Need someone to check out a bike in SF with me

Brütal

Brütal

Well-known member
Hi guys,

I found a bike I would like to purchase, went out on a test drive after giving it my once over and have a couple of concerns that may just be the bike. It has been lowsided once but the owner said the previous owners leathers and leg took most of the hit. (2012 CBR 250). Said the guy was 6'5" 240 lbs. There is a decent sanded out part from the tank, and the upper windscreen area but no cracks visible in any of the fairings motor etc. (Slight rash on the exhaust). The owner has replaced the pegs with more aggressive ones which I will be replacing with stock.

The biggest concern I had was that I had only previously tested a CBR with shorty levers which was way easier and way more comfortable to clutch on. The stock levers the guy has on this bike have a friction zone that is practically all the way let out which is kind of a reach for my hand size. That being said I couldn't tell if that was an issue with the bike, me riding, or a combination of both.

Basically I wanted someone with some mechanical brains to come check out the bike and check the forks/sprocket etc. I looked over the buying a bike guide and did as much as I could off of my references but I'd like someone else to ride it to make sure. The guy is located in the sunset and I will be going back over to test it in the day and do a final look over this week, It would be awesome if someone could come out and check it with me. (Brother is in finals week down in San jose).

Feel free to PM me for my cell # and we can coordinate. Look forward to meeting some more Barfers.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/4955193289.html here is the link. The rash damage doesn't look nearly so bad in person tbh but that could just be me.

Also, for all the other newbies I already put a deposit down :two finger Back off lol
 
OaklandF4i

OaklandF4i

Darwin's exception
Brütal said:
Hi guys,

I found a bike I would like to purchase, went out on a test drive after giving it my once over and have a couple of concerns that may just be the bike. It has been lowsided once but the owner said the previous owners leathers and leg took most of the hit. (2012 CBR 250). Said the guy was 6'5" 240 lbs. There is a decent sanded out part from the tank, and the upper windscreen area but no cracks visible in any of the fairings motor etc. (Slight rash on the exhaust). The owner has replaced the pegs with more aggressive ones which I will be replacing with stock.

The biggest concern I had was that I had only previously tested a CBR with shorty levers which was way easier and way more comfortable to clutch on. The stock levers the guy has on this bike have a friction zone that is practically all the way let out which is kind of a reach for my hand size. That being said I couldn't tell if that was an issue with the bike, me riding, or a combination of both.

Basically I wanted someone with some mechanical brains to come check out the bike and check the forks/sprocket etc. I looked over the buying a bike guide and did as much as I could off of my references but I'd like someone else to ride it to make sure. The guy is located in the sunset and I will be going back over to test it in the day and do a final look over this week, It would be awesome if someone could come out and check it with me. (Brother is in finals week down in San jose).

Feel free to PM me for my cell # and we can coordinate. Look forward to meeting some more Barfers.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/4955193289.html here is the link. The rash damage doesn't look nearly so bad in person tbh but that could just be me.

Also, for all the other newbies I already put a deposit down :two finger Back off lol
Click to expand...

Offer to pay for a shop to have it checked out if you are really concerned. Is that add correct, 29.5k on the odometer? Thats an awful lot of miles for a small thumper without a top end job. Just my opinion. Seems a fair price considering the miles and damage. :dunno Seems to be about a grand cheaper than lower mileage clean ones. Stick the savings in a bank account to budget for parts or a rebuild down the road.

If you were my little brother I would suggest spending a little more for something with significantly less miles if your heart is set on a small thumper.
 
Last edited:
Brütal

Brütal

Well-known member
I'll be getting an Fz-07 once im a little more accustomed to clutching around.

Ive been watching barf for the past month or so, should have bought a CBR on here when I rode it but balked because it was the first bike I tested and I wanted to try a ninja and SV650.

I'm seeing another ninja 250 later this week... 2008
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/4965572555.html

If anyone has any leads on a CBR or ninja 250 or an SV650 let me know (I know rob's friend was selling an SV but its a little pricey for my budget on the first bike)... I'm pretty set on shifting to an fz 07.
 
Last edited:
OaklandF4i

OaklandF4i

Darwin's exception
OP, the CBR250R is a fine first bike. 250-300cc street bikes are a blast beginner to expert. Not suggesting another bike. Just be aware that different engine designs wear differently. A larger displacement multi cylinder bike will roll past 50-100k miles without an issue if properly maintained. Small displacement single cylinder thumpers usually dont. Its comparing apples to oranges. Rings, pistons, valves need more attention on thumpers. Especially one that gets wrung out like a 250 on the highway. I am sure Honda did a great job of making it as reliable as possible... but its still a thumper.

Honda suggests 16k mile valve checks (if it were my bike I would be doing it MUCH more often on a thumper). So this bike is due for a some maintenance. Have you priced such maintenance? I think you will find the majority of your savings eaten up by the service. Say nothing if it needs rings, a piston, or valve work leaving you underwater without even addressing any of the crash damage.

This bike may run great right now, but a large percentage of its life has already been used up. So, back to my original suggestion....I think you may find after pricing out such maintenance that spending a little more will actually cost you less in the long run. This might be a case of penny wise and pound foolish.

This bike might be better for some us with more experience wrenching on bikes that can do it all ourselves. If you dont have the experience, tools, space, and time..... its not a good deal at all. Not trying to be Debbie Downer, just trying to give you some honest input.
 
Brütal

Brütal

Well-known member
OaklandF4i said:
OP, the CBR250R is a fine first bike. 250-300cc street bikes are a blast beginner to expert. Not suggesting another bike. Just be aware that different engine designs wear differently. A larger displacement multi cylinder bike will roll past 50-100k miles without an issue if properly maintained. Small displacement single cylinder thumpers usually dont. Its comparing apples to oranges. Rings, pistons, valves need more attention on thumpers. Especially one that gets wrung out like a 250 on the highway. I am sure Honda did a great job of making it as reliable as possible... but its still a thumper.

Honda suggests 16k mile valve checks (if it were my bike I would be doing it MUCH more often on a thumper). So this bike is due for a some maintenance. Have you priced such maintenance? I think you will find the majority of your savings eaten up by the service. Say nothing if it needs rings, a piston, or valve work leaving you underwater without even addressing any of the crash damage.

This bike may run great right now, but a large percentage of its life has already been used up. So, back to my original suggestion....I think you may find after pricing out such maintenance that spending a little more will actually cost you less in the long run. This might be a case of penny wise and pound foolish.

This bike might be better for some us with more experience wrenching on bikes that can do it all ourselves. If you dont have the experience, tools, space, and time..... its not a good deal at all. Not trying to be Debbie Downer, just trying to give you some honest input.
Click to expand...


Naw much appreciated, I'm not quite familiar with bike service mileage etc so that is a huge nope for that one. The hunt continues.
 
cencalballer

cencalballer

Well-known member
I haven't looked at other cbr250's but that seems expensive to me. lots of miles, crash damage that isn't fixed.
 
N

NoTraffic

Well-known member
Clutch adjustment is usually pretty easy and is something you can adjust after purchase. Main concern with clutch is if it engages smoothly and predictably. If it does, you really shouldn't have any concerns.

On the topic of the price, little too high for me too. I do realize that it's your money and you prob. want to be styling while you learn, but the best advice I can give is get an older 250 model that is decent. If you're set on an FZ07, you'll be happy to have saved some money on the initial purchase and after a season of riding, can easily flip it. Get an '05-'07 Ninja 250 for a fraction of that.
 
cencalballer

cencalballer

Well-known member
Real deal I just found about a 250 ninja for a grand roughly. it's an 05. Guy says it has some scratches but if you want more info on it let me know. I was gonna snag it for my sister but plans have changed.
 
banshee01

banshee01

Well-known member
Have the valves been checked? Damn that is a lot of miles along with the bike being crashed for that price.

Also a 240 lb rider on that bike worries me a little bit for that small hp bike. My wife weighs about 110lbs and she really has to get on the motor. Also I would look close at the front fork seals maybe?

We paid $3k for her stock 11' with 900 miles. I say pass and wait for a better deal

Drive a little and save

http://modesto.craigslist.org/mcy/4966052679.html

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/mcy/4956911952.html
 
Last edited:
TrackCage

TrackCage

Yellow Suit Hooligan
Hey that's my old bike! And I resent that 6'5", 240 lb comment!

I put 28k on that thing in a year and a half, surprised the second owner rode so little. PM me if you have any questions about it, I'd be happy to answer. At least when I owned it, nothing out of the ordinary occurred. Yes I lowsided it, but I had it checked out afterwards to be certain. No idea about the second guy though
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top