Is this too many miles for this bike and price?

Question

2006 Kawasaki Ninja 500R with 11,000 miles

$4000

Answer 1

That is probably a little steep.  It Kelley Blue Books dealer retail for $3650.

Answer 2

Work him down to $3300.

Answer 3

It's a good choice of bike!  Seems like a little high price to me.

For your first bike you don't want anything too new.  You're going to be hard on your first bike.  You're going to abuse the clutch.  You might drop it once or twice.  You want something a little older, with a few bruises already on it.  After 6 months or a year you can sell it for about what you paid for it and then get what you really want, and by then you'll know better what you really want.

Think of the value you'd lose on that Ninja if you dropped it and scraped it up a little.

Answer 4

Very few people put enough miles on a motorcycle to wear it out.  

Don't be afraid to get an older motorcycle and pay less for it.

The book may support $4,000 for a two year old 500cc scooter, but I wouldn't pay it.

After you and your money are parted, you have a 500.  Woopdeedoo

Answer 5

I think it's too much, and Kelly Blue Book says so too. They put it at $3650.

If I really wanted it I'd probably start out with a offer for $2900, pointing out whatever is wrong with it that'd bring down the price.

Go to kbb.com, and on a box on the left near the bottom is a box labeled

< Motorcycle Values >. Click Motorcycle, and then

< Kelley Blue Book Retail Value >.

Then 2006, Kawasaki and finally < EX500D Ninja 500R >.  That takes you to http://www.kbb.com/kbb/OtherVehicles/Pri...

where it says:

2006 Kawasaki EX500D Ninja 500R Value



June 19, 2008

2-Cylinder

4-Stroke

498cc

Suggested Retail Value

$3650

The Kelley Blue Book Suggested Retail Value is representative of dealers' asking prices and is the starting point for negotiation between a consumer and a dealer. This Suggested Retail Value assumes that the unit has been fully reconditioned and is in excellent condition. Mileage/condition and additional equipment may have a substantial impact on the value shown above. This value also takes into account the dealers' profit, costs for advertising, sales commissions and other costs of doing business. The final sale price will likely be less depending on the unit's actual condition, popularity, type of warranty offered and local market conditions.

If it's at a private party sale, keep it in mind that price above is a dealer-perfect bike. No matter what a private seller tells you, he isn't - can't offer the reconditioned quality and warranty a dealer can. With a private party, if it looks very good, offer maybe $3200. and meet somewhere in the middle. Remember, anything you see * or think might * be wrong with it you'll have to get fixed at a dealer, so deduct more than what you think that should cost. Come to a meeting of the minds.

$4000 is a lot. Someone trying to sell a bike that's only two years old either didn't know what they've gotten into, are broke, or just bought the bike to one up a friend (it happens). They're trying to recoup as much of their investment as they can.

Good luck.