Upstate NY Newbie

Kenny007 · 07-14-2008, 12:39 PM

Hello everyone!

How pleased I was to find that there is a forum dedicated to this great bike! I have been browsing various threads for weeks in anticipation of my first bike purchase, and the more and more I read from many of the knowledgable members here, the more I knew I wanted a GZ250!

Some brief notes about me.

I'm from upstate NY, a smaller "city" of Binghamton, and just got into riding about 5 months ago. Back then though, we had about a foot of snow on the ground, so the urge to ride had to wait. I dont know where the urge came from; it's not like you see a ton of bikes in NY in February when it's 0 out. I've begun calling it my midlife crisis (though I'm only 23...maybe quarter life?) Regardless, as soon as signups were available, I went for the MSF course, timid to say the least about riding, as I had NO two wheeled experience (outside of a bicycle) prior to that. Passed the course in June (didn't drop the bike once!) and anxiously awaited my license approval. Just got that in the mail last week, and now it's come time to pick a bike.

A friend of mine also completed the course and is anxious to get a bike as well. However, he wants to jump right to a 600cc+, and avoid having to resell a bike down the road. Luckily, I've slowly talked him down to at least the 500ish size. I'm sticking with a smaller bike in hopes of refining my skills before moving up.

Over the weekend I managed to get a reply to my WTB GZ250 post on Craigslist. An 04 GZ250 with just under 3k miles, a set of saddlebags, luggage rack and sissy bar for $2150. Hopefully thats a good deal, as I saw its nada.com value stock was around $1800. But I hear sissy bars are hard to find...who knows. With no one selling 250cc bikes around here, I intend to buy the bike this week. I cant wait.

Other interests are PC Gaming and Paintball.

I'm sure I'll load the forums with newbie questions, so I wont do that here.

Thanks for having me and great to be here!

music man · 07-14-2008, 01:05 PM

welcome, and hopefully you will get your bike this week. With gas prices like they are you are probably gonna run into most 250cc bikes running over there blue book value if they are in good shape.

Sarris · 07-14-2008, 04:17 PM

Welcome Brother.

I'd snap up that bike so long as she's in good shape. Like MM said, good used GZ's are becoming harder to find as gas prices rise, and it's got $400 worth of extras already installed.

Ride safe.

:chop:

Littlethumper · 07-14-2008, 09:49 PM

Welcome and hello!!!

davtnn · 07-14-2008, 09:54 PM

Sounds like a deal to me ... as to reselling (for me at least).. i have regretted selling previous bike and really wished i had hung on to them as to the GZ . even if you go to the bigger bikes its nice to have the little back up thet always runs ..

bigwonton · 07-14-2008, 11:52 PM

NADA always seems kind of low. Plus you're in riding season now, so you do pay somewhat of a premium for a bike. However, that price sounds like good deal. I live in the Cleveland area, so my riding season is also fairly limited - jump on the opportunity and get out and ride!

Kenny007 · 07-15-2008, 12:01 AM

Thank you everyone for the welcomes!

I managed to seal the deal tonight and he even delivered the bike to me! I wasn't as set up to haul the bike as I had hoped and he was rather helpful. So I got a neat bike, with all the above stuff, a cover, and even the manual with it! Here's what it looks like:

and

Hopefully my current house purchase negotiations close soon so it can be garaged like it deserves to be, but for the time being I'm just pleased to finally have one of these great bikes!

Not only that, but I may have found someone to ride with during the course of my sale. Win win!

Littlethumper · 07-15-2008, 12:10 AM

:drool: omg,that is a sharp and neat looking bike kenny! :2tup:
You had accessories on it too...cool!
:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

Congratulations to your new bike! :rawk:

:chop:

Drive safe...

roscosmom · 07-15-2008, 12:12 AM

kenny it's nice! very sharp....i really want to find saddlebags for mine. i havent had any luck yet! looked on ebay....no luck

bigwonton · 07-15-2008, 12:45 AM

Looks nice! FWIW, I just picked up a 650cc bike - lots more power than the GZ - but I'm happy to have started out on a 250 and wouldn't have done it differently.

07-14-2008, 12:39 PM	#1
Kenny007 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 9	Upstate NY Newbie Hello everyone! How pleased I was to find that there is a forum dedicated to this great bike! I have been browsing various threads for weeks in anticipation of my first bike purchase, and the more and more I read from many of the knowledgable members here, the more I knew I wanted a GZ250! Some brief notes about me. I'm from upstate NY, a smaller "city" of Binghamton, and just got into riding about 5 months ago. Back then though, we had about a foot of snow on the ground, so the urge to ride had to wait. I dont know where the urge came from; it's not like you see a ton of bikes in NY in February when it's 0 out. I've begun calling it my midlife crisis (though I'm only 23...maybe quarter life?) Regardless, as soon as signups were available, I went for the MSF course, timid to say the least about riding, as I had NO two wheeled experience (outside of a bicycle) prior to that. Passed the course in June (didn't drop the bike once!) and anxiously awaited my license approval. Just got that in the mail last week, and now it's come time to pick a bike. A friend of mine also completed the course and is anxious to get a bike as well. However, he wants to jump right to a 600cc+, and avoid having to resell a bike down the road. Luckily, I've slowly talked him down to at least the 500ish size. I'm sticking with a smaller bike in hopes of refining my skills before moving up. Over the weekend I managed to get a reply to my WTB GZ250 post on Craigslist. An 04 GZ250 with just under 3k miles, a set of saddlebags, luggage rack and sissy bar for $2150. Hopefully thats a good deal, as I saw its nada.com value stock was around $1800. But I hear sissy bars are hard to find...who knows. With no one selling 250cc bikes around here, I intend to buy the bike this week. I cant wait. Other interests are PC Gaming and Paintball. I'm sure I'll load the forums with newbie questions, so I wont do that here. Thanks for having me and great to be here! Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-14-2008, 01:05 PM	#2
music man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Hot Springs Arkansas Posts: 1,127	welcome, and hopefully you will get your bike this week. With gas prices like they are you are probably gonna run into most 250cc bikes running over there blue book value if they are in good shape. __________________ "Tell me what kind of wreck you're going to have and I'll tell you what type of helmet you need." [Author Unknown]
	0

07-14-2008, 04:17 PM	#3
Sarris Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Port Richey, Florida USA Posts: 1,348	Greetings Welcome Brother. I'd snap up that bike so long as she's in good shape. Like MM said, good used GZ's are becoming harder to find as gas prices rise, and it's got $400 worth of extras already installed. Ride safe. :chop: __________________ Prudent riders live longer than moron riders. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-14-2008, 09:49 PM	#4
Littlethumper Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 144	Welcome and hello!!! __________________ Get Quick or Die Tryin'...
	0

07-14-2008, 09:54 PM	#5
davtnn Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: lafayette Tenn Posts: 110	Sounds like a deal to me ... as to reselling (for me at least).. i have regretted selling previous bike and really wished i had hung on to them as to the GZ . even if you go to the bigger bikes its nice to have the little back up thet always runs .. __________________ 2008 black GZ250 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-14-2008, 11:52 PM	#6
bigwonton Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 90	NADA always seems kind of low. Plus you're in riding season now, so you do pay somewhat of a premium for a bike. However, that price sounds like good deal. I live in the Cleveland area, so my riding season is also fairly limited - jump on the opportunity and get out and ride!
	0

07-15-2008, 12:01 AM	#7
Kenny007 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 9	Update! Thank you everyone for the welcomes! I managed to seal the deal tonight and he even delivered the bike to me! I wasn't as set up to haul the bike as I had hoped and he was rather helpful. So I got a neat bike, with all the above stuff, a cover, and even the manual with it! Here's what it looks like: and Hopefully my current house purchase negotiations close soon so it can be garaged like it deserves to be, but for the time being I'm just pleased to finally have one of these great bikes! Not only that, but I may have found someone to ride with during the course of my sale. Win win!
	0

07-15-2008, 12:10 AM	#8
Littlethumper Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 144	:drool: omg,that is a sharp and neat looking bike kenny! :2tup: You had accessories on it too...cool! :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: Congratulations to your new bike! :rawk: :chop: Drive safe... __________________ Get Quick or Die Tryin'...
	0

07-15-2008, 12:12 AM	#9
roscosmom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Broussard, Youngsville, Lafayette...Louisiana Posts: 124	kenny bike kenny it's nice! very sharp....i really want to find saddlebags for mine. i havent had any luck yet! looked on ebay....no luck __________________ Much Happiness and Good Fortune To You All....
	0

07-15-2008, 12:45 AM	#10
bigwonton Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 90	Looks nice! FWIW, I just picked up a 650cc bike - lots more power than the GZ - but I'm happy to have started out on a 250 and wouldn't have done it differently.
	0