okay chomping at the bit ... when DO I get the bike?

[RZG]

Hey man.. im in a similar situation. Im gonna get a 250 aswell. Just to ease your mind a bit the msrp at a kawasaki dealer for a 07' 250 is about $3000. So dont go buying that bike b/c your afraid the deal will dissapear. For 800 bones more you can get a brand new one. I was recently searching craigslist for 250's and saw some dude selling it for $4500, made me laugh. I want whatever that guy is smokin.


Rob

[tanitatt]

what's the typical TT&L on a new 250?

Thomas

[Jthmeffy]

i hope my bike only loses $800 in 4 years

....if u are gonna spend that much cash, buy a new one

on that note, on craigslist, i found a guy that wanted $3500 for a '93 250 ninja.. i just didnt get it

[Kal]

It sounds good and in your position I'd be very. very tempted to go for it. (Subject to getting checked out etc)

The big downside is self control. You'll have a perfectly good working motorbike in your garage ready to go - can you resist the temptation to run it until after you've taken the MSF?

[Jthmeffy]

taking the msf is a very good idea before you start riding

IT IS NOT PREREQUISITE

Ride a bit around your area (as long as the traffic isnt too bad) and practice some skills. I suggest picking up Proficient Motorcycling and some other choice books (Idiots complete guide to motorcycling is pretty good). Dont try anything stupid and do NOT get overconfident

And definitely take it as soon as possible.. its all down to you, i guess. I bought my bike mid novemeber and the soonest class isnt until April (well, actually, one place up north does it about a month earlier, but it costs nearly 4 times as much as the one 10 miles from me). There was no way i was gonna get that bike and not put a few miles on it.

[RZG]

I don't know tt&l sorry. But heres the link to the 250, theres prob a dealer search link somewhere on there, give em call. Lets say all said and done you walk out with the new bike for 3500. If you put 2200 down with a 24 month loan @ 19%, ur monthly payments will be $65. its a joke


http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=200

[flynrider]

taking the msf is a very good idea before you start riding

IT IS NOT PREREQUISITE

For someone who knows nothing about riding, I'd strongly suggest taking the course before riding. They teach you the basics of starting, stopping and turning, which is a good to know before practicing on your own.

A gal in my office recently bought a Rebel 250 and told me she was scheduled for the MFS course later in the month. I told her that it was an excellent way to get started. Some other guy in the office told her to practice riding the bike in a parking lot to prepare for the course. She took his advice and now has no bike to ride. A simple noob mistake (hitting the throttle when she wanted to brake) sent the bike into a curb at 20 mph. The bike has bent forks and frame and she was bruised pretty badly. She'll continue riding the bus for the forseeable future.

I'm not saying this will happen to everyone that tries to learn to ride on their own (although it happened to me too). I am trying to point out that trying to control a machine that you know nothing about will be riskier on your own than in the controlled environment of a class.

[Shorts]

I think I'd buy the bike in your position. In the grand scheme, $2200 for a starter bike is not bad at all. If you do find for whatever reason riding is not for you, there is always someone in the market for a Ninja 250, especially if its in good shape. If you wait for riding season, that bike will be gone.

Get a friend that rides to go check it out, test ride and give you advice on the bike itself. If you purchase it, you might can have the current owner ride it to your place to drop it off and give him a lift back to his place - buy him a beer and a pizza for his trouble.

[Kal]

I like Shorts' plan. You may end up with a new riding buddy into the bargain. Bonus!

[qwerty]

You have a helmet, but you still need boots, gloves, and a jacket, minimum. There's another $300.

I looked closely at the EX250 last fall when I was shopping. $2200 is way too much to pay for a 4-year old motorcycle with an MSRP of $2999 for a new one. I paid $1800 for my 2003, and it's 2007 msrp is $3799. However, if yellow means that much to you, well, then it might be worth it.

I found a wide disparity in out-the-door prices among dealers I shopped. One dealer had the bike priced at $3299, plus 6.25% sales tax, plus $299 shipping, plus $199 dealer prep, plus $12.50 inspection, plus $42.50 title fee, plus $30.00 registration. Another dealer quoted $2999, plus 6.25% sales tax, plus $12.50 inspection, plus $42.50 title fee, plus $30.00 registration, over $800 difference. Insurance on either purchase would be $800/year. Really the only reason I becked of an EX250 was they are simply to small for me. I feel quite cramped when riding.

I chose a different model (Tamaha TW200) for which I could pay $1800 cash, 6.25% of 80% of the Texas Black Book value (whatever that is), $12.50 inspection, $42.50 title fee. Insurance is $75/year. Works for me.

Warning: These forums see a constant stream of newbies trying to ride bikes with fairings before taking the BRC, and dropping their bikes at low speed, doing hundreds of dollars in damage to the fairing. It's usually not so big a deal dropping a naked bike, where you might break a mirror or bend a lever. Low-speed manuevering is one of the most difficult parts of riding for a beginner. You'll hate yourself if you crunch your bike before you take the course. Be kind to your bike, don't ride until after the BRC. That said, the EX250 is a wonderful beginner bike, one of the best. Once you complete the BRC, you'll only be 1/10th as likely to drop it within your first 5 rides.