First bike - 1980 Yamaha SR250

It's this bike, roughly:
bikez.com/motorcycles/yamaha_sr_250_us_custom_1980.php

250cc single cylinder air cooled engine, 5 speed manual transmission.

I'm a new rider coming off of a (heavily modified) 50cc Tomos moped, so I'm wanting something light for my first bike, and I thought I would go to the experts.

The bike has about 5,000 miles and apparently just had the carb tuned. It's running well and the guy is offering to ride it down for me and even let me borrow it till next semester for $50 extra on the purchase price of $750.

I want to use it mainly for tooling around town and going to my girlfriend's house, 8 miles away. Since I came off of such a small bike, I was wanting to get something that was similar in riding style, not some beefy cruiser.

My questions:
1. Is $800 a reasonable price for a bike of this class, age, and mileage?
2. Is this a reliable bike? Can I count on it to make long trips if need be?
3. I'm 200 pounds, give or take. Can this bike go fast enough with 17 horsepower to keep me moving fast enough on the freeway?

Thanks all! I'd appreciate any advice. I'm new to the whole motorcycle scene.

Note: I won't have the money to pay for it till next semester, which is why he is offering to let me use it till then for 50 bucks extra.

Well if you look at it this way you can rent it for six months for $50, not a bad deal.

You want to make sure he keeps his insurance up etc. The liabilities are worse for him the registered owner, a dumb idea for him... You also run the risk of either party welching on the deal: him selling it for more, you backing out of the deal or wrecking... or a mechanical problem that he doesn't know about or you think he was hiding, ruining your friendship, if you are friends.

What's your living situation? College? No car? Public transportation available when it rains? Can you park the bike where it won't get weatherbeaten/vandalized?

Yeah, college, no car, it doesn't rain much here and I am within walking distance of campus. I mainly want to use the bike to visit my girlfriend in the neighboring city of Moscow, 8 miles away in Idaho. It's hard to do that by walking, hehe

We're going to be drawing up a contract, complete with legal terminology, stating that he cannot back out of the contract as long as I pay within 6 months, and that if I wreck or otherwise damage the bike beyond repair I have to pay full purchase price anyways.

Luckily, he isn't my friend, so I'm not worried about that. I'm asking him to get it or let me get it checked out by a qualified motorcycle mechanic to make sure it is in excellent condition, as advertised.

Gotta find some place to store it, though. I can use a tarp to cover it but the fraternity where I live at doesn't exactly have a garage. I might be able to store it for the winter off-campus with some of my friends that rent apartments.

Better check to make sure he has decent insurance on it.

Matt

not a bad bike though :P

go for it i can tell u really want it

oh and also im 200lbs too and my friends honda 230 cc will take me to 80mph with no probs

It's probably a bit late by now, but IMO $800 is overpriced. I'd think more along the lines of $400-500, if that, for a 28 year old 250cc bike. You can get a KZ550 for $800 (I just bought one for $750). Alternatively, you can find mid-90s Honda Rebels in the $1000 range (well worth the extra cash once you factor in the ability to find parts, available accessories, etc).