Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hello,

I am totally new to the bike world. I have been reading about them for the past month or so and I can’t seem to stop.

I have also been shopping around for a starter bike and I found this 1989 Ninja 250

It has 13k miles on it; they said they just got the carbs cleaned and a new front tire. “Runs Great”…

Since I don’t know the first thing about bike maintenance nor have I ridden one I wouldn’t know if this is a good buy.

Please help me out.

Is this a good starter bike?

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/d ... mybike.jpg

The bike is going for $1100

Thanks!

I have been reading about them for the past month or so and I can’t seem to stop.

Welcome to the addiction. You've been bitten by the Motorcycle Bug which is just a bit more potent (and addicting, as mentioned) then heroine.

Did you buy that bike? If not, I think I would. The year is kind of old but it looks good, won't kill you, and the price is ok.

The price is way too high.

I've heard the engines on the ninja 250s are supposed to be replaced completely at a certain mileage.

You can find a much newer ninja 250 for that price. I bet they just took it straight from KBB. Consider this, "retail" on a 1989 250 is 1100, retail on a 2000 ninja 250 is 1900. And private sales should go for less than that. IMO.

To me it sounds like a good deal on a bike with a great reputation, unless there's some problem with it. Around here that bike with that mileage, in great shape, will go for closer to $2000.

Replace the engine at a certain mileage? First I've ever heard of that, and I was looking into Ninja 250's about 8mo ago.

That seems waaayyy too high. The bike is 17 years old and since you have no maintenance experience basic 17 year old bike work is going to cost you.

I just bought this bike on ebay, I was also looking at the Kawa250

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Ma ... 1179QQrdZ1

The MSRP on a brand new 06 is $2999

What a nice little bike Moto! You'll have to tell us how it rides. It said pocket-bike in there somewhere, but it looks like a full-size. That would be a great scooter-like alternative if the gas mileage is up there in the 90mpg range.

What kind of bike is it though? It doesn't say. I'd like to read more stats/reviews on it.

No I have not purchase the bike yet...

It’s a Ninja 250

Thanks,
Denny

dtrujillo63 wrote:Hello,

I am totally new to the bike world. I have been reading about them for the past month or so and I can’t seem to stop.

I have also been shopping around for a starter bike and I found this 1989 Ninja 250

It has 13k miles on it; they said they just got the carbs cleaned and a new front tire. “Runs Great”…

Since I don’t know the first thing about bike maintenance nor have I ridden one I wouldn’t know if this is a good buy.

Please help me out.

Is this a good starter bike?

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/d ... mybike.jpg

The bike is going for $1100

Thanks!

13,000 miles on a 17 year old bike?!

I put 16,000 miles on my 2004 Ninja 250 in about 18 months.

The Ninja 250 is a fantastic beginner bike. But a brand-new one is $3000. So paying $1100 for one that is 17 years old is a big rip-off.

Check out this page I made if you want a good summary of learning to ride and the kind of bikes to look for:
http://www.californiabikenights.com/learn.php

Best wishes and have fun.

So what would be a fair price for the bike? Assuming it runs well.

$600-700