Buying new bikes?

[aireq]

If you need to borrow cash, borrow it from the bank, they'll give you the best rates.

Not bloody likely. Not on a sum that small.

I looked at getting a loan from the bank for my bike.

Their rate? 14.25%

Dealership Financing? 9.25%

Bank rates on small loans are much higher than than their rates on big loans. If I had gone for a DL650 or F650GS, then the bank rate would have been lower, around 12%.
If I had gone for a brand new 'Wing or R1200RT, then it would have been under 10%

Thank you! I thought I was going crazy here for a minute listening to people telling me to go to a bank to get a deal??? Since when do banks actualy try to get your business? With all those hidden charges and rediculous overdraft and ATM fees their no better then credit card companies.


Eric

[swatter555]

Here my 2 cents:

If your less than 6 feet tall and less than 200 pounds, get the Ninja 250 and pay it off as soon as you can. If you can pay it off in a month, do.

Dont be in a hurry to build up your credit, there is plently of time to do that; it will come naturally(if you are responsible).

If your not too big, then learn to ride on the 250. By the time you are confident on the road, and have a real license, you will be ready for something you can hold onto for awhile.

BUT...

If you tell yourself your going to pay it off in 3 months- DO IT! Part of being a finacially responsible adult is setting realistic goals for yourself. If you make financial promises to yourself that you break, you will everntually end up in trouble.

Good luck!

[ZooTech]

you're comparing apples and oranges.

blah blah blah, yackity schmackity

The "apples to oranges" comment was what I responded to with "nope". My first two bikes were both sport bikes, so I don't know where the cruiser reference even came from. I told the guy I grew bored of my 500cc SPORT bike, and then grew bored of my 700cc SPORT bike HENCE my questioning his thought process regarding keeping a 250cc bike (sport bike or not) for three years. I don't need to be told that a 600cc sport bike will outrun an 1100cc cruiser, I've ridden both.

And, for the record, my Mean Streak will run circles around the NightHawk 700SC I owned. Granted, modern technology has given us bikes that produce more from less, but the Ninja 250 and the 500R have remained unchanged for a long time now, and the selection of bikes as of late is conducive to eliciting feelings of angst towards such lesser bikes. I'd just hate to see him fall into the trap I almost did, financing a 250 based on misguided advice from others about how "difficult" it was to learn to ride. After riding my co-worker's NightHawk 250, I could tell I would have been bored and bitter by the end of day two.

comparing a massive cruiser to a sports bike is like comparing a lincoln town car to a ferrari, why would you compare them?

That's just it....I didn't.

[iwannadie]

comparing a massive cruiser to a sports bike is like comparing a lincoln town car to a ferrari, why would you compare them?

That's just it....I didn't.

didnt say you were, Sevulturus seemed to have been making a comparison to them, so i was replying to him and backing him up i think.

these threads get so messy i try to quote whoever i reply to so someone doesnt think im replying to them directly.

[rnr262]

Pay it off as soon as possible. You will have plenty of opportunities to build your credit, and I doubt that taking out a 3k loan and paying it off early will result in bad credit.

As far as outgrowing a 250... I don't think you actually outgrow a bike (but I'm new, so take that into consideration). My little Rebel will do everything my V Star will do. It will even break the speed limit. Granted, it will never go 100, or go 60 in 3rd gear, but I personally don't need those things. For commuting around town, it's my bike of choice. It's light, perfect for stop and go traffic, and when I do need to jump on the highway to get somewhere, it will do that too. The bigger the bike, the more comfortable it does these things.

Most likely you'll want a bigger, more powerful bike, and maybe even soon after buying the Ninja 250. But you'll trade it in because of something you want, not because the bike can't do it's job. There will be someone like you out there, looking for his first bike who will snap yours up in a heartbeat.

Get your 250, enjoy learning on it, and when you feel the call or need to move up, send the 250 on to someone else who needs a great bike to learn on too.

[Newrider42]

On your question of "outgrowing" a bike. My first bike was a Honda Interceptor 250, early 90's model. I loved it. I had it for about two years and felt like it was a part of me. I probably put about 1600-2000 miles on it (a previous post I said I put 600 miles, mistype ) and felt like I had conquered it and wanted something a little more. I sold it 2 years ago and now I want another bike. I am looking for a CBR600 F series or Suzuki Katana 600 or a Ninja. So it really depends on how much you ride, how fast you learn the cornering, and how quickly you become comfortable with riding in traffic, to tell when you "outgrow" it. I would say it took me four to seven months to do all these. Getting used to riding in traffic was the most difficult, you know about these crazy drivers now days.

[iwannadie]

On your question of "outgrowing" a bike. My first bike was a Honda Interceptor 250, early 90's model. I loved it. I had it for about two years and felt like it was a part of me. I probably put about 1600-2000 miles on it (a previous post I said I put 600 miles, mistype ) and felt like I had conquered it and wanted something a little more. I sold it 2 years ago and now I want another bike. I am looking for a CBR600 F series or Suzuki Katana 600 or a Ninja. So it really depends on how much you ride, how fast you learn the cornering, and how quickly you become comfortable with riding in traffic, to tell when you "outgrow" it. I would say it took me four to seven months to do all these. Getting used to riding in traffic was the most difficult, you know about these crazy drivers now days.

i might be looking to sell my katana soon(wanting the v-max) if you want to ride it from arizona ; p