why i post here and ask these questions

[Alex]

No worries, and we won't fault you terribly if you do end up with the 6. It's a terribly sexy bike. At least from 2008 on, the ninjette-philes finally have some aesthetics to go along with the rest of the little bike's virtues. Imagine how hard it was 2 years ago to try and convince a newbie who's never ridden before why the 2007 and earlier 250r was a better bike for them than that sexy-looking new sportbike next to it in the showroom. (Please don't take offense, 1st-gen owners, remember I owned one as well; but it was designed in the early 80's and had zero cosmetic updates for almost 20 years, of course it's going to look a little dated).

[jpnfrk]

Originally Posted by Alex

No worries, and we won't fault you terribly if you do end up with the 6. It's a terribly sexy bike. At least from 2008 on, the ninjette-philes finally have some aesthetics to go along with the rest of the little bike's virtues. Imagine how hard it was 2 years ago to try and convince a newbie who's never ridden before why the 2007 and earlier 250r was a better bike for them than that sexy-looking new sportbike next to it in the showroom. (Please don't take offense, 1st-gen owners, remember I owned one as well; but it was designed in the early 80's and had zero cosmetic updates for almost 20 years, of course it's going to look a little dated).

I am biased because I have a 2007 model so I naturally have to disagree with you. Maybe it's the color scheme on my darling moto, but it doesn't look outdated to me at all...

Anyways...

Brad, have you taken the MSF course yet?

[voodoomaster]

Originally Posted by Alex

No worries, and we won't fault you terribly if you do end up with the 6. It's a terribly sexy bike. At least from 2008 on, the ninjette-philes finally have some aesthetics to go along with the rest of the little bike's virtues. Imagine how hard it was 2 years ago to try and convince a newbie who's never ridden before why the 2007 and earlier 250r was a better bike for them than that sexy-looking new sportbike next to it in the showroom. (Please don't take offense, 1st-gen owners, remember I owned one as well; but it was designed in the early 80's and had zero cosmetic updates for almost 20 years, of course it's going to look a little dated).

Yo Ag from Texas. Over the years I have owned quite a few motor powered bikes. Most recently I have owned, and still own a 2008 250 Ninja (Mrs. Sweetness), a 2007 Yamaha Virago Cruiser (Plum Beauty), and a 2008 ZX6R ( Kid Killing Machine). Many of the local Air Force newbies here in Tucson buy 600s/1000s and end up prone on the highway, not trying to be morbid - just factual. The Insurance is frightful as well. I wound up "selling" the ZX6R very recently to a relative because of the logistics and the cost of the insurance.....long story. Anyway, nobody can twist that kool under-tail exhaust rumble and visual beauty of the ZX6R aero-lines from your brain via the Forum. I know the agony......NO NEED TO ASK ME ME HOW I KNOW...
In the long run, the insurance angle should grab your attention and squeeze.......if it doesn't grab something else and squeeze first! I am actually GLAD I unloaded the 600 because it was just too large, heavy and expensive to maintain (all those fuel injected pistons add up to an expensive maintenance bill at the dealership if you can't perform the important scheduled maintenance yourself). Long story short Aggi...consider that sexy machine, but consider all the added non-sexy baggage costs that go with it. I can pretty much maintain both of my other motorcycles in my garage with the service manual, my Craftsman tools, and the help from this Forum. My relative can't with the ZX6R because of the magnitude and complexity of that engine....it is a nightmare in my opinion.

[sm0kediver]

My first Ninja I found on Craigs List.

The current one came from a dealership.

[Suey250]

Dealership only cause I got a good deal.

[djpharoah]

Bought my ninja 250 from a senior citizen (Craigslist) who wanted to get back into riding. However he said he didn't have the stomach or balance for it anymore especially the way people drive now. He had bought it and it had done only 8 miles when I picked it up. In hindsight I did pay a lot for it but it was at the peak of the gas price war here in SoCal where ninja250 prices were soo inflated that you could get a cbr f4 for the same price.

[BradtheAg]

Originally Posted by jpnfrk

Brad, have you taken the MSF course yet?

not yet. soon hopefully.

[BradtheAg]

Originally Posted by voodoomaster

In the long run, the insurance angle should grab your attention and squeeze.......if it doesn't grab something else and squeeze first! I am actually GLAD I unloaded the 600 because it was just too large, heavy and expensive to maintain (all those fuel injected pistons add up to an expensive maintenance bill at the dealership if you can't perform the important scheduled maintenance yourself). Long story short Aggi...consider that sexy machine, but consider all the added non-sexy baggage costs that go with it. I can pretty much maintain both of my other motorcycles in my garage with the service manual, my Craftsman tools, and the help from this Forum. My relative can't with the ZX6R because of the magnitude and complexity of that engine....it is a nightmare in my opinion.

thanks for pointing this out. the whole reason i am getting rid of the z06 is that its an enormous ass pain to deal with. i don't want to jump back in to another toy that will be the same thing (a giant money pit).

at this point i'm just really anxious to get this process started. i ordered "proficient motorcycling" from amazon. yesterday they shipped me "more proficient motorcycling" instead. i was disappointed and considered sending it back, but instead i read about ~140 pages of it last night.

[xTKx]

First of all Brad, I'd highly, highly encourage you to take the MSF course. Like you, I myself had little to no experience with street bikes. The course is a much needed confidence booster and will teach you ALOT about handling and safety.

Second of all, as said before, I think you'll have a lot of fun on the 250's. As my first ride just yesterday, I had a lot of fun on the curves (almost drug a knee for the first time...unintentionally ). Honestly, if you go with the 250, I don't think you'll have a single regret...

Just my $.02

[Alex]

Originally Posted by jpnfrk

I am biased because I have a 2007 model so I naturally have to disagree with you. Maybe it's the color scheme on my darling moto, but it doesn't look outdated to me at all...

Your bike looks great!

[hogfan83]

i was looking for a used one but all the prices i found were not worth not knowing how it had been treated..bucked up and paid the extra $500-$700 bucks for a brand new one with full warranty and 2 miles on it

[jpnfrk]

Okies after being gone for some time, felt like I had to run some numbers again:

Craiglist:15
Dealership:17
Other:5

And according to Howard...

Originally Posted by 00v_Lucky

Stealership: 1

I'd say get a used one if it has an extended warranty... mine goes all the way to 2011 and all I had to pay was $25 to transfer it to my name.

Originally Posted by Alex

Your bike looks great!

Thanks Alex!!

[Strider]

Barely used on eBay
Drove over and saw it, had a fit, bid , won!
Got it from a great guy in Charlotte who took killer care of it.
Now it's MINE !