Compare and Buy a Motorcycle
Let's face it; nobody really needs to own a motorcycle. It is a want, and many folks really want one badly. The problem is, when you want something really badly, you tend to be more of an impulse buyer. For a major purchase like this, you need to wait 24 hours to let your emotions subside and make a good purchasing decision. This waiting period comes only after you have decided what you want because you will want to be a fully informed consumer prior to negotiating on a price. This information comes from knowing how to compare and buy a motorcycle.
Contents
Steps
- Reflect on what you want to do with your bike. If you are interested in long scenic trips and highway driving, you will want to look for a touring or a cruiser with a large engine. You will need the power for speed and highway driving. If you are a thrill seeker, a sportier bike is for you. These are light and nimble, and probably a little easier to handle. If off-road racing and hill jumping is your game, then you will want to focus on dirt-bikes.
- Pick whether or not you want to go with a new bike or a used one. The type of the bike you are interested in should make a big difference here. A used dirt bike can sometimes be picked up on the cheap end; a used cruiser however, is still likely going to cost you a little. A new cruiser though, will cost you a significant amount of cash. You need to have an immovable price point though, that you will not cross over, not even by a buck.
- Determine the specific size and style of engine you want. Straight line or V-Twin makes a difference in handling and speed and will determine which brand you can purchase.
- Research various sources for pricing on the specific brand, make, model and engine size. You need to have 1-3 specific bikes to choose from that you definitely want. If 1 or more is within your price range, this will help you weed out any above that, as well as give you an estimate on what you can expect to pay. At least you have a benchmark at this point.
- Decide on new or used if either is within your price range. With new, you will obviously need to go to a dealer; with a used bike, you will have options. In almost all situations, you will probably get the best price on a used bike from a private individual; however, you will get peace of mind from a dealer - to a certain extent. A dealer can offer you a warranty that could help you in the event you have mechanical issues or purchased a lemon. A private individual would likely be cheaper, but you won't exactly be able to return it or have the buyer pay for the repairs.
Tips
- If you are not mechanically inclined, consider looking at bikes with a straight shaft final drive rather than a chain one. Statistically, a shaft final drive needs less maintenance and user intervention than a chain one does. Unless you know a great bike mechanic that you can trust, try to find a shaft final drive.
- You absolutely must sit on any bike you purchase and see if your feet are planted fully and firmly flat on the ground when the bike is sitting upright as you would be at a stoplight for example. If your feet dangle or are not flat on the ground, you simply cannot get that bike, period.
Warnings
- If you are an inexperienced or have never even ridden a motorcycle before, do not purchase a high performance sport bike. That is a death sentence just waiting to happen.
