Motorcycle Buying Tips

Used Motorcycle Buyer Checklist
Learn to spot a great used bike and save yourself some cash

Get Your Next Bike Sooner
I mentioned in a previous article that I prefer buying a used bike because of the savings over a new bike purchase. A well-priced used bike gives you some freedom down the road too.

If you get a good deal on the first used bike, you’ll be able to justify trading-up to a better bike a lot sooner than the person who bought
a brand new bike off the showroom floor.

Just like new cars, brand new motorcycles can depreciate quite a bit during the first couple years of ownership. And if you get in a real jam and need some fast cash, you’re much less likely to sell a used bike for a lot less than you paid for it. That’s not usually the case when you buy a brand new bike.

I’ve also found most used motorcycles come with some additional parts and accessories.

Often times you’ll get the original parts and the custom parts since the seller won’t need the gear for that bike anymore.

I recommend bringing along a helmet for your test ride. Don’t expect the seller to have a helmet that fits you. And if you haven’t bought a helmet yet, see if you can get a decent-fitting one from a buddy before you go on your first visit.

Speaking of friends, having a biker friend come with you can really help you get a good bike. And more importantly, your friend can keep you from buying the wrong bike – like a super-clean model with a blown motor for example.

An experienced rider will be more objective about the bikes you’re looking at and will spot little details a new rider might miss, especially on the first few trips. Catching any dents, leaks or scrapes will help you decide if a bike is for you and can really help when you’re negotiating the final price.

I enjoy tagging along with a buddy who’s buying a new bike and I’ll bet one of your biker friends won’t mind test riding a few bikes you’re interested in.

At the very least, an experienced biker friend can be the voice of reason when you’re checking out a bike that might be a bit too fast, heavy or expensive for you the first time around.

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