How Low Would You Sell For (Ninja 250)

Hoping to sell my Ninja 250 I used as a learner bike before I make my cross-country move. If I can't sell it here and now, I figure it won't be too hard to pack up with everything else and I'll have an easy time selling in Columbus in the spring.

Bike is an '06 Ninja 250 with 15k miles on it. Essentially brand new tires, battery, and brakes. Nice Corbin saddle. Dings and scratches as to be expected on a learner bike. Clutch may be getting worn, but isn't slipping at all. Otherwise everything runs well.

I'm asking $1600. Potential buyer offered $1400. I responded that the only bikes down near my asking price were either not running or have registration issues, and I refuse to go lower than my asking price.

What say the hive mind?

Different time and place, but I paid $1500 for an '87 EX500 with a known good history and mediocre cosmetics (mostly sticker residue) and original tires (eep) about three or four years ago.

I suspect your bike is solidly worth the $1600.

That's what I figured. Heck, I figure it's worth more like $1800, but I want to sell.

If the clutch were slipping, I'd agree to knocking more off the price, but it isn't. It's entirely a guessing game of how much more life it has. I figure I'll take $50 off if they want to whine about it.

Yeah I think your asking price should attract a quick buyer, unfortunately it's not a good time of year for selling bikes.

Yeah. That and I'm out in BFE. I've had several really interested buyers who live 3 hours away. I figure selling in a metro area in the spring will let me ask several hundred more than I am now.

Survey of Craigslist says comparable bikes are selling now for $1900+. Ones down near my price range need work or have registration issues.

Buyer decided my price was too high. Wanted to pay $1400.

If you don't mind bringing it with you, you don't need to sell it at throw away price. Means you can sit there and wait for someone to offer you lots of money.

Since people love to haggle, I'd suggest listing it for $2k, and let people grind you down to say $1700. They feel like they win, you feel like you won.

foxtrapper wrote: If you don't mind bringing it with you, you don't need to sell it at throw away price. Means you can sit there and wait for someone to offer you lots of money. Since people love to haggle, I'd suggest listing it for $2k, and let people grind you down to say $1700. They feel like they win, you feel like you won.

That is the current plan. I will probably list for just under $2k. Like $1,950. Human psychology just reacts to that as a lower number.

Honestly, I am mostly frustrated with the potential buyer for wasting my time that I would have liked to be using to take a nice ride today.

$1400 offer on a $1600 asking price is fair.

If you don't want to sell it for that, that's your call. He did his part and offered what he thought it was worth. He probably thinks you wasted his time.

Does this time of year matter in California?

Zomby Woof wrote: $1400 offer on a $1600 asking price is fair. If you don't want to sell it for that, that's your call. He did his part and offered what he thought it was worth. He probably thinks you wasted his time. Does this time of year matter in California?

Before I showed it to them, I let them know my price was firm.

Season matters somewhat, but not as much as other places. Weather gets really rainy in winter.

$1400 wasn't insultingly low, but lower than I want to go. I declined the offer and countered with $1550.

I don't know I would have turned away a serious buyer over $200. This is not a great time of year to sell a motorcycle. In my local Craiglist there isn't a single old body style EX250 for over $2k, some with far less miles than yours.

Probably the best way to maximize your proceeds would be to sell the bike with the stock saddle and eBay the Corbin.

Simple answer is, I'm not desperate to sell. I'm going to have to haul a bunch of other stuff across the country that the addition of the bike isn't a big deal. I will probably do better for myself in the spring in a metro area.

Relist at $1800, take $1600?

I go through this all the time listing stuff at a very fair price w/ little or no room... most people like to haggle.

You're moving to Columbus? Ohio? I missed that! I'll buy you beer when you get here.

dculberson wrote: You're moving to Columbus? Ohio? I missed that! I'll buy you beer when you get here.

Yup! I got a job at Columbus Brewing Co.

That seems to be the going price for 250s around the Chicago area. Many are not as well taken care of as yours.

Beer Baron wrote:

dculberson wrote: You're moving to Columbus? Ohio? I missed that! I'll buy you beer when you get here.

Yup! I got a job at Columbus Brewing Co.

Hey, that's awesome. They make some really good beers. They also have a good restaurant.

dculberson wrote: Hey, that's awesome. They make some really good beers. They also have a good restaurant.

So I hear. However, the restaurant and brewing company are totally separate businesses with different owners. So if you have questions, comments, or suggestions on the beer, I will be in a position to potentially do something about them. If you want something regarding the restaurant, I won't be able to help much.

Beer Baron wrote:

foxtrapper wrote: If you don't mind bringing it with you, you don't need to sell it at throw away price. Means you can sit there and wait for someone to offer you lots of money. Since people love to haggle, I'd suggest listing it for $2k, and let people grind you down to say $1700. They feel like they win, you feel like you won.

That is the current plan. I will probably list for just under $2k. Like $1,950. Human psychology just reacts to that as a lower number. Honestly, I am mostly frustrated with the potential buyer for wasting my time that I would have liked to be using to take a nice ride today.

Some people simply will not pay asking price for stuff. They want to feel like the got a bargain.

Yep, I might have a friend here in the midwest who would consider buying it for $1600 though......I'll see if I can con her into it for you.

Beer Baron wrote:

dculberson wrote: Hey, that's awesome. They make some really good beers. They also have a good restaurant.

So I hear. However, the restaurant and brewing company are totally separate businesses with different owners. So if you have questions, comments, or suggestions on the beer, I will be in a position to potentially do something about them. If you want something regarding the restaurant, I won't be able to help much.

I forgot about that, they used to be the same owners. The only suggestion I have is to keep being awesome. I'll drink more Columbus Brewing beers now that you work there.

For a $200 difference it would have been sold if it were my bike, but then again I like quick and painless sales so am willing to take a little less. What I hate is dealing with a bunch of calls, e-mails, and tire kickers.

Cotton wrote: For a $200 difference it would have been sold if it were my bike, but then again I like quick and painless sales so am willing to take a little less. What I hate is dealing with a bunch of calls, e-mails, and tire kickers.

Perhaps if she were flashing cold hard cash at me ready to take the bike off my hands that instant. She had looked at it in person, but she was just making the offer over the phone. We would have had to coordinate how she would actually take it away, which would have meant me either waiting around for her to show up with a van, or delivering it an hour away.

I already took the time to ride it the hour over to where they are so they could inspect it. Prior to riding it over, I made it very clear that my price was firm and was told that wasn't a problem.

The $200 lowered price was also them hemming and hawing that the non-stock brake lights and front turn indicators weren't bright enough and they would have to spend the money and effort to revert them to stock. That was their biggest complaint. I have the stock parts and had already swapped them back for them.

Moot point. Another buyer came out and paid my full asking price for the bike. Took it away this afternoon.

Money should be enough to pick up a Honda Rebel or similar for the Baroness if she decides she's interested in riding when she gets to Columbus.

congrats on the sale

congrats on the sale. sold my 2002 with a ding in the tank and gunked up carbs for 850 about a month ago. Seems to me like your buyer got a decent deal.