Learn to Buy Like a Veteran Rider
Shopping like a pro your first time out

Plenty of Great Bikes to Pick From Now
So, you’ve decided to buy your first motorcycle. Congratulations, it’s a great time to get into riding. Late-model street bikes are the most well designed, easy to operate and reliable motorcycles ever made.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are some tips that can help you buy a bike that you’ll enjoy riding. I’ll point out a few ways to get your best deal once you’ve decided on a particular bike.

One of the great things about motorcycling today is the choices available to you when buying a bike.

In addition to the classifieds and the local motorcycle dealers, you can now buy a bike across the country through websites like eBay.

And there are plenty of bikes to pick from. Most of the major motorcycle manufacturers produce a broad range of sport bikes, cruisers, touring bikes and dual-sport models. The challenge is deciding what type of bike is best for you and the style of riding you’d like to get into.

The Truth About Your First Motorcycle
One of the things new riders learn fairly quickly is – You don’t usually keep your first motorcycle very long.

The reason for this is the qualities that make an excellent entry-level motorcycle are the often the things that a new rider outgrows during the first season.

For instance, a great first bike may be light-weight, have a small-sized engine and mild-mannered handling. This type of bike is great for your first season of riding but may get a little boring once you’ve got a few miles under your belt.

As you’re picking out that first bike, keep in mind that next year you’ll probably be dying to replace it with a bigger model.

So, try to be conservative with your money on the first bike. Next season you’ll be glad that you’re not stuck with your first bike forever.

Should You Get a New or a Used Bike?
Since you’ll probably have your first motorcycle for just a season or two, I recommend you start with a used bike.

In fact, I believe used bikes are a great way to go at any level of riding experience. I’ve been riding over twenty-five years and owned about a dozen bikes. Only one was a brand new from the factory. Even though most of my bikes were bought used, I’ve had very few mechanical problems that I couldn’t take care of in my own garage.

If you closely inspect the bikes you’re interested in and ask plenty of questions, you can buy a great-looking, mechanically sound bike for significantly less than a brand new model.

Example - Saving $2300 on a Bike
For example, I bought my current bike in 2005 for $7,000. It’s a 2004 model and the bike sold new for $9,300. The bike I bought was kept in a garage all year, had been ridden only 2,000 miles and didn’t have a scratch on it. By going with a slightly used bike, I was able to save $2,300 that went to other goodies like an aftermarket exhaust, new shocks and saddlebags.

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