Seeing a pattern is Craigslist ads

[eprovenzano]

I like I'm sure many here, are always looking at the classified ads to maybe find something special.... I'm always on the lookout for a bike I can flip.  Most of the ads for the 4 strokes say they want to sell or trade for a 2 stroke.  This one I really like...  "I just had the head redone. I don't want to sell this bike, but I want to get back on a 2 stroke"  (yes I copied this from a craigslist ad).  I also keep seeing the prices of the smokers rising.  There are still some bargains out there, but you need to be patient as finding that diamond in the ruff is getting more and more difficult. 

Now on the flip side, there is every flavor 4 stroke for sale...  Its easy to spot the new ads, the prices are a little high, as the owners are trying to recoup the money they've spent fixing the engine after its blown...  Generally prices for the 4 stroke pigs are low, and we all know why.... too many bikes, with too many issues.  For me to find a bike to flip, yes it needs to be a smoker, and yes it needs to be cheap, and yes it needs to be "modern" enough that I can flip the bike and make a few $$$.  Finding that bike is getting harder and harder, but I keep looking.

[citabjockey]

+1 on all of this. For flipping the key really is patience. But when you find one you have to be ready to jump quickly.

[twosmoke595]

there was a few ads on my local cl that were 2010 and up 250f's/450's. an example is a 2011 ktm 250sxf for 1800 bucks!! he said he head scattered on him and the bill from the dealer was 3500 bucks! lol

another was a 2010 suz 250f with cracked case (where the crank went through it) for 1400 bucks had tons of goodies on it

where 1998-2004 yz's cr's go for 1800+ its getting out of hand, so many 2010 4t's for high 2000's, the alu honda's go for like 15-2k

[cnrcpla]

Diamond in the ruff indeed, I can't even find a clapped out 2t for under 1K. All the ones under 1k are 80's bikes with half of it in a basket, or not present at all. Makes it hard to find a decent project. Luckily my friend stumbled on a '95 rm250 that I just started on.

[factoryX]

I have no shortage of 96-01 rm250/125's to choose from for $500-$1200. Still amazed I got my 03 yz for $1000 despite having to fix a couple things. You cannot honestly find an 02 and up yz250 for less than $1800 on the west coast. Seems like its also going up in popularity as well. I really want a KTM 200/300/380, but for some reason in the tri-state area(Oregon, Washington, California) people consider them gold lol $2500-$3500 range. Anywhere else they're in the $1500-$2000 range.

[eprovenzano]

Last year I had the opportunity to trade my 2000 300 for a clapped out 2002 380.  I decided not to pull the trigger as my 300 is in pristine shape.  The 380 needed everything, from engine overhaul, to swing arm bearings, wheel bearings, tires, plastics, etc.  I soooooo wanted to be on par with citabjockey, but it just needed too much work.  I also thought I'd be looking at a new bike this year    Didn't happen...  next year.

The cost of smokers are on the rise, but I keep looking.  I'll find one, flip it, and keep putting the money back into my hobby. Especially since the demand is there for smokers, selling one isn't the issue, its finding the right one to flip.

[Coop]

For years my morning ritual has been to have coffee and surf craigslist for bikes. Even 5 years ago you could regularly find cheap bikes. Not anymore. Even clapped out junkers are way more than they are worth. Two stroke prices are on the rise. YZ250's are going for $2500-3000 ranging from 2001-2007. It doesn't matter the year, they are all expensive haha.

[factoryX]

Still kind of shocking, you'd think cr's would be the ones going up, nope.

[SachsGS]

Phone call from Steve....

Hello.

Hey it's Steve. I've got a line on an 05 RM450 with a blown head/cams and I can probably get the bike for $1000. Think I could get her running for 500 600 bucks?

I'd guess at least $2000.

Oh.

Click.

Could I buy the bike, run it through my machine shop and make a profit? At today's prices for 4T$, not a chance. The bike is junk.

I see a shortage of good used dirt bikes in the future, mainly 2T. 

[luthier269]

FactoryX  around here all two-strokes are going threw the roof. Last year we bought a 2005 Cr250 low hours $2500. I thought that maybe we could find a practice bike, can't hardly find one and if we do its 2002 going for $3000 ,2005 and newer nonexistent!

[Rm125guy]

I wish bikes were in as high demand in Ontario as they were where you guys live... I'm having issues trying to sell an 04 kx100  " title="Angry" class="smiley">

[factoryX]

I don't know if they're under demand or not, I've listed mine, even offered to trade for a husky/ktm 125, and no replies. Its just a weird trend I guess. As for the kx100, its a hard bike to sell. It falls under a 1-2 year window age group, so the bikes usually go through 3-5 different owners if not more. Right now I need a freaking dual sport for school, and even bikes priced around $1500 refuse to trade. Freaking ridiculous.