Thinking about trading in Ninja 250R - thoughts?

[camhabib]

I got my licence about a year ago and promptly purchased a new 2011 Ninja 250R. I've been riding it since, putting about 2.5k miles on it in about 3/4 of a season. While I think it's a great bike, and I certainly have more to learn, I'd like to get something a bit more sporty. I've been doing a bit of reading into the smaller super-sports (600cc) and like the look and feel of the Kawasaki 6R - I feel that I'm ready for the move. Wise choice or should I hold off another year?

What's a good time to buy and sell? The dealer I purchased the 250R from said I can trade it in for 90% of what I paid any time within the first year - take this or sell privately? Would I be paying MSRP on a new 6R or are there certain times they'll cut me a better deal (end of a month, middle of winter, etc)? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[mzdagrl]

I got my licence about a year ago and promptly purchased a new 2011 Ninja 250R. I've been riding it since, putting about 2.5k miles on it in about 3/4 of a season. While I think it's a great bike, and I certainly have more to learn, I'd like to get something a bit more sporty. I've been doing a bit of reading into the smaller super-sports (600cc) and like the look and feel of the Kawasaki 6R - I feel that I'm ready for the move. Wise choice or should I hold off another year?

What's a good time to buy and sell? The dealer I purchased the 250R from said I can trade it in for 90% of what I paid any time within the first year - take this or sell privately? Would I be paying MSRP on a new 6R or are there certain times they'll cut me a better deal (end of a month, middle of winter, etc)? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Buy now, sell in April-May, and if you think you are ready for a bigger bike, go for it. You will never learn all you can on a Ninja 250, there is too much.

ETA: missed the 90% thing. Definitely worth the trade-in value in that case. But buying now, dealers tend to have better prices since it is the middle of winter and no one's riding. Except RandyO. And everyone who didn't winterize their bike not expecting 60 degree weather all winter.

[SRTie4k]

Definitely. There's nothing wrong with wanting a faster bike (unless you're starting out on one).

Only thing I would do is buy used or a leftover. You'll lose a lot less money on a used/leftover bike than you will a new one.

[Expat]

I would trade in now, you have a fixed value on your bike and you can comparison shop the 600 and use that information on your dealer to ensure you get a decent deal.
If you choose to sell, you will get a lot less than 90% of the purchase price and would still need to sell in the spring to see anything like a decent return.
Good luck!

[nhbubba]

You sound ready to me. But then this is the interwebz and this advice is free.

(Only you can know.)

[Lucas]

The 90% thing sounds pretty good. If they have a leftover 650 and they give you 90% of your 250 then I say let the good times roll!

[Evadd]

I got my licence about a year ago and promptly purchased a new 2011 Ninja 250R. I've been riding it since, putting about 2.5k miles on it in about 3/4 of a season. While I think it's a great bike, and I certainly have more to learn, I'd like to get something a bit more sporty. I've been doing a bit of reading into the smaller super-sports (600cc) and like the look and feel of the Kawasaki 6R - I feel that I'm ready for the move. Wise choice or should I hold off another year?

sounds like you've spent some time learning and are ready to move up.
(although 2500 miles is not a lot, if you've been actually paying attention and learning during those miles, IMO, it's enough)

What's a good time to buy and sell? The dealer I purchased the 250R from said I can trade it in for 90% of what I paid any time within the first year - take this or sell privately? Would I be paying MSRP on a new 6R or are there certain times they'll cut me a better deal (end of a month, middle of winter, etc)? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

deals can always be found, but now is a good time to buy - i probably would not wait til spring when demand goes up. i would also seriously consider the 90% buyback for trade-in which sounds like a good deal. will you pay MSRP? depends on how you negotiate. if you can't get them to budge on the 600's price, then the 90% thing becomes a crappy deal and you're better off selling privately and buying elsewhere.

[camhabib]

I appreciate the feedback guys. I may stop by the dealer in the next couple of weeks and see what they say as far as a deal goes. I was told when I bought my 250R that, although they don't have much flexibility in 250R pricing, they have some wiggle room on the 6R. Hopefully the slow-ish economy and season work in my favor a bit.

[scubasteveRR]

nothing I can add here except "I hope you get a dope bike homey"

[OreoGaborio]

I've been riding it since, putting about 2.5k miles on it in about 3/4 of a season.

That's IT???? C'MAAAAAHN! That's nothin!

But seriously...

As I'm sure you aready know, 2.5k miles isn't very much experience and you've certainly got a lot more to learn... BUT... if you don't ride it cuz you don't LIKE the thing, then get whatever moves you & motivates you to ride more.


Trading in the 250 will obviously be less economically beneficial to you than selling it private sale, so I would recommend putting it up on craigslist or something if you can.

But if you can't afford to have two bikes until you sell it, do whatever makes the most sense for you & your budget.

[JohnnyV]

That's IT???? C'MAAAAAHN! That's nothin!

But seriuosly... In my honest opinion, that's not much experience and you've certainly got a lot more to learn... But, if you don't ride it cuz you don't LIKE the thing, then get whatever ya want & be happy.


Trading in the 250 will obviously be less economical than selling it private sale, so I would recommend putting it up on craigslist or something.

If you can't afford to have two bikes until you sell it, do whatever makes the most sense for you & your budget.

In the middle of winter, as mild as this one has been to date, I think the dealership offering him 90% of his original purchase price is the best he will do right now.

[OreoGaborio]

Yeah that's not a bad point. Missed that part.

That sounds like a great deal. I say hold em to that promise & trade up.

[nhbubba]

I posted pretty much the same thing Oreo.. then saw the 90% bit and edited my post.

That's a pretty sweet deal, IMO. Never heard of such a thing.

2500 miles for a noob in a 3/4 season ain't bad in my book.

[OreoGaborio]

2500 miles for a noob in a 3/4 season ain't bad in my book.

Yeah, it ain't BAD... but I logged over 12k my first year of riding! Hardly a sunny day passed when I wasn't out on the bike!

[camhabib]

Yeah, it ain't BAD... but I logged over 12k my first year of riding! Hardly a sunny day passed when I wasn't out on the bike!

I agree I definitely have a lot more miles to get under my belt before I'm considered experienced, but I do try and get out when I can. I plan to do a few track days once the weather is nice, and I've picked up a few books on proper riding techniques and plan to go through them before the start of the new season. I'm still a bit partial to cars (grew up racing carts, etc) and have a decent sports car that I try and get out as well when the weather is nice (2010 Porsche C4S).

I'm trying to go through my paperwork at the moment to see if I got the 90% trade-in deal in some form of writing. I'm hoping that I did, otherwise I imagine they'll play some kind of hardball when I go to trade in.

I appreciate the continued comments.

[OreoGaborio]

Cool man. Hope to see ya up at the track!

[golden chicken]

I put 2500 miles on a 1980 XS400 before I was offered a great deal on my current SV. I rode another 3000 on the SV that season, and 7000 more this past year. By the end of next season, my SV will probably pass the XS in mileage. Heh.

For me, 2500 miles was enough time to become familiar with the controls and the extra challenges of riding. I would have been content to keep riding the XS for the rest of that season, because that's what I told myself I would do, but everything worked out in the end. Sounds like you're about in the same boat. Good luck in your search.

[oVTo]

The dealer is offering 90% back just so they can sell you a new bike. You should look at the whole deal.

Just to make the math easy, let's say you paid MSRP= $3,999. You get back 90%, or $3600. KBB trade-in is $2445, so $3600 looks great! But KBB retail is $3585, about the same as the dealer is giving you. I did a quick Tempest search for a 2011 Ninja 250R and the results varied from $3500 to $5400?!, but typical asking price was about $3700-$3800. The selling price would be a couple hundred less. Maybe the dealer is giving you a slightly better deal on the trade-in than you'd get in a private sale, but it doesn't look like a big difference. Mostly, they are giving you an easy sale for the 250R.

But trading in the old bike might limit your ability to negotiate the price on the new bike. I'd recommend checking what you can get for a best price on the 6R at a couple of other dealers first, then you'll know the 'right price' for the new bike. If the difference between the other dealers and 'your' dealer is more than a few hundred dollars, then you might want to consider selling the old bike in private sale, then buying the new one.

Or maybe it's not worth all the work and you just do the trade-in...

[nhbubba]

Mostly, they are giving you an easy sale for the 250R.

Generally I'm of the "more time than money" way of doing things. But sometimes the 'easy' part is worth some money.

As with everything, YMMV.

[golden chicken]

It's going to be six of one, half a dozen of another.

Think of "retail" and "trade-in" values on a used bike just like "MSRP" and "invoice" on a new bike. A clever salesperson can use some of the difference between MSRP and invoice on a new bike to artificially inflate the trade-in value of the trade in, making it seem like they're giving you more for your trade in, but they won't take any off the MSRP.

So, to use the same numbers oVTo used, $3600 is 90% original MSRP and about $1100 over clean trade. Say the zx-6r is $9999 MSRP and the invoice price is $1500 less. Well, net, the dealer made $400 on that deal.

OR, you could get the same deal at another dealer who offers you just $2500 for your trade in (KBB trade-in value) but also knocks off $1100 from the sticker price of the zx-6r.

Does that make sense?

FWIW, it's better to negotiate a $3600 trade than $2500 trade + $1100 discount because you don't get taxed on trade-ins. (That's how it worked in MA when I was a car salesman, anyway)

[DuncanMoto]

If you're in MASS. You'll also save the sales tax when trading in.
You would not save that on a private sale.

[maxim_X]

I strongly recommend not buying a new bike. Especially for your second bike. I bought 1 new bike, my second bike, and regretted it until I sold it. Since then I've bought 6 bikes. The new zx6 is great bike I'm sure, and it sounds like you have your heart set on it. But you should consider some other options, specifically used bikes. Also if you want to do a track day or two it's more likely than not your going to lay it down. And the worse pain may be seeing your brand new ride in pieces.

[Manny]

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New bikes rule. Doooo it.

[j4eric]

It's a no brainer at 90% buyback....do it.....that zx6r is a dream

[G21forme]

The 6r is a completely different animal, is it possible for you to take a test ride when the temps warm up? What are you looking to do with the bike? Long distance touring, trackdays, commuting and weekend rips? Figure out what you need the bike to do before picking a bike because it's sexy