It’s that time of year, picture this, driving down the highway, the wind blowing through your hair. Adrenaline running through your veins, music playing in and a helmet. It is officially the beginning of motorcycle season and this year is your year. Your wife finally said yes, you have finally saved enough money, whatever the reason may be it is time for you to purchase a motorcycle. Due to the cost, you have come to the conclusion that buying a used motorcycle is the best option for you. The next question would be “How do I go about buying a used motorcycle safely?” and if it’s not, then it should be. While there are many things that go into buying a motorcycle below is a list of things to consider before your purchase.
1. Pricing
Research pricing between new and used bikes, while the initial cost may be less, repairs can be costly. It is recommended to have a thorough background and history on anything you decide to purchase used.
2. Quality
Though you can’t judge a book by its cover, the cover of a book will tell you a lot about the condition of its pages. This means that if the exterior of the used bike you are looking at doesn’t appear well kept that the interior and brains of the bike were likely not cared for as well.
3. Service History
Get a list of recent services done and all aftermarket parts. A well-oiled machine is one that has gotten its maintenance checks as well as its oil changed routinely. A lack of consistent upkeep could be a costly repair in the near future.
4. Warranty
Is the bike still under warranty, if it is and you are buying from a private seller, it would be wise to research whether the warranty will transfer with new ownership.
5. Ownership History
This is arguably one of the most important pieces of information you can get about a motorcycle. Beware of people who are just flipping items for cost. Make sure you get a thorough history of the bike you are purchasing. The more owners a bike has had the greater the likelihood of something unexpected going wrong with the bike. When there is more than one owner for this type of machinery there is more than one history to get and some pertinent parts of the history can be lost or excluded with multiple changes of hands.
6. Repairs
Get a description of all repairs and who did them. You will want to buy a bike that only has had repairs at well-known shops that way if their mechanical work fails you are able to track it back to the source.
7. Financing
This option will only be available if you purchase used from a dealership.
8. Title Transfer
Make sure that you have seen the title and that you are prepared for the fees that come with transferring over a title. There are other costs such as licensing which may include having to get inspection.
Deciding to buy a motorcycle is a big decision not just for you but for your loved ones as well. It is important to have a basic understanding of the safety components of a bike as well as making sure that buying used is truly the best option. Buying your bike used from a dealership can be more costly up front but can also save you a lot of money down the road. If you choose to buy from a dealership you will want to make sure that they supply you with a list of everything that is wrong with the bike as well as driving history. These things you may not get by purchasing from a private source.
Contact Our Experts For Motorcycle Insurance Information
If this is your year to purchase a motorcycle check out our options for insurance. Call today to speak with a live member of our team, we would be happy to answer any questions you have on motorcycle insurance.