Tough call- Money issues

[common sense]

let's not forget about insurance...

[RVertigo]

Bike looks alright...  But, it's hard to tell with the small pics...

It's been down at least once... Maybe more. 

If you can afford it (and all the other crap), then get it. 

[NWDave]

MSF in WA is $240...  

While TEAM Oregon training is cheaper, $95 for three day class that waves all tests if you pass,  the kicker is to get a new licence it costs some 60 odd dollars, well then you have to pay for each endorsement.  It ended up costing me $127 for my freaking licence.. talk about a rip off.

[RVertigo]

They always find a way to get ya'.  The $96 tabs are what killed me...  Not like my little moto screws up the road. 

[sanjay]

I was in the same position.  College student, barely any income, and my parents weren't going to help me pay for any of it.  I set aside about $2k like you did and looked for deals.  Craigslist was the best, but it's also much better in the bay area than in some places.

For $800, I ended up getting a '92 with 54k miles on the frame and 32k miles on the engine.  Former owner was a bike mechanic who used it for commuting, did all his own maintenance, and kept it in good condition.  Only problem was that it's dirty and not the prettiest thing to look at.  No dents, but just very dirty with faded paint.  He threw in a spare oil gasket, fork seals, fork oil, haynes manual, oil, and windshield.  I also spent almost $800 on gear:

$330 on helmet
$200 on jacket
$70 on gloves
$160 on pants and boots from craigslist

In the past two years, I've spent:

$60 per year for registration
$130 for a new rear tire after I got a nail in the old one
$45 for new camchain tensioner
$30 for carb rebuild kits
$70 for new brake rotor
$30 for new battery
$40 a month for insurance (state farm, liability and uninsured motorist only)

So it's possible to fit things into your budget.  Just keep an eye out for good deals and don't buy the first thing you see.   The one on Ebay looks good, but I'm always wary of buying vehicles that I haven't looked at first.  As far as post-purchase wrenching goes, avoid a bike that makes you put more time into fixing it than riding it, as that really spoils the fun.

Best of luck!

[hmmmnz]

You were allowed one when you were 16?!?! bloody hell lucky sod. I have to have it now im 17 and still have to have it restricted but i think il just rip it out after half a year or so. Why did you (hate to say it) but downsize to a GS?

lol. i had a rgv250 when i was 15 when i got my learners licence that had almost as much balls as the zxr. we only get limited on cc rating, 250 being the max size on a learners.
on my 16th bday i got my full and could ride anything i wanted. brilliant

[Kasumi]

SOB I had to have a crappy 50cc at 16 which im fixing up to sell. Thankfully i spent the extra money and got a greared one which would do 65mph better than any of the other 50's around here. Now ive gone onto my zxr which has to have a 33bhp restrictor kit fitted that i might just wave past due to the fact that it costs £170 to buy (fair enough only one company makes them in the UK FI Internation) so i don't mind paying that but i am capable of fitting 4 bloody washers on the carb intakes. Yet for legal reasons it has to be fitted by a garage who say its going to take them 4 hours!! and charge me £320 for the privilage. Its so annoying it's like since you have to have it fitted by us we are going to rip you off on this one.

[Unnamed]

So the bike I was watching earlier jumped up to $2100, but then this baby showed up on ebay with a 1200 buy it now so I jumped on it. It looks like its in good shape, the guy says its been sitting for a year but starts up ok, so I think a little basic maintenence should be enough to get me rolling. I'll get pictures when I pick her up!

[RVertigo]

Friggen SWEET!

Now do yourself a favor and pick up some 2nd Gen SV mirrors and huck those old black ones in the trash.   

[Phaedrus]

Huck? Is that a Seattle word?   

And yes, congrats on the bike!

[RVertigo]

Huck? Is that a Seattle word?   

Maybe a California word...    Maybe a Tennesee word...     I've been saying it for a long time...  You know...  I never realized that it wasn't a common word.    "That guy just hucked a rock at me"  Sounds right to me.  

Huck == Throw or Toss, as in to throw away. http://www.doubletongued.org/index.php/dictionary/huck/

It's also used in certain sports for jumping stuff or pulling a trick in the air...
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Huck
http://www.boomboomhuckjam.com/

Boom Boom Huck Jam!!  (Must be a Cali word...)

[Phaedrus]

Here in redneck NY, we do say "chuck". Like, "Chuck that milk, Homer, it has chunks in it" or "I chucked a rock at him and it whized his head". Huck = Chuck

[veeref]

So the bike I was watching earlier jumped up to $2100, but then this baby showed up on ebay with a 1200 buy it now so I jumped on it. It looks like its in good shape, the guy says its been sitting for a year but starts up ok, so I think a little basic maintenence should be enough to get me rolling. I'll get pictures when I pick her up!

For a '96, that bike looks to be pretty clean.  Definitely low miles. I personally like the charcoal frame. How do you plan on getting it to NY?

[Unnamed]

Well I'm in Chicago for the rest of the summer, so I figure I'll learn to ride it here then ride it up. I think I can do it in one day, I'll just hold it close to 100 and the trip will only be like 8 hours 

Actually I'll probably rent or buy a trailer and tow it behind my minivan. Actually I did have a question about picking it up, its about 300 miles away so I'm gonna be driving my dad's contractors van out and putting it in the back (its a Chevy 1500 or something). There are plenty of holes for tiedowns in the back, but how would you recommend tying it down? I'm thinking of putting it on the centerstand and tying down the handlebars and wheels, but frankly I don't know anything about tying down a motorcycle.

[Kasumi]

Put it on the centrestand, anchor the front to the back of the cab so it doesn't slide back. Then i would tie down the wheels. And finally i would put one up and over the seat, just for those big bumps you might meet.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

When I picked mine up (in a pickup) I put one around each side of the handlebars, and two (one to each side) from the bungee strap in the back. That way there's four points of tension, and they all pull against each other, to keep the bike stable. Just my $.02. My bike made the 2 hour trip from Miami just fine.

[scottpA_GS]

Dont put it on the center stand.. leave it on the side stand the wheels will help it balance better... Larger surface..and the weight is distributed better