1984 RM250 sale or swap for 125

[Tony Two Times]

Had my RM advertised for a month or so now. Very few bites. Not that bothered if it sells or not as it goes like an enhanced Russian athlete so I'm happy to keep it.

But as an exercise I'm curious as to why there hasn't been more interest? Too much money? Not a popular model? Condition doesn't represent the price? People holding out for bargains?

I would have thought a bike that is ready to ride (if not restored/original) would represent a fair buy at $3k?

And $4k upwards if restored?

Gumtree ad is here......

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/mansfield/motorcycles/1984-suzuki-rm250-vmx/1117601987

On the off chance that anyone has a good 125 that is close to race ready condition that they would like to swap I'd be open to suggestions (red/green/yellow/Euro preferred). Would allow me to have open/250/125 classes nicely covered. Not too bothered by era.

Tony

[evo550]

Disc brake front end could be pushing it into the pre 90 class, where it wouldn't be a class favorite. As a pre '85 bike could be a good option.
If the first number started with a 2 you might be in luck.
I have noticed that the vmx bike market is shrinking at the moment and anything that is out there is priced way out of my league.

[Tony Two Times]

Yeah that that could be a question mark. Not really wanting to open a can of worms as there could be multiple views but it has been OK'd for pre-85 locally at my club meets.

 

[evo550]

Yeah that that could be a question mark. Not really wanting to open a can of worms as there could be multiple views but it has been OK'd for pre-85 locally at my club meets.

Yeah, for sure.
If you had the original front end it might be more appealing.

[Nathan S]

Not to be critical...
I don't see that as a $3000 bike. To get $3k for a not particularly sought-after 1980s 250 that still needs a cosmetic resto, buyers will want to hear about recent motor rebuilds, properly set up suspension, near new quality tyres, etc. It might not need every single one of them, but it needs most.
My gut feeling is that $2500 will move it reasonably quickly and $2000 will have it sold within a couple of days (probably less).

I'd change the ad to include:
1. More photos of detail stuff;
2. More words - is the motor good? Is it easy to start? Etc;
3. A clear mention of the year model (is it an 85 or an 84 with a later front end?);
4. Specifically mention if the price is negotiable or not. Not saying "ono" will dissuade (some of) the people who are thinking "I'd buy that for $xxxx";
5. Saying no texts reduces the number of serious/semi-serious enquiries, but also hugely increases the number of scammers and time wasters... I don't know the answer, but I figure I can handle half a dozen scamming/time wasting texts if it increases the chance of someone giving me thousands of dollars.

GLWTS!

[Tony Two Times]

Hmmm yeah fair enough Nathan but I ain't seen a bike I could ride on any ongoing basis "as is" for $2500. $3k seems to be the mark? Agree it's not cosmetically restored but it is tidy and 100% serviceable.

But it's that age old discussion I spose. What is a good price and what is important to a buyer? No right or wrong strictly speaking. If you don't HAVE to sell or HAVE to own one it's just just what is important to each of us.

To me its a good entry point to the sport without a lot of time or money on top to get out there and do it.

But then the second and third bikes arrive and we all know what happens then!!

Tony

[Krikey]

Just as a comparison. I know a guy with the exact same bike, rebuilt motor had done 4 hours riding. Excellent original plastics, new clutch kit, good tyres etc. Just a good club level race bike (still had drum brake front end).

He tried to sell it for $2500 then $2200, then $2000 and eventually sold it on ebay for $1450 after about 2 months.  Yes, $1450.  Now whilst that is a genuine bargain IMHO, it give some perspective to the difficulty selling an 84 RM250 in the pre 85 250 class. 

Note, I'm not telling you your bike is only worth that much, merely giving you some real data to help you with understanding the market for that model bike.

Cheers

[Tony Two Times]

Crikey Krikey!

Yeah all good mate. I just wish I'd seen that one when I bought mine!!

It's starting to sound like a keeper. That and I need better internet search skills.

T.

[Nathan S]

Advertised prices are not sale prices.

I've lost track of the number of times when I've been told "you can get $x for that, any day of the week", but eventually gotten 1/2 of $x after months of wasting my own time...

There's definitely a lot of "excitement" about prices, particularly in the FB/Pawn Star/Pickers era. The talk pushes up asking prices, but does nothing for actual sale prices...

[pecrazy]

Money is tight at the moment, think nearly everybody is feeling the pinch. Just no extra for toys, It doesn't matter if your selling a house, car, bike or just parts.

[LWC82PE]

Advertised prices are not sale prices.

You got that right. I am seeing more an more stuff, particularly parts on ebay USA that sellers have just got way, way over priced and do not sell for months if at ever. Lot of stuff gets re-listed over and over again sometimes with gradual price reductions. I look back at the history of completed listings and find it amusing looking at the items that have be relisted multiple times and you can see the price reductions over time and the eventual sale price a lot more realistic real world price. Some guys think that every old dented and banged up alloy fuel tank or swingarm is worth mega bucks when they are not.

[80-85 husky]

when the world was rich. people who could just did....now everyone hears about those times and puts on the price...but I feel the "boom" has nearly bust as pretty much all us older guys and sons have found and "done up" those bikes we want. the days of picking up 2- 300 dollar "gunna" projects are over. but...if you are after a particular bike, sometimes its just a question of $$$$. hang out I rekon

[Rossvickicampbell]

but so many bikes advertised for way more than even 12 months ago - I am very surprised.

[Nathan S]

There seems to be a good market for the really good bikes at good prices ATM, but it drops off rapidly for bikes that aren't perfect/aren't exceptionally desirable.

Post-VMX 500s all seem to be $6k+, but none of them seem to be selling. The fact that importers (ie: people who pay the bills with their ability to sell bikes) have the lowest advertised prices, which makes me think that very few of the private sellers are selling their bikes.

[steve234]

Wish I was one of these blokes that picked up "fully restored" bikes for SFA!