1980 YAMAHA SR 250 EXCITER

ABSOLUTELY PRISTINE SHOWROOM CONDITION

BRAND NEW  WITH ONLY 28 ORIGINAL MILES

A True Time Capsule

Guys, feast your eyes on the class of 1980. What you’re looking at here is not just a motorcycle—it’s a rolling time capsule, preserved to a standard that’s almost unheard of.

PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE FOR DETAILS

This 1980 Yamaha Exciter 250 (SR250) comes from a legendary Michigan collection that took 40 years to assemble—He Only Collected N.O.S. New Motorcycles, a serious, a museum-quality assortment of 1980s small-bores. Last year alone, We acquired over 20 of his brand-new, NOS Yamahas, Hondas, and Suzukis from this collection. This SR250 is one of the crown jewels.

Born March of 1980, this bike is now 45 years old—and it looks like it just came out of the crate.

Mileage & Originality

• 28 ORIGINAL MILES

• 100% mint, Concours-level condition

• Original seat, original chrome

• Original tires still perfect

• Everything on the bike is factory original except:

• New gold chain

• New battery

• This is as close to a brand-new 1980 Yamaha as you will ever find anywhere on planet Earth.

Recent Preservation & Service

This SR250 Exciter was given a no-expense-spared preservation service, focused on maintaining originality while ensuring mechanical integrity:

• Fuel tank professionally flushed and Caswell sealed

• New fuel petcock and fuel line

• New air filter

• Carburetor professionally cleaned

• Fresh oil change

• New spark plug

• Full rotisserie detail

Cosmetically, the bike was treated to a meticulous, professional Rotisserie Detailing:

• Engine cases machine-polished to a brilliant shine

• Fork lowers polished

• Brake backing plates polished

• All aluminum, chrome, plastics, and rubber parts professionally cleaned and detailed

The result? A motorcycle that literally looks like it just rolled out of a Yamaha shipping crate.

Legendary Yamaha Reliability

These SR250s are famously bulletproof. We’ve featured:

• One example with 99,000 miles on the original engine

• Another commuter bike with 37,000 miles, ridden daily—even set up for a one-armed rider

They run forever.

This one, however, is brand new. It was lightly exercised during summers just to keep everything moving, but never truly used. It takes a very special kind of owner to buy a motorcycle and preserve it for 40+ years. Sadly, that caretaker has since passed—but his legacy lives on in this machine.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for the finest mint original SR250 on planet earth:

• Museum investment quality

• True survivor

• A reference-level SR250

This is it.

THERE IS ONLY ONE!

Questions? Call us anytime at 860-454-7024

Offered by the New England Motorcycle Museum / Kaplan Cycles

Thanks for Looking, and God bless America.

WHY SHOULD YOU BUY FROM KAPLAN? WHAT DO YOU GET?

“You are buying from the Kaplan Cycles Family. We are not just another big auction house. We are family-owned and operated and have been buying, servicing, and selling motorcycles since 1975. You will work directly with Ken Jr., Ken Sr., and/or one of the 30+ experts on our team. We provide museum-quality, white-glove concierge service from start to finish. Every motorcycle we sell is inspected, serviced, and supported by our team, and we stand behind it after the sale. You’re not on your own — we back what we build and what we sell.

With over 17,000 units sold and still 100% positive feedback, we are the best stress-free buying experience you can have. From the first call to delivery at your door, we will handle it all — because vintage motorcycles deserve support, and so do you.

With every bike we curate you get:
• museum-level inspection & preservation services
• every machine is professionally evaluated, serviced, & rotisserie detailed
• all critical systems are checked, adjusted, or renewed
• you get professional setup, tuning, and delivery prep
• done by the best experts in the industry — we ride and restore every day
• you get post-sale phone support
• you get white-glove, insured, always-enclosed shipping to your door anywhere in the country

You’re buying from Kaplan Cycles at the New England Motorcycle Museum, one of the largest vintage motorcycle collections in North America. Free museum tours and tickets are included with every bike sold. With every bike you purchase, a portion of the proceeds is used to support, continue, and improve the 501(c)(3) nonprofit New England Motorcycle Museum.

You don’t just win an auction — YOU are creating & helping to preserve motorcycle history, and you become part of our family, a Kaplan Cycles client for life.

We do not take new clients off the street.
We do not service bikes purchased elsewhere.
We only take new exclusive clients who purchase a motorcycle from us.

You get a guided purchase experience with, and from, the experts who care about the bike as much as you do. If there’s a problem, you don’t get ghosted. You call us — you will have our cell phone numbers — we will answer your call on weekends, and we will help make it right.

Auction platforms = listing only. No support. No accountability.

Kaplan Cycles = we stand behind what we sell.

You are buying museum-curated provenance. That means:
• expert evaluation
• documented condition
• professional presentation
• long-term preservation mindset

You’re not just buying a motorcycle — you’re buying a curated piece of motorcycling history.

From the #1 family in this business — Kaplan Cycles & the New England Motorcycle Museum.

Sincerely,

Ken Kaplan Sr.
12/28/2025”

AUCTION TERMS:

All motorcycles & vehicles are sold as-is where-is.

Kaplan Cycles guarantees all motorcycles are as-described. Please read the entire description and watch the entire video before bidding.

A non-refundable deposit is due immediately on purchase. PayPal or Credit Card is accepted for the deposit.

Cash (In-Person), Card (+3% fee), or Wire Transfer are our only accepted forms of final payment.

Full payment must be made within 7 days of auction close.

Your motorcycle must be picked up within 30 days of auction close. 

Exceptions are made only for international buyers OR buyers who have ALREADY made transport arrangements with a third party.

If a motorcycle is purchased and left here for longer than 30 days without written permission from Kaplan Cycles it will be resold. In the case of a re-sale, the owner will be entitled to a refund less storage fees ($25/ day beginning 30 days from auction close) ONLY if the motorcycle was paid in full on-time within the auction terms.

We always describe our motorcycles as accurately as possible.

You are purchasing a classic motorcycle. Even in cases where a bike may be in good running/ operating condition, new problems & idiosyncrasies can arise over-time from sitting or regular use.

If you have an issue with the motorcycle you’ve received, contact us within 24 hours of delivery and before leaving feedback so that we can address your concerns.

It is important you have at least a basic mechanical knowledge before purchasing and operating a classic motorcycle.

Due to our backlog, we cannot perform any additional service work or modifications on your motorcycle after the sale (ie; adding a light kit, different tires, etc.)

We respond quickly between the hours of 9am and 5pm EST, Monday - Friday

For our fastest service please call Ken Kaplan Jr directly at 860-471-0192

We will not charge out-of-state buyers sales tax.
Out of state residents will pay sales tax with their DMV. 

We are not a registering dealership. You will receive only the documents required to register your vehicle in your state.

In our listings, title status is always listed directly below the main description.

In some cases we will sell motorcycles without title or registration. In these cases we guarantee all motorcycles sold are free and clear. We will always provide a route to obtaining title. Generally in these cases, the motorcycle will be sold at a discount to accommodate expenses involved.

Documents are mailed via USPS priority mail with a tracking number. Please allow up to 14 days after payment in full for your documents to be processed and mailed.

Keys will be shipped with the motorcycle.

Warranty:

All Motorcycles sold "as is, where is" and Kaplan Cycles does not warranty any motorcycle sold. No express warranty and/or implied warranty are made by Kaplan Cycles. No statements by us give an implied warranty.

SHIPPING:

SEND US YOUR ZIP FOR A SHIPPING QUOTE!
WE WILL MAKE ALL ARRANGEMENTS!

We have the best shipping contacts in the nation who will provide the FASTEST transport times, have a perfect track record, and are always insured and ENCLOSED! All motorcycles are shipped WHOLE (roll-on, roll-off). We do not offer a pallet or crate service.

International shipping specialist contacts are available! They will assist in ground freight, customs clearance, and ocean freight to your country. International buyers will be required to work directly with our third party shipping contacts.

We strongly recommend you insure your motorcycle at the time of purchase.

PICKUP:

We require a 24 hour notice prior to pick-up. Please call us at 860-454-7024 during office hours Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm EST.

We will provide ramps, a dock for loading, and assistance to load for free.