What is a fair OTD price for a Ninja 250?

I've got to say it's quite refreshing to see a post from someone who doesn't want to start out on a full blown sportbike! The 250 Ninja, IMHO, is almost a perfect starter bike; good handling, decent power, and outstanding fuel economy (insurance is cheap too). If you have to have new, go in armed with the knowledge of MSRP and make the dealer an offer where he doesn't lose money and you don't get screwed. If the guy won't come off of the high horse, find another dealer. I agree with the post above regarding his service department. Talk to other riders in the area and see if they've had bad experiences with them. I really think your best bet will be to go used. Last year, I purchased two of these bikes for $3200 in San Antonio, TX, from a private owner. A 2000 model with just over 2,000 miles and a 2002 with 63 miles on the odometer. The '02 had a rusty tank because they let it sit for four years with no fuel in it. I had to replace it with a used tank from Ebay. It also had a bad wobble caused by a front tire that separated from sitting for four years with no air in it. After all was said and done, I estimate I spent around $3,600 for two excellent little bikes that I have a blast riding. You've just got to look carefully and be patient; the deals are out there.

$4100 for a $2999 bike?



Ok, here's what you do; Kick the sales manager in the **** and go to another dealer.



You might need to be a bit patient, but there are good used Kawi 250s out there.



I'm guessing you've already been on Craigslist and Cycle Trader?

They advertised rebates on the company website last year from mid season to late season.



My post isn't critical on new prices, I am critical of the used prices in SF Craigslist. $2900 is high for a used one, when if I pay MSRP on new I'll book out no higher than $3230 - MSRP + 10% sales tax and $200 in fees.



For a discount of $330 (and honestly, it isn't even that because I still have to go title and license it, as well as pay tax) on a 5 year old model, it makes no sense. So F those used prices; I'd wait for a better deal.



--The Fox

I should have mentioned that I'm a reasonably experienced rider. My other bikes are a Ducati ST4s, Ducati 900SS, Triumph Daytona 675, BMW R90S, BMW F650GS and a Honda VFR750.



Yes, it may look like a bad case of Multiple Bike Disorder but I'm getting better, really. Just one more bike and I can quit. I'm in control. I'm in denial.



So why would I want the little Ninja? I've done the litre-bike thing and it was somewhat fun but mostly... enlightening. I had a 999S and thought the world of it, took it to a couple of track days, and then sold it. Even my other sport bikes are too much for the street (well, maybe not the 900SS but it's a close call.)



I may be a slow learner but I do eventually, gradually and often through great pain and expense, learn. The smaller bikes are simply more fun. Riding the 999S at 10% of its ability is absolute agony. The Daytona, as much as I admire it, is still agonizing on my daily commute. With traffic I'm lucky to get one good corner out of the whole trip. I don't treat the streets like my personal racetrack but I do have a need to enjoy the motorcycle. And before anyone jumps in-- I keep a good 1/2" chicken strip on my tires when street riding so I'm not pushing it. I consider myself a reasonably mature rider without anything resembling a multiple-bike problem. Remember, I'm in denial.



I've had three SV650s over the years and they are great bikes and truly more fun on the street than anything in my current stable except maybe the 900SS.



Yea, verily, I have seen the light. Having test-driven a Ninja 250 my eyes are open and I see this motorcycle as a way to enjoy riding even on my work commute without risking life, limb and license. I don't expect to outgrow it and instead hope to revel by pushing it closer to its limits.

I'm very happy for all you guys who have bought clean used bikes for great prices and think everyone should do the same. But that's not for everyone, for a couple of reasons.



First, buying a used bike is a lot of work. Last spring my son wanted to buy a motorcycle, and his budget was $2000. I would have preferred that he start with something like a 350 dual sport, and would have been thrilled to find a clean Ninja 250. We passed up a nice XT350 the previous fall because he couldn't make up his mind.



So we spent months scouring the net and responding to ads, and finally spent an entire Saturday driving about 150 miles to look at bikes that had just been sold or were in much worse shape than advertised. Late in the day we checked out the last bike on the list, a very clean 86 CB700C Nighthawk for $1800.



It's a nice bike at a nice price, but it isn't what I would have picked. And I'd say I put enough hours into that purchase to just about make up the difference of what a new Ninja 250 would have cost. If that's your idea of hobby, fine, but to me it's just work.



Second, I realize there's no accounting for taste, but most previous years of Ninja 250 have color schemes that were clearly intended to make them appeal to girls. It doesn't bother me a bit to ride around on a little bike, but I'd prefer it not have pink wheels.