Well I am going to go were most fear to tread .  I think the greatest excuse to buy that Bike "Motorcycle" you always wanted is the outrageous fuel rip off of all times .Playing now at a Gas station near you . Gouge the price up 55 cents back off 25 cents and you think things are going to get better any day then its back up two days later by 75 cents  ,but untill we get a WE THE PEOPLE  form of Government ( Maybe we should go back to a King like George ,or David )the storm is coming. The Sting is on .The Fix in in .Tell MOM you need a bike to save gas money and not a Schwinn .

 Bike dealers have never had it so good , Banks have been giving Cash to any one with a ink pen or a plastic card (and that going to end real soon now),and bike dealers have had the best sales since World War 2 ,when Car makers had to get the Army Tanks off the line and go back to building people stuff at reasonable profits after VJ- DAY 1945 .The war Rip off days were almost over (their back now) . In 1946 the motorcycle was KING ! NO NEW CARS then !  Back to now . Its hard to make sense out of buying a bike to save gas when you could spend more for a HD Road King then you could for a Toyota Battery powered car and you can't take the Road King off you taxes at the end of the year .Ok you can find some better prices on Bikes , A 250 cc Kawasaki Ninja is listed as a MSRP $2895 buck bike new form the maker but you might get screw for $3800 and more ,By vulture dealers with hidden cost add ons and gouging and lies !   So look out for the all the Vulture dealers little add on expenses , I just had a dealer quote me $395 shipping to his store ,dealer prep at $450 and thats bull $275 for set up more bull , finance fee (did not need that one but a waver was $20 ) dealers title fee (not the States) $40 and Paper management fee $250 . Then tossed in Tax and State Title ,and license fee  and they (Dealers)over charged on that amount to and if that was not bad enough he lied about Manufactures retail price he told me it was $3,800 ( I had the 2007 MSRP with me it was $2895) . Also tried to scam me into a service plan for $295 that said they might change the oil once a year, but did not have to if they wanted to change the contract at any time and if they spent over $200 on your bike they could walk out .(Dealers open end contract). Hay people read the fine print before you sign crap like this . And take your own  adding machine to check their mistakes . I passed on the deal , I had a helmet in hand ,it was a nice day out for riding home .I had Cash money in my pocket that could have payed for a 500 cc no problem .But I will be dammed if I am going to let some sales person take me to the cleaners on rip offs like Dealer prep and scam service contract on a motorcycle , I did not even think Car or Bike dealers still did that scam anymore , and miss quoting MSRP as well as they told me I had to buy a warrantee and service plan  .If people would get pissed and walk out the door over stuff like that ,dealers would post honest prices not lies and post MSRP on the bikes (at least most Car lots have window stickers on the new cars ) . How much dealer prep dose a new bike from the factory need ?. Roll it out of the box and fill with gas . 30 min max . Bikes are run tested at the factory and then not taken back apart for shipping . Dealer s screwing with a new bikes has been reduced over the years to almost nothing ,New bikes had problems years ago not caused by the factory, it was some dumb kid at the dealer installing the front wheel that just got a summer job their to pay for school in the fall and the factorys knew that and cut the kids set up work way down to almost nothing . After going to the local dealer and getting pissed off the real fun started . I was thinking ,why not buy a used one and save some money . Anyhow I really hate the dealers money making lies and tricks. Also the government dose not deserve one extra dime in tax money the way they blow it (clam that used bike at low value and stop paying sales tax over and over on something they don't deserve a dime on ). Now for the used bikes . I started looking for the same thing I was going to get at the Dealer new but trying to stay One to Two years older , now thats a problem . So many people have over payed BAD for  bikes and Bank payments with the dealer they could not sell for anything close to Fair book value , People ! if the dealer Retail book average value is  $2100 for a one year old MINT bike the dealer might try to sell it to a fool for $2700 but they would take $1950 fast and not look back so in the case of going to a dealer for used ,that may beat a personal deal .BUT TAKE THE DEALER BOOK WITH YOU AND DON"T PAY A CENT MORE FOR USED. They can't sell used bikes for $2700 if a new one is $2900 who in their right mind would buy a One year old and possibly damaged ripped to hell doctored up bike , when they could have a new one for $200 more . This is the point that most people not dealers have a sales issue with . Most people think if they see a dealer selling a bike just like the one they have for $2700 and the one they have has just been waxed   they should get $2800 for their barn baby .Sorry it dose not work that way , remember the dealers can sell that same thing for a lot less if its a bad week for sales or fair book price is offered. Dealers only pay something much less for a mint bike ,actually less than Low Blue book price . they have a brown Dealer price book and that book is *GOD* ! ,dealers never pay high Brown book for any bike ,unless it is in such demand they think they can't go wrong and thats rare. So personal deals on used bikes can be a lot of fun . Most sellers are out of their minds price wise And most do another hard sell thing Pricing high to see how stupid a buyer might be but is thinking about coming down a little at a time .That is a real good way to not sell  it at all or then the seller gets desperate and some one gets a real good deal . If you are selling do your home work from NADA brown book or mid to low Blue book and that will be a fare price (and not what some fool once payed for one kinda like yours on E Bay thats a crap shoot not a guide) also come way down for layed down bikes . Old motorcycles are just that Old and most likely trashed out ,and well abused  needing lots of repair work and parts are hard to impossible to find .A lot of sellers crashed the bike did a cheap patch job and then dump something they know is un safe for them selves to ride . Some times you can find that Old retired guy that has had a hart attack and will never ride again selling his baby off , Warning ! If a person sells any thing Car, Boat ,Motorcycle, Guns or  Toy Train and calls it some name like a person IE my Baby or She has been a good ship (If a motorcycle is a she its time to walk away and pass and tell them why ) . Its time to inform them that you are making a business deal not buying their kids ! Stop them in their tracks and make them think . If you can't deal in the real world its time to go . A lot of times the Old guy is realistic and his biken days are over if you can keep him in the real world you can make a good buy or at least you can deal . Even better yet look for a Bank repo auction bike , The banks are not in love with used bikes they just want money , Auctioneers are the real  artist on this one so take care they will over rate any thing and some times have you bidding against your self .Take a value book NADA Brown is best and never go over Low book on anything . Also go to final sale Auctions with no reserve everything will be sold . Another good format for good buys are when the Old guy drops dead and the Old woman or Young girl who hated bikes anyhow is dumping his barn full of collectables she could care less about, Ex Wifes that have tempory live in rights to the house do the same thing but getting a title is a bitch ! most likely (almost all ways )she dose not have the right to sell dads bikes in the middle of the Court stuff but can get away with it . Then their are Cop impound and Salvation Army auctions be prepared to do the repairs most will be tax wright off junk and or not running but they are cheap (salvage). And if you have lots of time go to flee markets early be the first one at the gate . Seen bikes that were fine ,made offer and the deal of a life time went home from a flea market . And another place to look is "New" and sometimes Used car lots that are not Bike dealers ,they took a bike on trade for almost nothing or free on a over priced New junk or Used junk car but will dump it fast due to their insurance is for Car deals not bikes .Car lot  liability insurance may not cover some one dumping a bike in front of the show room window  and being hurt  they should and sometimes know that,Make a low ball fare book value offer  ,don't give a inch and walk out .They will call you at home and take the the offer unless the are nuts  .The real trick is don't get stuck with just one type or make of bike ,be willing to walk on a deal if things are not going good , Change to other brands that are like what you think you want .Or larger or smaller than your first in mind buy . This is how I am thinking . I started out trying to save gas money (really) A Kaw 250 Ninja has a good rating on gas and can go freeway speeds .Ok so far ! The dealer wanted to screw me royal . So I started looking for good used . Personal sales on 250 Ninja can be stupid , Most asking price for a 250 kaw is close to 500cc anything why not get a less popular 500cc  something else . Also a lot of used sport-ish bikes are sold because some nut ripped it to bits (dumped and wrecked replace a few parts so it looks not to dumped and is getting  rid of it fast ). I started to just look for a bike that can take a beating and hold up maybe built to be dumped . If a 250 Ninja falls over in a parking lot all the cheap plastic is broken ,scared up and busted for Hundreds of bucks ,or a nice slide down the road the tack and speedo will be  broken as well and the engine is now leaking oil at best. OH ! battery shot also when dumped . So the Ninja is out .What used bike can take a little beating and still run , Maybe a dirt or street dirt bikes (DP) ! Started looking at a Kaw KLR650 any how. The Army uses them, and some of the Cheap plastic will not brake as fast or at all ,but is soft and will scar up fast thats ok better scratched than broken . And the KLR650 dose not do to bad on gas (52 to 56mpg). .Used prices are high . Yamaha and Honda build same DP stuff as well as Others , Also I bounced local dealers off sale prices at far away dealers on New Ones , trick is to get a local dealer to match a sale price at a far off dealer (long story) . Anyway found a good buy at a flee market and sold it for a little more cash(just what I wanted not a rip off) and I am off to a dealer for that new one thats like the The Baby guy is pushing back in the barn every night unsold for $200 less than new. By the way found a dealer that had what I changed my mind to  on sale over $1200 cheaper than locals Bandits ,They also dropped the dealer prep crap as well as some of the other tric tacked on scams He would not give up his shipping cost but he was $100 cheaper than the locals on the same thing, only they are closer to the warehouse here.. It could be a long drive but worth every second if you can find a friend to drive you their so you don't need to ship it home . Don't just toss cash at these guys , the deals are out their , And for the ladies same deal fight like hell for a deal and if you feel not to sure walk out on the deal their are lots of bikes out there for sale be willing to change Years, Makes .Types ,Engine Size,and Dealers for the same bike if need be or you can always go back to the best dealer later and say you did not like the sales person deal with another person for a little better deal (Drive Them Nuts who knows you might get them to make a mistake and you get a good deal). Do not get stuck in on one thing ,a dealer will read you like a book if you are .And as for buying a bike un seen at auction it better be CHEAP find a Dealer NADA brown book and stop at the bottom low value no matter what the seller,s clams are .dealers don't buy bikes from on line web auctions (they just Steal them on trade in deals ) Dose that tell you anything ! Like this Yes or NO vote (no Dealers please) Last thing the most hated people on earth are(seen a poll) Realtors and Mr.Bush jr Treason King. number #1, Car and Motorcycle and window siding Salesmen ie. Dealers #2, Lawyers #3 , All Insurance People ,Dealers and Clam Reps #4,Quack Doctors & Dentist (most just doing the fast buck job not what is right ) #5, CEO money bags Big Shots #6.Government people all of them ,Top to Bottom as well as Blackwater,Hallaburton ,Stock brokers ,Bankers ,People on life time welfare ,All kinds of construction contractors #7,Child rapist #8 and out right non government Killers (killers at botten of the list).And from the looks of this list I can at least understand  who made the Killers who they are . By the way the bike in photo is a 1945 British Army surplus Famous James 125 cc messenger And It still runs good after all these years I have it at my shop and It will fire right up and go.Just can't do freeway speeds. Over 60 years old and still goes try that with a 2008  all the plastic fantastic fuel injected, computer powered ,electric start only , almost has a frame ,water cooled ,must have a battery to run motorcycles with scam air pollution junk .The old stuff will live forever ,plastic will just dry out and crumble into land fill stuff . Well any how the days of getting a bike for $100 that runs out of someone's driveway or barn is long gone buyers need to be realistic to .Please vote yes or no on this ,How did you like this ?

  To end this adventure, I made note of  a long distance Quote to a local Kawasaki dealer on a 2007 KLR650( I still have a copy of that Quote $4350 out the door plus tax and Title )and they said they would match the price over the phone .So I went to that dealer. After the sales person play mind games with money math they came back with a price that was almost $1000 over a 30 day old quote . I was getting up to walk out and the sales person said that they would go with in $100 (over that out of town Quote That I had with me ). I said I could go that difference and the salesperson re worked the bill And said I was getting the bike for $100 over the out of town quote I had showed them . Then the salesperson turned the paperwork over to another person (Paperwork manager )In my opinion also known as a scam artist . this process took some 45 min or more and I  Should have walked out !. As I was offered a extra Warrantee( of course the factory warrantee is not worth a dime as they implied), Onstar theft tracking , service plan at a outrageous cost .Their own finance plan also . And soon a $4450 bike was looking like $8000 . I of course refused all that stupid scam crap and should have walked out right then ,but just put the KLR on my Visa card not their bank deal system . Thats not a charge card .Balance paid off at end of 30 no fees . But after all the banter with the deal closer guy I missed one thing he charged me a $200 plus fee for Visa card paper work management .Again its my opinion this is just another way to scam more money into their pockets and I feel that I got scammed out of just more money ,this was not the deal I had made with the sales person at all ,Tax and Title dose not include a $200 plue charge . I did not spot that issue .I forgot to take my own calculator ,big mistake ! I miss thought the Tax and title and license issue . So I feel that I did get scammed on a new bike deal and caught it after I rode the bike home in the rain . Just $200 or so but I will be mad as hell over all the tricks for a long time .And will never do another deal with these guys and will advise others to also avoid this outfit .I will never buy after market parts from them and they will never service my bike at their store ever .Its my Personal opinion I got lied to and cheated by this outfit and I did bring the matter up with a so called sales manager and he told me that he would turn the issue over to the owner ,Manager I have never got any response from this action . And all the people in hell will be free before I even look at something the offer for sale no matter how much I want it and I was looking for a good Utility ATV. I think the KLR 650 is not a bad bike . At least its simple to repair and you can find lots of parts on the web cheaper than local Scam OEM dealers . But only time will tell if I got a good bike , I only got a kind of ALMOST  fare deal not a good one or the one I thought I was getting .  And thats to bad . I would like to feel like some one could do honest deals for something or anything with out trying to burn people for every extra cent they can .It really takes the fun out of life when you can't let your guard down for a second . Best of luck if you want a new or used bike .And if the deal looks just a little like a over charge scam ,Run out don't  walk .Just get up and leave the place .This is the kind of stuff that a lot of dealers of motor vehicles pull off .." Also part of the over charges was handling and thats assembly and shipping (some dealers clam no set up fees )  .I had several issues with assembly and some caused such concern that I personally rechecked almost every bolt and nut on the bike ! Also the Manager I talked to refused to have our conversation recorded and in my opinion if you are not willing to go on record you are not honest . Personally I have not or never refused to go on record on any deal and have nothing to cover up ! I live by my words and want to be trusted with what I say !

 This next paragraph is a seperate statement from the above and is Purely ,only, my personal opinion and or feelings !

" My personal feelings are this I have had dealings with a few Motorcycle and related equipment dealers in the Columbus Ohio Aira over many years and ONE Dealership I personally will never deal with again,or buy anything from,or will personally not recomend is Motorsports of Columbus Ohio as well as their branch dealers of the Same Name Motersports of  (different for what ever Location they are in ,chain store)end of statement !"

 GOOD LUCK TRYING TO BEAT THE PUMP !