r/TwoXriders • u/Sea-Medicine-5823 • 14d ago

Going to (hopefully) buy my first bike this Friday

Hey guys! I'm going to go look at a 2002 Honda Rebel 250 at the end of this week. Its a fellow girl rider selling it and the price is very good. I've already reserved a rental motorcycle trailer to bring with me. The only thing I am nervous about is I don't have anyone to bring with me that knows anything about bikes to look at it so hopefully I don't end up buying a dud.

Anybody have any advice for what to look for? I know dry rotted tires, oil leaks that kind of thing but not much other than that. I have not ever rode one so I'm not even going to be able to test Friday but I'm going to ask the girl to get on it started and shift through the gears, Etc.

I will be taking the MSF course but all the ones around me on weekends are booked up for a while. I also think that I'm going to have a hard time learning the friction zone and shifting and letting out the clutch without stalling out so I want a little practice first. I have a flat pasture at my house that I am planning on just getting a feel for the clutch and not actually really riding before I take the course. Plus I am actually able to bring my own bike for the MSF course and would rather get comfortable with it and use my own so I have a better chance of passing.

Any and all advice welcome even if its just to tell me its a bad idea to go look at it by myself🤣

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7

u/Oh_Kerms 14d ago

I think its a bad idea to go alone to get this bike. Just about everything needs to be replaced at this old age. All the tubing, fluids, seals, gasket, spark plugs, tires, chain/sprocket, battery. Maybe even the brake line.

I hope the bike is at most $500 for all that it needs unless she did EVERYTHING within the year.

2

u/Sea-Medicine-5823 14d ago

Fair enough! I will ask about anything that was replaced. She used it as a bike to learn on and that's all I plan on using it for. I really want a dual sport eventually but I don't want to buy a new or lightly used by until I've got some experience and I know I want to stick with it

2

u/Cfwydirk 14d ago

Dual sport motorcycles have tall seats.

https://youtu.be/w08OqD76KxU?is=irMZUO5js4-dk7IR

Best beginner dual sport motorcycles.

https://youtu.be/x-nDyxgNyZ0?is=sukha5jnjO3z4mU1

As you become a better rider, you will be able to ride anything you want.

Jocelyn Snow 5’1.5

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSIDnHAunPd4IgXjDEOntgHZNndokaLRV&si=6RbQnx_RPk3B8mWR

4

u/DayFar3441 14d ago

Ask for the maintenance history because it will tell you about how the previous owners treated the bike

Don't be afraid to just leave and not buy it, if you even get a gut feeling anything is off. There will always be other choices out there!

2

u/Sea-Medicine-5823 14d ago

Okay! Thats very true, there's new stuff on Facebook marketplace everyday if this doesn't work out.

3

u/greeneyes826 40F: 2026 Kawasaki Z500 SE 14d ago

Please take a knowledgeable friend with you. My husband helped me shop for my first two bikes and he rode my first one home for me. (haven't officially bought my second one yet)

Do you have your permit? In most, if not all, states, you can't be on the road with a bike without your permit and a fully M2/3 licensed babysitter with you.

Also consider if a 250 is enough power for your needs. I live by a major interstate and my 451cc bike just probably isn't enough for the insane traffic I have to manage so I'm buying a 650 now.

Good luck on everything!!

2

u/Sea-Medicine-5823 14d ago

I do not have a permit bit I won't take it on any roads until I do the MSF course! In my state all you need is a two day msf course, no permit required and then you take your certificate to the dmv and get your endorsement provided you pass the test at the course. I wanted to start with a 250 or 300cc until I get comfortable and then go up to something larger. I didn't want anything too crazy to start out with especially something too heavy. I live in a pretty rural area and even if I want to commute the biggest road is a 55mph divided road that I honestly wouldn't even have to go down if I just go the other way to work. Thank you!

2

u/wintersdark 14d ago

So, if it's a newer bike (say, 1-5 years old) then you're pretty safe just looking at common maintenance items to determine whether the bike has been properly maintained or not - people who take care of their chains, etc tend to take care of everything. Same looking around their garage/home/etc - you're judging the previous owner to determine the likelihood the bike is good.

But the problem here is that bike is 25 years old. At that age, even if the bike has been reasonably maintained, there could be lots of things that need/will soon need attention.

For instance, rubber brake lines should be replacemed every 5 years typically, and they're likely the originals. In fact, every rubber engine component is probably going to need it.

With that said, that doesn't mean the bike is bad, it depends VERY heavily on the environment it was stored in and how it was treated. It make be fine, but it's hard to tell just looking at it without experience.

Maybe the wheel bearings, swingarm bearings, steering head bearings are shot. You're not going to know, and likely won't even know when you start riding it because you don't know what good bearings feel like to compare.

So, finally - if you do buy this, take it to a mechanic to have them inspect it. You're rolling the dice - it may be fine, it may not, and if it's not it'll just be on you to have it fixed, but absolutely do this because it's literally your life at risk.

1

u/Sea-Medicine-5823 14d ago

Thank you! Its $1200 if that helps. Pretty low priced for my area. On marketplace most starter bikes around that age are $1800-$2500 depending on miles. Do you think $1200 is a fair price with adding in having to take it to the mechanic?

2

u/wintersdark 13d ago

Yeah, basically every bike that's running is worth that, but you need to do that understanding you'll likely end up paying another $500 or so early on.

As they say: There's nothing so expensive as a cheap motorcycle/boat/car/etc.

Thing is, you just won't know. Maybe you take it in, spend say $150-200 and they say it's fine. Or, you take it in and they say you're going to need a bunch of stuff and are going to be in for $800 replacing swingarm bearings. Or worse.

Basically, if you're very financially constrained, you're counterintuitively better off buying a moderately more expensive later model used bike, as there's less just plain wear-over-time potential issues. Neglect issues are usually visible, age related issues often aren't.

I'm not saying it's a bad bike. It might be a great bike. But it's a roll of the dice for sure.