Where have they all gone?

Skudd · Super Spammer Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Karma :

I was just out for a trundle round the local bike shops looking for a cheap £300 bike to play with, something around 250-600cc trail bike, road legal but didn't have to be pretty. Couldn't find one. looked on ebay and the other bike for sale sites and nothing with 30 miles of where I live. I know it is near winter time but you could usually find something and even have a choice. Where are all the little rat bikes gone?
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The Shaggy D.A. · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Sep 2008 Karma :

People are hoarding them, waiting for the breakdown of the economy and civilisation, so they can hit the road Mad Max stylee.
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Smooth · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Karma :

A few may have gone to scrapyards when the price was high?

People have caught on to the fact that old bikes are simple, easy to fix and retro?
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MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

You won't find anything with an MOT for less than £500 unless it has something wrong with it.

I got my MZ for £270 with a months MOT and a broken kickstart return spring. From Ebay.

From a dealer you won't find anything less than £1000 unless its a chinese 125, and off road bikes command a premium anyway.
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Tricolor Fan · Trackday Trickster Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Karma :

There's stuff out there. I've picked up three bargains in the last month.

Now I've bloody run out of space... I need to pull my finger out and sell couple or maybe get a bigger lock-up. Confused

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priestessuk20... · Scooby Slapper Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Karma :

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

Because you are not looking hard enough? , heck you can have me NTV for 200 notes....

it runs its got 7 months TAX and 5 months MOT,

It needs: a new choke cable and the carbs cleaned.... and the rear brake is sticky...
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moog · Spanner Monkey Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Karma :

alun111 · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 May 2007 Karma :

I know you said 250-600cc but my brother may have a 1988 (IIRC) cg125 for sale. Give me a PM if you're interested.
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garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

£400 and you can have my 98 xj600n with 25k on the clocks and 9 months T&T.

Look harder.
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benjami · Nearly there... Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Karma :

I'd take you up on that Garth...

RS125's don't like being commuters.

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Tis hard though to find any bike that has tax and test, runs, and has some life left in it for under 500notes these days. 125's are even harder to find in good condition for that kind of money. your best bet is a knackered old bike that is not very sought after or was very highly regarded when new. Maybe a Superdream or XS250 etc. This can work the other way however, because if said old unpopular bikes were never looked after and kept by owners, then they are likely to be near extinction now, and the few surviving examples would be highly sought after by a small number of people.

I wonder what a mint original Honda superdream, with say 15k on the clock and full history would go for today, just out of interest?

I paid £600 for my KMX200, and thought that i'd struggle to ever find one that cheap again, they are certainely less common than they were 8-9yrs ago when i had my first one.