Anyone had experience buying Motorcycles?
 

I am debating the purchase of a Kawasaki ZZR250. The one I have located near me is a 2004, brand new - old stock. The price the dealer has it listed at currently is $5800, but its end of season and even the salesman said we could negotiate an end of season price. I have not had any experience purchasing bikes and do not know the profit margin on bikes, what would be a reasonable offer? What should I expect to end up paying if I decided to go for this one?

Thanks,

Rob G

kawasaki.com didn't seem to have a zzr250 on the website. almost $6,000 seems expensive for a 250. I know where you can get a 2003 z1000 in good condition with a full muzzy exhaust system for $5,500US--located in MN

5800 is alot of money for 250. You could get a sv 650 for the same price. Which is a great bike. Is it your first bike? I got my 04 r1 for 9799 when msrp said 10799. Price is always neg.

Do not, I repeat, do not pay that much for that bike. You can get an '04 Kawi 500 for that much OTD. Give me until tomorrow and I will get the invoice of that bike for you. From there, it will be up to you to negotiate the deal.

More important is to ask yourself are you ready to buy a bike.

Then if you get a yes... are you ready to buy the correct bike?

Then if yes search for the right bike for YOU ate the right price.

It is very pleasing to read of someone wanting to purchase a smaller bike first - on which to cut their teeth - instead of just buying the biggest baddest mofo they can afford - on which they then proceed to kill themsleves.

Which ZZR250 you looking at ? 250cc twin or the swiss-watch perfecr 4cylinder 4 stroke 16 valve 19,000rpm 250?

That being said - if you are set on a 250, why not purchase a used example please the pocket book at the same time.

all I have to say is VROOM

I just found out that the ZZR250 is a different bike than the 250R (the bike I was thinking about), the latter being a smaller bike in size, also less expensive.

MSRP on the ZZR is $6,299, so invoice is going to be around $5,679, give or take a few dollars. So $5,800 wouldn't be that bad, but if it is left over stock, you can do better.

RC and JZ bring up an important question; is this your first bike? If so, I would seriously consider buying used.

You will get very bored on a 250 very quickly - I had an FZR250 which is a bit like the type of 'swiss watch' that RC described...makes lots of noise, revs high but doesn't really 'go'. I was bored shitless within weeks and ended up trading it for an RD350YPVS. I am not sure if 2 - stroke engines are outlawed for road use in your part of the world though? If not, I think the aprilia RSV250 is worth a look, but then I am biased as I own a RG500 (in the UK)

Having said that, bear in mind what the others have said. Don't go buying an R1 or anything! What about a Honda VFR400 (NC30) it looks a bit like the bike in RC's sig as it happens, or the SV someone else described?

RC, is there a 4 cylinder 250 ZZR? are you sure you didnt mean the ZXR250?

BTW, I'd not buy anything new, I don't like being saddled with depreciation - there are a lot of used vehicles out there with 6 months and a couple of thousand miles use on them and ypou can always save a fair whack. More so with bikes, as they tend to get used as toys in this day and age. Look around, use autotrader and you never know you might find something with less than a thousand miles on the odometer.

A guy I work with bought a ten year old GSX1100 (detuned GSXR motor I am told) with 3400 miles on it for next to nothing. It looks brand new. Right place at the right time + TX weather I guess.

8)

Stay safe and enjoy whatever you get.

I am pretty much set on getting a 250, if I get bored of it I can sell it down the line and lose some money, that doesnt bother me as I would like to lessen my chances of killing myself. I am taking a motorcycle safety colloge course before I start riding. The MSRP on the ZZR250 is 6300 I think, and from my research I believe Kawasaki makes the only 250cc bike available in Canada (currently). As far as the engine, I believe it revs to 14,000rpm.

Great entrance into the awesome hobby of motorcycling. :)

I am sure you will enjoy it.. :)

i agree with transam.... Aprillia RS250 is probably the best sports 250 out there although i dont think they make them any more.

I think two stroke bikes have been 'illegal' in the US and Canada for road use for a while - just so happens I brought up the subject today with the guy I go to lunch with (the GSX1100 owner)

The reason for it is the stringent emissions regulations.

indeed thats why they're not making them in the UK any more either.

Were they ever over in the US/canada before stricter emissions came in though?

Not as far as I can tell from cycletrader.com - all the two strokes are either 50cc scooters or off road bikes like RM's YZ's etc. There was one Aprilia 250 RS but it was a track bike rather than a road legal bike.

The guy I talk to with the GSX is an older guy, about 40, and has been going on about 70's two stroke bikes like the KH and the Suzuki GT's which I just about remember (my grandad had a GT380), so I guess they must have been legal once, but I get the impression not legal for 15 years or so.

http://www.motorbikes.be/motorbike/4098/full.jpg
is this the pic for the bike your thinking about buying? and it only revs up to 12000rpm with only 35bhp
first question should be are you a beginner rider?
from experience i would recommend a 600. is a good bike for beginners and you would only pay ones, not for the first bike being the ZZR250 and then a 600 or a 1000.