Tips for buying a new or used motorcycle

Wednesday, 17 January 2007

If you are planning on buying a new or used motorcycle, there are a few things that you should consider first. In this article, we'll discuss buying a used vs buying a new motorcycle as well as buying privately or through a dealer. There are pros and cons to going either way, find out more details here. Buying a used motorcycle The first order of business is to decide what type of used motorcycle you want. Off-road motorcycles are built specifically for dirt racing and riding on unpaved roads and tracks. Street motorcycles are good at taking you where you need to go around town. Bigger motorcycles with powerful engines are necessary for traveling fast on highways and freeways. Knowing what you want before you start shopping will save you much time and effort. Next, try to find a reliable source for buying a used motorcycle. You can find used motorcycles at dealers, and the advantage of buying from a dealer is that you often receive or can buy a warranty with the motorcycle. This will enable you to have it serviced if something goes wrong. Also, if the motorcycle turns out to be a complete lemon, you will have less trouble returning it to a dealer than you would returning it to an individual. Dealers, however, may charge more than the used motorcycle is worth. You can also buy a used motorcycle from an individual. There are plenty of resources, both in print and online, that offer classified ads for used motorcycles. In a case where you are buying a motorcycle from a stranger, you are going to have to use old-fashioned intuition to determine whether the person is dealing fairly with you. You can also check out the seller’s reputation by asking other motorcyclists about him. If you are unsure of the price you should be paying for the used model you want, consult with friends and other motorcycle enthusiasts. Also, compare the price a particular dealer or individual is asking with the prices for the same model of used motorcycle asked by other dealers and individuals. The advantage of the Internet is that you can compare numerous ads for the same model of motorcycle. Comparing the ads should allow you to determine a fair price range. Give the used motorcycle you are considering a test drive, if possible. If you are actually looking at a motorcycle in person, then there is no reason the dealer or the individual selling it should not allow you to test drive the bike. However, if you buy a used motorcycle via an Internet auction, you will not have an opportunity to test it first. In this case, make sure you have a grace period of a day or two after the receipt of the bike to test it out. Buying a new motorcycle Cruisers/Choppers The best known example of a cruiser motorcycle is a Harley Davidson. These bikes are designed for the heavy traveler due to their comfortable seating position which mimics the way a cowboy would ride a horse. They’re the most comfortable bikes to take on long trips, but the upright seating position does sacrifice some degree of control – which is where Choppers come in. Choppers are customized cruiser motorcycles. While the customizations are often strictly for show, some riders to tailor their bikes to fit their individual needs. Sport Bikes Sport bikes are speed oriented and usually much smaller and lighter than cruisers. The sport bike is more or less a consumer version of the type of motorcycle used in racing, albeit less powerful. The seating situation on a sport bike resembles that of the English saddle style of racing horses, with the feet towards the back, the hands low and the spine arched forward. When seated, the rider almost looks as if he’s crouching. This position allows for much greater control, especially around turns. Off-Road Bikes Often called dirt bikes or motocross bikes, off-road bikes are small and lightweight, with little to no bodywork outside of the main frame. They are not intended for street use and therefore lack the required equipment, such as turn signals or proper lights. They are designed to handle tough terrain and are very popular for recreational use. They can also be geared towards different competitive sports, such as motocross. Before Buying a Motorcycle, Do Your Homework Once you decide on the type of motorcycle you want to buy, hit the internet. Read every possible piece of information that you can find on the type of bike you’re looking into. Go to the manufacturer’s website and read up on it, read various reviews, and if you have any questions, find an online forum for motorcycle enthusiasts. Make sure you know everything there is to know before you head to the dealership, otherwise they'll be the ones grinning when you hand over the cash. Trade-In If you plan on using an old motorcycle to gain trade-in value, make sure you know the value before you approach a motorcycle dealer. A dealer may undervalue your used motorcycle. You can go to the Kelly Blue Book website (http://www.kbb.com) to check and see how much your motorcycle is worth for selling and trading it in. Chances are you’ll make more money selling it yourself. This is a good idea not only because of the financial rewards, but also because it’s one less thing you have you to worry about negotiating over. Sealing the Deal You should also find the suggested retail price of the models that interest you. This is important because you also want to find the dealer invoice price of those models. The dealer invoice price is what an individual new motorcycle costs a dealer when he buys it from the manufacturer. The dealer will want to make a profit over this price of 10% to 15%. Unless the bike you’re looking at is in high demand, the dealer’s price to you should be within striking range of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. If it is in high demand, chances are that the dealer will try to charge you an arm and a leg, and you will have little to no hope of talking him down. Motorcycle dealers often have some characteristics similar to those of car dealers. For instance, they may try to make an unreasonable profit on the invoice price that they paid. There’s no reason you should hesitate to bring the dealer’s asking price for a new motorcycle as close as possible to the invoice price. It’s unlikely that you will succeed in bringing the asking price all the way down, but you should negotiate. Remember that on top of what you pay for the new motorcycle, there will be a series of fees, such as destination fees, setup fees, documentation fees, and others. Ask about these fees before you agree to anything and use them in your negotiation. Do not hesitate to look at last year’s models. As with car dealerships, motorcycle dealers want to move old inventory out to make room for the latest models. You can often find a sound deal on a year-old model and negotiate the price down further. Offer to pay cash, but request another five to 10 percent off the price of the new motorcycle for doing so. Remember, the salesman wants to sell you the bike just as much as you want to buy it, possibly even more. You have just as much room to haggle as he does. Once you’ve done a considerable amount of talking, really lay it on him. Usually you can come out on top, because at this point they’ve invested far too much effort into the sale to lose it at the last minute. 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Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 September 2009 )