Hey guys, my name is Leah,I'm new here.I found this forum from a google search.

I recently took the MSF in canada and passed, now I really want to buy my first motorcycle. I have been looking for weeks and weeks for a inexpensive first bike that wont make me broke.
Canada motorcycle prices are somewhat retarded compared to the USA, ninja 250ex 2005 in Canada goes for around 4500cdn. (4200 USD) Shipping $700USD = retarded!!
So I'm wondering I recently found a 91 CBR600F2 with 80000 Miles for $3300CDN+$700USD for shipping is roughly $4000cdn.
I also found a 94 Ninja 250 for $2500cdn and has 27000 miles with shipping around $3300cdn($3100usd).
I am leaning towards the ninja more but I'd like to hear what F2 owners think of the power compared toa 250cc engine and I know that the 600cc is around 85 rhp from reading some of the posts from the search results.
Would like to know what you guys think, thanks alot!

 

I would keep looking.. the f2 you found has 80,00 miles? for more than 3 grand.. you can find alot better. the ninja 250 is a great starter bike, however most get bored with them very quickly. where are you looking for bikes, and why do you want to ship? I would just start looking localy and maybe ask around if any one knows of any one selling bikes.. good luck with the search for your firs bike.

 

Can't find any bikes here locally that aren't ridiculously overpriced, I'm looking at craigslist.org
I've been looking everywhere locally the kawi dealer here has a ZZR250 for 6300CDN. way way over my budget and it isn't used too.. I really want to buy a used bike..
Recently found a 92600f2 with 35000 miles for $2000 in the US. Shipping from there will still cost me around 700+duties and taxes coming into canada. You think $2000 is a good price for 35k miles?

 

2 k is fair if the bike is in good/fair shape .. keep looking and something will catch your eye.

 

Patience is key. You will be MUCH happier if you wait and find a bike that you REALLY want. Don't just "settle" because one's available and you can afford it...especially if you plan on keeping it for a while.
Check the classified ads in your local papers, check eBay, go to local bike rallies, bike shop bulletin boards, etc...
Unless you can find a F2 in near showroom condition, I wouldn't pay more than $2000 for one.
The F2 is a GREAT bike. You will enjoy it 100 times more than a Ninja 250.

 

Where are you located?

I know that the Ninja250 (zzr25)in Canada sells for ~6300 + tax. I also know you can buy an American Ninja 250 (ex250 - older body style) for $3000. You can bring that bike across the border for $185. Then pay the tax on the $3000, not the $6300.

Meaning you can buy a brand new American 250 for less than you can buy a used Canadian 250. That is the route I think I will be going for my misses first bike... plus I'm a big 250 fan. ( check out www.ninja250.com - there is a GREAT FAQ, as well as an active forum for 250 riders)

As for F2 vs 250. The F2 does have more power, but please ignore any comment that the 250 is a scooter. The 250 is comparable in 0-60 to some pretty sporty cars, and get to near 105mph... it is not slow, it just is not a ferrari enzo. Very cheap to insure and very easy to maintain. You never truely grow out of a 250 just like you never grow out of a 600... but many people do trade up to the 600s. Just remember that if you buy an American 250 new that you'll likely sell it in Canada for MORE than you paid for it. Pretty cheap way to get into motorcycles IMHO.

 

While my bike was getting painted I borrowed my buddies ex250. Let me just tell you if your just screwing around its not a bad bike. But I would NEVER go on the highway with it. It is underpowered and to light.
From the prices your talking for shipping it would cost less to buy a bike in the US and just ride it home.

 

I have a minor pet peave - I'm sorry I don't beleive the 250 is lacking in any way for everyday use and I believe it excels as a beginner bike. It is very hard to beat in terms of price and does very well for performance and efficiency.

Never on the highway? That is absurd... the bike gets well past the speed limit (any where in North America) - does 0-60 miles in 5.7 second. Sure that's not the sub 4 second times of the 600cc plus bikes but that is less time than many many decent cars.

As for the weight - what does that have to do with the highway? Wind gusts move any bike, but after riding 1000 miles you'll be used to it (on any bike).

Looks like the 250 ninja page is down this morning (I'll check into that as I'm an admin there)

 

None of those deals sounds too good. I am not sure what it would be like for you to just take a day trip to the US to buy one there. Being in the military, I got to pay Texas taxes even though I am in Arizona. So I don't know if you came to the US you would get a good deal or would get screwed paying US taxes anyway. But I think it's worth considering, especially since you seem to want to get a used bike. Find one on cycle trader and pay cash for it, then have a friend drive with you to wherever you find it, and ride back, or if it's a long drive and you are concerned with distance, find a friend with a pickup and get schooled on how to secure it in the back. A little knowledge, some labor, and some helpful friends can save you quite a few dollars.

As for choices, I am definitely for starting off with a 600 series. I started with a cruiser and moved up to a 600. I should have just started with a 600. They are quite safe when ridden by someone such as yourself who has respect for the power of the bike and their own lack of experience. A 600 isn't going to accidentally get you killed with a roll-on that's too strong or anything like a literbike might. A 600 will only kill you if you are being stupid. (or traffic, terrain, and other act-of-God situations that all bikers need to worry about, regardless of what model they ride).

On the flipside, since I know money is an issue, and you probably learned to ride on the 250 from the MSF course and enjoyed the bike, I will support the perspective that a 250 can be amazingly fun for quite a while. I have a couple of friends, one of them had a 250 and rode it for 40,000 miles while saving for his next bike. While he wanted his next bike for a long time, I would not say he was frustrated with the 250. He looked at it as a long learning period. Once he got his money, he went straight to the dealer and got his R1. He can outride any of us in the riding group. He could totally ring that 300-lb 250's neck and it showed when he got his literbike. He was so impressive on his 250 that the other friend, a Superhawk rider with 30K riding experience of his own, had originally intended to upgrade to a Ducati 1098 this year, but since they are sold out around here he is thinking of holding off on the Ducati for a while and getting a Ninja 250 to play around on for a year.

So while I say that getting a 600 is a perfectly safe first bike and possibly the better economic choice since you may not feel a need to upgrade, if all you can afford is a 250, go for it. If you are prepared to deal with it for longer than you had originally intended, the little 300-lb superscoot can be a blast. Just come on down here to the US and hand someone a roll of hundreds and get your clean title and head back home without all the shipping costs and taxes.

 

Thanks alot guys for the really good advice, I'm in Manitoba. I'd probably be able to drive over to Minnesota or North dakota if i'll buy a bike in the states. Which I probably will now. Also I'm a really timid rider so it would probably take me alot of hours in the parking lot to get used to a 600 in slow speeds cause I do know that they're heavier then the 250s we used at the motorcycle safety course and have alot more power.
The 91 600cc I found is cheaper then the 250. I'll keep looking for a ninja 250 still!