next stage: where should i buy

Message

sir · #1 Unread post by **sir** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:05 am

i've been looking on ebay motors and cycletrader.com for a while just to see if anything pops up. what else should i think about looking through? classifieds.

lion lady, you could really help me out with this seeing as how you're not far away!

also, i'm pretty much set on suzuki gs500f or ninja 250 or 500. i'm 5'10" and i've sat on a couple just to get the feel and all three seemed great.

Ian522 · #2 Unread post by **Ian522** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:26 am

www.craigslist.com

Free classified site. You can pretty much buy or sell anything on there. Just go to the main page, choose your state on the right hand side, then click on motorcycles in the "for sale" section.

Lion_Lady · Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:59 am

+1 on craigslist. Check both the Baltimore listings and DC.

Also keep your eye on the Sun classifieds as well. If you find something that seems promising, then forward a link to me by PM.

When I was bike shopping, I didn't have enough experience to be confident test riding anything. My husband has a co-worker who rides and he offered to help us evaluate... if you don't have anyone, I'll do what I can to help.

I sat on the Ninja 250 and it just fell too "toylike" to me.

I really wanted a 500, but a new bike just didn't make sense at my stage of riding experience. So I figured any UJM that ran and/or had passed MD inspection and wasn't a cruiser style was worth looking at. A LOT of entry level bikes were already sold or spoken for, by the afternoon when I made a phone call. And this was in September and October.

Ended up with a 20 year old Suzuki GS250 with 11,000 miles on it. Ugly as sin, but it ran. Got it for $400 and it took $200 to get it to pass inspection... Sold it 1 year later for $600 to another brand newbie.

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sir · #4 Unread post by **sir** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:13 am

wow. not a bad turnaround.

craigslist is awesome. thanks. i saw three guys on what looked like rc-51's today on my way home from school. i guess the season is starting! Time for me to get going!

My neighbor used to ride, but hasn't for years. Not to mention he rode cruisers. He's the only guy I know that could really help me out in person aside from store staff

Lion_Lady · #5 Unread post by **Lion_Lady** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:53 am

Check out this:
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ ... 58209.html

or this:
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/ ... 55040.html

or THIS! (the night hawk!)
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/ ... 72813.html
Howard County isn't far from us... Columbia, MD

This SV650 is just a little more than generally recommended for a newbie, but managable. Lots of 'support' available from dealers, etc.
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ ... 13144.html

And in Fairfax, VA:
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ ... 08612.html

>>and I haven't even looked at the Baltimore listings yet.

Okay. And in the Baltimore listings:
a nighthawk:
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/mcy/283487342.html

A bit high priced. Honda Rebel 250.
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/mcy/282981672.html

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Lion_Lady · #6 Unread post by **Lion_Lady** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:08 am

Check your PMs, sir.

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sir · #7 Unread post by **sir** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:13 am

Hey Lion, just did

Thanks!

I'm pretty much set on a sport bike at this point, at least for a first. I'm sure I'll ride cruisers eventually, but not quite yet.

Lion_Lady · #8 Unread post by **Lion_Lady** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:37 am

Okay. But given that you're wanting a USED bike, you've got to expand your options...

So skip the Rebel. Most of the others are workable for a starter bike.

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