Help valuing a bike - please?

Due to domestic problems, my daughter has "inherited" an unfinished bike
restoration and I want to help her decide what to do about it. She says the
bike is a Kawasaki Z250 - but it's a four cylinder and I thought the Z250
was a twin. It's probably early-mid 80s model from its appearance. Looks
like a small Z900, but a bit flatter in its lines.

Her ex has restored a few bikes before (does a damn good job) and told her
"all it needs is to finish the wiring", then get it roadworthy and
registered (needs tyres at least). She is a single mum who needs to move and
has "invested" about $1300 (in loans to him) in the project. She is
wondering about the best way to get her money back. Wreckers? eBay? Bike mag
ad? Pay to get it finished?

Would someone pay $1300 for an unfinished Z250? And is it really a Z250?
What would it be worth finished and registered? I.e., is it worth pouring
more money into it to get a return? I really have no idea. She had expected
$2500-3000 from it on completion, which I thought was pie in the bloody sky.

Any positive thoughts appreciated. Help on ID'ing the bike also appreciated.

TonyG
Brisbane

PS: Bike is in Rockhampton, QLD, in case anyone wants to look at it...

 

Balius?
http://www.yokohama-city.com/mc/impre/fo_bike/balius.jpg


http://www.redbook.com.au/mcycle/price.asp?key=KAWA97RD

 

Probably a Z650? There should be marks on the cases identifying it --
the first few digits of the engine/frame numbers, and there's generally
a capacity mark on the cases or cylinders somewhere, which will be
a few cc short of the nominal size (so 250s are generally ~248cc, for
example). There was a Z550 and Z750 too, I think ...

If it's a runner, probably best to sell it as is, for whatever she can
get for it. Put it in the Trading Post for $1500 and see if you get
any bites. Contact the Z owners club or similar. If nothing else,
you might shame the ex into finishing the damn wiring.

Restoring old bikes is a labour of love, and very rarely makes anyone
any money (other than parts dealers and wreckers yards, obviously) so
if she's not interested in pursuing it as a hobby she should get out
of it as rapidly as possible: paying someone else to restore a bike is
never going to do you any good.

-----sharks

 

You are right. It's a KZ650B in fact - she got it wrong. That makes it about
27 years old!!! I had already suggested she advertise it as an unfinished
project at $1500 and see if she can get some fool (sorry, enthusiast) to
take it. It is apparently a goer. Thanks for the advice.

Tony

 

Have now figured out it is a KZ650B, probably a 78 model or thereabouts.
Value? Redbook says about $300-500! The only thing nearly similar for sale
is a 1982 Z750 for $1700.

Tony

 

Z250's came in twins and singles in the 80's

Z250 A and B (twins). atrocious front drum brakes, raucous exhaust note
but otherwise quite fun for a short while.

Z250C - single

 

....and that would be on a good day.

In terms of its value to a Z enthusiast... it's not a Z1. End of story.

Can you stick a pic of it up onto the web someplace? If it's absolutely
gleaming and has no issues other than that wiring problem (and those are
always among the biggest turnoffs to a potential buyer) and absence of
rego, someone might yet part with a few hundred bucks for it, but
nothing more than a fraction of those $1300 which have been sunk into it.

Makes me think, though... I've now built up two late-model sportsbikes
(one ractrack refugee, one cartwheeled streetbike) for about that sort
of money (not including initial purchase cost, of course); exactly how
bad a shape did this bike start out in?

For that sort of money, it better come with another two Z750's.

 

No worries, sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Redbook isn't always
right, but in this case it probably is ... but, then, for all you know
there's some bloke two streets up who's just won Lotto and wishes he'd
never sold his Z ... stick it in the paper and see what happens.
Anything more than $1/cc is pretty good :-(.

-----sharks

 

Have a look around ebay etc , the Z650 is starting to pull a few
$$ these days as they seem to be the favorite Zed next to a Z9 (
Zed 9's baby brother)
If its only wiring depending upon which wires you may get 1g tops
if its a runner maybe $500 as a non runner if its pretty and
original.
Dave P

 

I know I am going to be late, but, Z750?

You need a Kwakka, Sharkey (he's friend).

Ok, I'll give ya some....

Hammo