$4k is the MSRP. Motorcycle sales are way down . . . so I kind of expected to be able to negotiate a decent deal with the dealer on a new one.

I decided to also look at used ones on ebay and craigslist to see what the used market looks like. I was pretty shocked to see high prices. For instance, there is a nice 2009 black used 250R on ebay right now. Only 400 miles. Asking price is . . . $4,500?????? 500 bucks more than MSRP. How does that work?

Craigslist is full of other head scratchers. '08s for $3700. Used '09s for $4,000.

So what is going on at dealerships? Is there a markup over MSRP that dealers are getting on new ones? Just wondering why used prices don't really square with MSRP on new ones.

 

your question is not so difficult if you think outside of the topic of net worth. It all comes down to 1 word- payout!

The lightly used bikes that you see on ebay that are 08 and 09 models are high priced because they paid 4,000.00 for the bike 400.00 or more for the dealer delivery, 70.00 or so for title paper work. Several hundred dollars in taxes and then there is the the topic of interest. Most of them probably financed it with a bank or a kawi credit account so that inflated the payout even more.

When you go buy a bike it is not just 4g's for a bike it is 5G's+ when you add taxes, title, delivery, and interest.

They are probably trying to get out from under the bike more likely because they cant afford it. I make that geuss because if they wanted to dump the bike because they hated it and had a job that could afford it, then so what if you lose a few hundred bucks on the sale, you chalk that up to being able to use the bike while you had it.

 

I see. I can't imagine too many buyers actually take the bait and buy one of these "expensive" used ones.

Have you (or anyone else) bought a new one recently? My strategy would be to pay cash and get out of the dealership for $4,000 total (including the tax, delivery fees, paper work etc.). You think I'm being too optimistic? I guess that would require negotiating the actual purchase price down to $3,300 or so.

 

$3300 would be hard to do. Maybe for an 08 model. Prices around here are good because the winter is on its way. I myself will definitely get an 08 because I want to avoid the 09 used ripoff.

 

Even if you had the cash in hand for a new 250, wouldn't it be a bit fair to see how much you would be paying per month, if only so as to get your credit rating a pretty good boost?

See, if you pay on time and early (gasp) because you already have the money, then pay it off after you had paid 50% of the bike's cost, your credit rating will go up seeing as to how you were able to be financed and you paid regularly (early) and was a responsible (read as a good risk) loan recipient. Just wondering, granted you pay a bit in interest unless there is no prepayment penalty and you pay it off at the 50% mark.

 

The interest rate would have to be very very low (under 4%) for this to make sense to me. My credit rating is fine, so I'm not that worried about it. I see the value in the idea though. Maybe for someone younger that is still trying to build credit.

 

If I were you I would wait for the 2010 model bikes to come out. The reason is, Kawasaki has already made the 09 klx450 fuel injected and the rumor mill seems to believe that the klx250 may also be fuel in jected in the USA. In some parts of the world the 09 KLX250 already is FI.

If fuel injection turns you off then find one of many available 2007 klx250s's for about 2500.00 and then sink about 1200.00 in upgrades in into it and you will have a bike that is not exactly a drz400 contender, but it will be close.

I sold my KLX250s for 2500.00 with the 300cc upgrade and big gun exhaust and the kdx snorkle and upgrade the suspension to fit my weight...

I would say unless your concerned with a waurrenty buy used.