[daninghram]

Hey I am new to this forum, I want to buy a good used low mileage TW. The seem to be more than the Blue Book pricing by about %30 for the lower mileage ones in Northern New England. Is that what I should expect? 2006 TW 2500 miles for $2900 about what they go for?

Thanks

Dan

 

[Drifter]

I just saw an add in my hometown," moneysaver" paper,and there was a mint condition 1998 TW200 with only 689 miles.They were asking $ 2,500 for it.

 

[RisingSun]

Well go buy the blue book and assess the damages and wear to determine the your own price. Never know what the seller is willing to sell. In the end its all about what your willing to spend no matter what the blue book says.

 

[silverhead]

The price on these bikes varies wildly due to the whole supply and demand of it. They're not a very common bike where I live, so you rarely find them for sale locally. Prices vary from 800-5000 dollars for basically the same bike but different years and condition.



There's not much logic in the pricing of any one bike. My wife's Vespa is a 'ripoff' compared to a 150cc Chinese scooter, but if you're into nuance and appreciate quality you might be willing to pay for a steel bodied scooter that some guy in Italy painted professionally by hand

The TW has value in being a swiss army knife of a bike. It can go nearly anywhere (steet legally,) easy to ride, gets good gas mileage. The only one area it really lacks is in top speed if you ask me. People are willing to pay more money for stuff that is easy to ride. This is why Honda Rebel 250s will always cost more than their blue book value for old ones from the 80s. Blue book value is useless with used motorcycles. The best way to get a cheap, used motorcycle is to wait around forever. I'm not that sort of person. I just say to myself, "what's this thing worth to me?" I don't even consider what it might be worth to someone standing next to me. I just come up with a figure and shoot the number to the seller. Some days I come home with a new-to-me motorcycle and most days I don't.



Some of it's just cultural... I think Kawasaki KLR650 bikes and Suzuki Savage 650 bikes are both undervalued with horrible depreciation in my local economy. I can pick up a KLR650 cheaper than I can a TW200 here. But they sit high and weigh a lot, so they don't meet my personal needs. Thus I have my TW

 

[daninghram]

Ya, wondering if this is one of those items that get a premium and they never sell for retail used?

 

[daninghram]

The price on these bikes varies wildly due to the whole supply and demand of it. They're not a very common bike where I live, so you rarely find them for sale locally. Prices vary from 800-5000 dollars for basically the same bike but different years and condition.



There's not much logic in the pricing of any one bike. My wife's Vespa is a 'ripoff' compared to a 150cc Chinese scooter, but if you're into nuance and appreciate quality you might be willing to pay for a steel bodied scooter that some guy in Italy painted professionally by hand

The TW has value in being a swiss army knife of a bike. It can go nearly anywhere (steet legally,) easy to ride, gets good gas mileage. The only one area it really lacks is in top speed if you ask me. People are willing to pay more money for stuff that is easy to ride. This is why Honda Rebel 250s will always cost more than their blue book value for old ones from the 80s. Blue book value is useless with used motorcycles. The best way to get a cheap, used motorcycle is to wait around forever. I'm not that sort of person. I just say to myself, "what's this thing worth to me?" I don't even consider what it might be worth to someone standing next to me. I just come up with a figure and shoot the number to the seller. Some days I come home with a new-to-me motorcycle and most days I don't.



Some of it's just cultural... I think Kawasaki KLR650 bikes and Suzuki Savage 650 bikes are both undervalued with horrible depreciation in my local economy. I can pick up a KLR650 cheaper than I can a TW200 here. But they sit high and weigh a lot, so they don't meet my personal needs. Thus I have my TW

Thanks, after looking some thats kinda what I am thinking, hard to find good ones so the cost more...

 

[nfpgasmask]

I paid $2800 for my 2009 with 1300 miles on it, just for reference.



Bart

 

[silverhead]

Parts cost is a good indicator. The TW200 used parts are priced as high or higher than buying them new at the yamaha dealer on ebay. I don't know why, but that's just the situation

I don't get it fully, but it tells me the TW is one of those bikes with an inflated price. I won't say value though, because a TW is a really valuable bike depending on your needs. It is the only one of its kind of design.



I don't know if it's a cult following, or just people who buy these are willing to pay more money or if the supply is low enough that it's just the way it is.



I come from a history of dealing with Honda CB350 bikes before the cafe racer stuff. They were (and still can be) dirt cheap. I'm talking full motorcycles for 50 dollars. People giving away wheels and engines just to get them out of their garage.



The TW is not like that at all and I doubt it ever will be. But if you pay in and decide you don't like it, you get the money back when you sell.



It's that way with everything from Harleys to Honda Trail 90s to Vincent Black Shadows.

 

[assquatch20]

While it varies wildly (sometimes an idiot even asks for more than MSRP) expect to give $2-3k for a model in good condition. Excellent examples rarely top $3500 on internet ads. eBay is a bit different at times but that's the nature of the site. $1500-2k usually holds really good bargains on bikes with minimal wear, maybe just a clogged carb and an old battery from sitting. At the same time, some folks ask those same prices for early models that aren't in the best shape. Consider the 1500-2000 to be the line between poor and good. Below that, you're usually looking at poor; early models or ones that have taken a bit of a beating.



Consider excellent to be near showroom or a minor defect. This excludes older models that were never ridden, as those will nickel and dime you in consumable items and a carb cleaning to get reliable again.



Good is where most of them sit at the moment. Maybe some scuffs or tiny spots of rust (rusty headers being an exception) or in need of one or two basic consumable items and otherwise good.



Poor can be good bikes being sold by people that are actually following book values (most sell higher right now) or don't have a clue for market values. Or, it can be the older models, rusted, cracked, missing lights, needing tires, not running, etc. Sometimes it's a good bike that's only driven under this line due to one issue the owner doesn't want to deal with, such as a top end rebuild, stripped gear, bent forks/rim, etc.



I think this is at least a little accurate, hope it helps.

 

[daninghram]

^ this is a great help! thanks...

 

[nfpgasmask]

And I would say, the biggest thing to keep on your side is patience. Took me three months of looking until I found the right bike for the right price. What I mean is, don't settle for something you won't be happy with, and don't overspend just because you really want one.



Bart

 

[Mel]

I purchased my 1997 TW200 two months ago for 1500.00. It is flawless, no paint chips, all original, but all of the decals had been removed. As that is not a running condition of the bike, I slapped my money down and ran. Its runs like brand new. The person I purchased it from said he should have priced it higher. He said he had 86 calls on the bike in the first 8 hours. He thought he should have priced it around 1800-2000. Pays to have cash in your pocket and don't procrastinate. The bike had 3761 miles.

 

[daninghram]

ok so I found a 2009 with 2500 miles and aftermarket exhaust 2 hours away$2800, a 2009 says pristine 5 hours with 1500 miles for $2800 or 98 with 7300 miles for $1100 that looks real nice. I am leaning on the going with the 1500 mile one but what would everyone think? Both the 2009 are firm pricing.

 

[assquatch20]

Being partial to disc brakes a little, I'd drop the '98 from consideration, but braking power is roughly the same on either. However, the older one will most likely have issues the newer ones won't, and most folks on the board are more savvy with the newer style carb if that's ever an issue for you.



I'd say between the two, it depends. Links for all three would be helpful (won't steal your options, promise).

 

[daninghram]

Well looks like I am not going with any of them, going for a 2006 with 2600miles and a rick mayer seat and a rack. Gonna go get it tommorrow after work.

 

[assquatch20]

A 2006 will have a tendency to leak at the base gasket. Keep an eye out for that. Not a huge deal so long as it didn't run low, but it's a bargaining chip, and it will eventually need fixed.