- This topic has 11 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 6 months ago by
.
Normaly I would not
-
Normally I would not even look at a bike this old..but locally I have seen advertised for about a month a 1988 Suzuki GN 250..says excellent shape $1500 OBO…Worth a look or just too old? I dont know a thing about this bike as far as if it had a good rep or if its even worth calling about. So I will digress to the experts
(you guys)I’m not sure on current resale value of the GN 250, if it checks out mechanically, and you’re REALLY happy with the bike, you might be able to walk away with a decent deal. But $1500 obo does seem like a lot, when I read some of the deals people are seeing on 250cc Ninjas, nighthawks, and rebels (which I know you’ve already looked at – I found the other post)
Keep in mind, its not easy to find parts for an older bike, and you WILL be buying parts. I just bought an 82 Honda Nighthawk 650 for around the same price, but I knew the entire history of the bike (since it left the showroom). I’m buying parts already! I would have left it there if was going to be my only vehicle.
Older bikes mean spinning your own wrenches quite often, and waiting for part orders. If this is going to be your primary mode of transportation, I’d keep saving and hunting for something newer. If you prefer the look of an old naked street bike, and don’t mind working on the bike, you can always look for a Yamaha Maxim 400 or a Honda Nighthawk 450, you might find a better price than the GN 250. I actually saw a Maxim 400 here last week for 600. If you go for the Suzuki, make sure your mechanic friend checks it out and then subtract another 100 from whatever he says its worth.
Just my 2 cents.
P.S.: Bikes values depreciate……bike parts don’t….I’m learning the hard way. My nighthawk and me have a love/hate relationship right now. I love to look at it, and I hate to think about it.
agreed, id like something a bit newer myself
thanks for the responses..I dont mind doing a little light maintenance but I DONT like wrenching all day on my off time I really don’t spend *that much* time wrenching on it, but it does need work probably once a month that takes a couple hours. I mostly just ride it…!
My bike was a relatively low-mileage bike (that has been dropped a few times) and was well cared for by the last owner who had it 10 years. But since I’ve had it, I’ve had to bleed all the fluids as a precaution, changed all the filters, buy a new clutch master cylinder cap and just this week I noticed my fork seals are leaking. Beyond all this it could really use some new brake rotors and a thermostat.
Put it this way, these parts were: $20 for the clutch master cylinder cover, $35 for a thermostat, $50 for filters, $40 for fork seal kits, etc. but I do *all* my own work (I’ve grown up tinkering on Jaguars, Corvettes and Mustangs,) and if I had to pay someone to do all this work for me it wouldn’t be worth it. The fork seal job alone would probably be hundreds of dollars!
This Interceptor has some collector value as well and it’s been called a “neat old bike” by many passers-by so keeping it in nice shape is somewhat of an “investment,” though one with a poor return
. I don’t know if the bike you’re looking at would be the same way.I dont know, see my problem is the initial lack of funds to get a bike..its not the point of saving up for one..its the point that I have about $1500 right now to get one and thats about it..thats becasue we have 2 car payments..so when 1 of those goes away in 2-3 years then I would be able to pretty much get anything I wanted. but till then we agreed(wife and I) that we could take $1500 out of savings to get a bike IF I could find one for that much…and thats turning out to be a BIG IF
. The only thing i can fins so far is either stuff in the 80’s era , maybe a 99 Ninja 250 that im looking at here on Saturday, there is a 93 or 96 Katana for 1300(but I thinks thats just TOO much bike to learn on but the price is right) and thats about it after looking pretty much since..well June.So it seems like if I get anything to start learning on for this year its gonna be a 80’s model or hopefully that Ninja(if the mechanic im taking along thinks its wroth the $$$) He does work relatively cheap(front fork replace seals=$70 from him) so he would probably do a lot of that kind of work that deals with any internals or things ive never done. I have a old muscle car..I love driving it but HATE wrenching on it
. I dont mind doing easy stuff but id be working on it in my driveway or under a carport not in a garage ..so im at a crossroads..as its getting late(in the riding year) and id have loved to got a foot in the door head start now this riding season and start learning get some experience get in the safety class..preferably on the bike id be riding instead of a course bike that may be way different. Its not paramount..but I run into the same deal next year if I have to wait..im still stuck with $1500 and still have to find a decent bike in that price range. Its becoming more apparent thats gonna be real hard to do
.Agreed, Im not desperate or anything..I just did not think it would be this hard to actually find a older bike thats under $2000. I mean I look in my local paper..we have 27 adds for motorcycles..and get this 20 of the 27 are for guys trying to unload $6,000+ Harleys 2 are for bigger bikes(sports) like hyabusas and a 1000cc interceptor or something, 1 is a older 600 Katana, and then 2 older bikes the Suzuki GN 250 and a Yamaha Special 250 that the guy thinks are worth $1500 a piece(book value is under $1000 and thats retail value) I mean..SLIM pickings..then you have stuff like Ebay and cycle Trader all of which DO have some decent deals that are all $600 or over to ship..I mean geesh lol its gonna be like hitting the lottery…and yes as you said its NOT a big deal as I actually have 3 cars if you include the 73 dodge Dart Sport 340 so its not like I need a bike..its just the 55-70 MPG that im looking forward to and spending $20-25 a week in gas instead of $50
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
