[62822]

Found a 2001 Ninja 250 on Ebay that is in my area. Two owners, both women, it's been dropped twice, once by each.
It's green, ick, but color isn't that important on my 1st bike.
It's been in storage for a year and needs a new battery, but it's listed as "bike starts and runs well".
What do I look for when I go, and I'm going by myself..
For $1500. there abouts, should I have a tech come look at it or if it looks ok and sounds ok, just go for it?
Sure I have my license through MSF, but I've never shifted higher than 3rd gear..should I drive it home, 25 miles, or put it in the back of a friends truck?
Thanks!

Joie

 

[Kenneth_Moore]

Any chance you have a rider friend who can give a good look, maybe take it for a spin? If the bike starts and rides reasonably well, you should be ok. If it's been in storage a year, the carbs may need to be cleaned. I'd drain what's in it and put fresh gas in it before starting it for sure. As soon as you get it home, do the same to the oil. Some riders would change the brake fluid too.

If your ride home is on busy roads, skip it and take the truck. If you can putz along at a comfortable speed without creating a traffic jam, go ahead. I'll never forget the ride home on my first bike!

 

[seruzawa]

Hey! Kawasaki green is the shiznitz! My ZRX is green and it's faster than the red ones and especially the blue ones.

 

[62822]

Thanks!
Yesterday afternoon, on my way to see the green 2001 250, I stopped to see a yellow 2002, one I'd looked at twice before, offered $300.- less than they were asking, and the guy said "Ok".
So yellow it is.
Now I just have to do all the paper work and get my nerve up to drive it the 30 miles home.
Thankfully it's on back roads I drive everyday to work, but there is a metal grated bridge across the Deleware and some really steep hills...heck, I'll be fine,right?
Worse come to worse I'll push it home. LOL

Joie

 

[sachiwilson]

Metal grates aren't too bad. Up in Seattle they are all over the place, and I've ridden across them thousands of times without incident. Just make sure you leave yourself plenty of room from the traffic in front so you don't have to make a panic stop!

Congrats on the bike - I am sure you'll find it very suitable.

 

[sarnali2]

Thanks!
...heck, I'll be fine,right?
Worse come to worse I'll push it home. LOL

Joie

You have the right attitude, you'll be OK LOL

The thing with metal bridges is to let the bike wander a bit, don't freak and grab a death grip on the bars, just loosen up, keep a steady speed and you'll do fine. Like Sachi said they're all over the place here, a little "interesting" in the rain but no real problem

 

[BrowningBAR]

If you are talking about the bridges that go between Lambertville and New Hope (and the surrounding area) that take you to River Road, than there isn't much to worry. The speed limit is 25mph on those and the traffic moves slow with single lanes in each direction. The bridges are short so there isn't much room for a car to do much in the way of stupid things.

Now the traffic in New Hope is another matter. The weekends might have the largest percentage of stupidity outside of the Philly area. Between the people not looking where they are walking, and the drivers that decide to ignore 4 way stops and every other traffic law, it could get a bit hairy. But that is only for that 2 mile stretch. Once you get out of there the back roads are nice. Just do it during the day as lighting gets dodgy at night due to no street lights and the turns can get interesting if you aren't used to riding on them with a motorcycle.

 

[ejis]

Ok - what's up with all these reasonable new riders? I miss the "I found a great deal on a turbo-nitrous Hayabusa with a extended swingarm - is this a good first bike? I've never ridden before, but I've played MotoGP a lot so I pretty much know what I'm doing" posts...they were much more fun.

Congrats on the bike - enjoy it!

 

[BrowningBAR]

http://www.motorcycle.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6447

 

[ejis]

Ask and ye shall receive, and quite timely. Thanks!

 

[62822]

Thankfully I'm not crossing in New Hope,(I know what a mad house that short stretch of road can be on the weekends!), but further north in Frenchtown.
I want to offer here that picking my first bike was confusing. Because I received so many conflicting opinions on what I should get.
A new rider really needs a mentor..
My girlfriend just moved up to a 1000cc Aprillia and thought I should start off with at least a 500cc if not a 650 because I will get bored in a few months with the 250.
So I sat on a few 650's, and knew from the get go that they were too heavy. Forget how many cc's they had.
Breaking the speed limit by huge numbers doesn't interest me.
When I sat on the Ninja, I knew it was a bike I could handle. It wasn't top heavy, I could flat foot easy and move it around with ease. It felt balanced to my 135lb, 5'5" body.
Is it my dream bike?
Heck, I don't even know what my dream bike is yet!
I've read that the Ninja can do 90, and more with mods.
Since the only time I drive my car above 65 is when I'm on Rt. 78, a fast moving interstate, why on earth would I want a bike that can go faster?
Where and when would I need to use it?
Getting in an accident at that speed?
*hit!
I'd be a chewed up and spit out mass of bloody meat by the time I stopped rolling across the blacktop.
And that just doesn't appeal to me.
No, I'll learn to ride well on the Ninja.
My two friends that have bikes, the Aprillia and a male friend with a V-Star, have already assured me that they won't be embarrassed to be seen with me on my little yellow bike 5 yr. old ride
I'm not sure what "flicking" is yet..but it sounds like something fun to do on back twisty roads..on a Ninja 250.
Now that's right up my alley

Joie

PS. Do bee's really like yellow bikes like I've been told?

 

[sarnali2]

PS. Do bee's really like yellow bikes like I've been told?

Yeah, 'fraid so. You'll need to eat lots of onions and garlic to keep them away.........

 

[bbtowns]

Sounds like the perfect bike. You'll see why you want to go faster than your car, but that's going to take a while and you've got a bike that will do it when you're ready willing and able. There's a fellow who has finished the Iron Butt rally on a ninja 250 (not this year though), so not only are they light and reasonably quick, but reliable as all get out. Good choice.
You've gotten good advice about the steel bridge grates, we've got 'em all over Portland too. Relax and they're no big deal. The bike wanders a bit, but will stay going the direction you want it to, so loosen the grip on those bars and you'll have it mastered.