Buying pre-owned may be somewhat dangerous, but buying new is prohibitively expensive.
What is the best course of action? What is the best deal?
I’ll explain the advantages and drawbacks of each option so you can make an informed decision.
Good Practices to Have in Any Motorcycle Transactions
- Have someone you know tag along with you to have a second pair of eyes. That person will also be a possible voice of reason if you get carried away by excitement.
- Impose yourself a budget limit you will not go over no matter what.
- Put the financial aspect of the transaction on paper or in an easy-to-read layout. Especially if you plan to finance the motorcycle. Use this Load calculator to know the ACTUAL price you’re paying for a bike.
- Never rush anything, take a moment (30 minutes+) to take a step back. Think over a motorcycle deal before saying yes. In doubt ask for a day or two to consider. It will give you time for your adrenaline and excitement to settle down and have a clear head.
- Remember that private sellers want to sell their bikes and dealer salesman want their commissions. Beware of pressure sale tactics like – if you wait too long the bike might be sold.
- If the motorcycle is used, have a certified mechanic do an inspection. (Mandatory in some states).
- Be aware of extra costs you might not have accounted for and will it break your self-imposed budget?
- Financing interest
- Insurance
- Extended warranty
- Registration
- Taxes
- Shipping cost
- Inspection
- Overdue maintenance
- Etc.
Buying a Motorcycle from a Dealer
The first thing I love about visiting a dealer is that it’s much more convenient.
Dealing with a private seller can be frustrating, time-consuming, stressful, and riskier.
You also have to plan a meeting that accommodates everybody’s schedule. That may end up being a waste of time if the seller is unreliable or untrustworthy.
With a dealer…you just walk in, and you should at least find something exciting.
You also got the option to buy a brand new motorcycle, and the dealer might have a selection of interesting used motorcycles to sell.
But is it wise to buy from your motorcycle dealer?
Be Careful When You Buy From a Motorcycle Dealer.
These days, few snake-oil salesmen can be found in the motorcycle business.
A good reputation is something most dealers are not willing to put on the chopping block with online reviews and social media these days.
So you should receive appropriate customers service and worthwhile advice.
If you buy pre-owned from a dealer, ask them for a clear answer if the bike you bought from them ends up having problems soon after the sale.
Will they help and support you, or are you on your own?
Trust your instinct and follow it. Don’t be afraid to walk away from any offer when it does not seem right for whatever reason.
Yet, there is something else I want you to be aware of and careful about.
That Is In-House Financing.
Buying at a dealer can be scarily expensive, so it makes sense that they will propose you financing options.
I actually have a detailed article that explains why a buy here pay here financing might be a terrible mistake. It also explains how you can save money when financing your motorcycle.
Just Click here to read about the subject.
It will open in a new tab so that it won’t interrupt your reading here.
The Benefits of Buying a Brand New Motorcycle from A Dealer
- You get a manufacturer warranty
- Newer motorcycle features
- Choose your bike colors and options
- Perfect bike condition
- Wide selection
- On-site professional advice
- Convenience
The Disadvantages of Buying a Brand New Bike from A Dealer
- Highest price
- Possibly Hidden fee
- Usually not negociable
- Hard value depreciation of the motorcycle
You get a manufacturer warranty. That is a big deal for many people who want the peace of mind that if their bike has a mechanical failure, it is covered.
Getting a motorcycle and having an unexpected mechanical breakdown soon after sucks… and paying yourself for repair is never fun.
You get a lot of choice at a dealer; I mean, just look at that whole showroom, and that is not all. If you don’t see a bike you like, they may custom order it for you.
That right, you get to choose your bike options, you want abs? Saddlebags? and would you rather have it in a different color?
The dealer got all this…for a price.
Should You Buy a Brand New Motorcycle at Your motorcycle Dealer?
In a nutshell, you’re paying the highest price for your motorcycle.
But it will come in the best possible condition, the way you like it, with a warranty.
You’re paying extra for a safe transaction, peace of mind, and convenience.
If you know your finances and you are fixated on getting a new bike go for it.
Personally, I would not buy Brand new.
The price depreciation on an overpriced new motorcycle is too much of a bitter pill for me to swallow.
Knowing you bought a bike 9,999$, and after only a year it estimated value is in the 6,500 to 7,500… Man, that hurt.
What I would do if you want to buy new is wait for the end of the season for last-call rebates.
Dealers want to clear inventory and what doesn’t sell needs to go. They will often reduce the price to make it happen.
You never know you could find a hidden gem somewhere on a dealer website or visiting the dealer lot.
These guys actually found out that some motorcycle dealers sell leftover motorcycles for cheap. But You know what insane?
They are willing to let them go cheaper than buying the same bikes from the same years in the used market.
Buying a brand new bike cheaper than a used one? Talk about a sweet deal!
Be aware that it removes the benefit of choosing the color for the bike and most additional options. The bike offered will be on the dealer floor or in storage. It will come as it is.
So do take the time to ask if there are some leftover motorcycles from previous years hidden somewhere.
Should You Get a New Motorcycle at your Dealerships as A Beginner?
It depends but in my opinion no; I don’t think you should.
The first reason is that brand new motorcycles are overpriced.
Unless you find a good deal, smarter financial choices are available to you to get your first bike.
Yet I do recommend you get a bike that is fairly recent. 1 to 5 years old.
If you are a beginner, here is a little trick that is at your advantage.
Since you are starting as a motorcyclist, I recommend you start with a smaller and more beginner-friendly motorcycle.
And you know what is great about beginner-friendly motorcycles?
There are tons of them on the used market that are modern, in good condition, and low mileage. Cheap too.
Usually, here is what happens with smaller starter bikes;
someone bought it new, and their rider skills overgrow the bike fairly quickly. So they put them up on sale or trade it in at their local dealers with low milage after only one season or two.
Keep a lookout for those; that is a great way to start as a biker.
Buying a Used Motorcycle From A Dealer
Advantages
- Possible Dealer Warranty
- The bike could have been mechanically looked over
- Some negotiation margin
- Some choice selection
- Convenient
The Disadvantages
- Higher price than buying from a private sale
- Possible hidden fee
- The dealer won’t know the history of the bike or very little.
Fair warning some dealers do not inspect or repair the pre-owned motorcycles they acquire.
Make sure to ask about it. Request a written proof or a service record of what was done on the motorcycle before it was listed for sale.
But most dealers do perform mechanical inspections. If the bike needs work, they will perform it in their shop before putting a bike on the market.
You might even get a warranty from the dealer, even if it is a used bike. Although it is usually a short one, it can still save your butt.
If they don’t, you can still buy a warranty yourself for a used motorcycle. This is the company I recommend you deal with by clicking here.
It depends on how much the dealer paid for the bike in question, but the dealer might be open to negotiating the price.
And similar to the brand new motorcycle, there might be some rebate at the end of the riding season.
Plus, since add-ons don’t increase a motorcycle value, you might find a customized bike for an excellent price. A way better deal than if you bought the parts yourself.
I like that even if you buy pre-owned, you still get the convenience of buying from a dealership.
Taking care of taxes, regulation, and licensing will be simple and in the same place.
Everything will be dealt with at the dealer desk instead of you running around town to fill in additional paperwork if you buy from a third party.
Should You Buy a Used Motorcycle at Your motorcycle Dealer?
It might be worth it.
Visit them; there could be some great deals to be found.
Sure, you’ll probably pay a little more than a private seller.
But I think the pros outweigh the cons.
Buying a Motorcycle from A Private Seller
Probably your best option if you want to buy cheap. But be aware that it comes with important disadvantages.
- Facebook Marketplace
- Craiglist
If you got a Facebook account, I would focus most of my time browsing Marketplace instead of Craiglist.
The reason is that the seller is not anonymous. It put a face and name on the person you are dealing with.
What you should know about buying from a private seller.
-One of the riskier ways to buy a motorcycle
-No warranty or protection
-Can be time-consuming
Your mains risks of buying from a private seller
-The motorcycle might be stolen.
-The seller might hide mechanical problems with the bike.
-The motorcycle might not be safe or road-legal due to mods.
My main advice when buying from a private seller is to take your time to check that it makes sense and is in order.
When you meet the seller in person with the motorcycle, the first thing you should do is ask for the bike paperwork. See if the VIN number matches the one on the bike.
If it doesn’t match, don’t waste your time.
It might be a simple typing mistake, but it will be a pain in the ass to get it corrected, or the bike is stolen.
Revzilla actually made an awesome video about tips and tricks to know when doing this kind of transaction.
Is Buying From A Private Seller Worth It?
Under the right circumstances, yes. Used motorcycles bought from a private sale have the best overall potential for the best value deals. But private sales also carries some of the greatest risks.
Yet again, I repeat my advice. When buying from a private seller, take your time to check that everything makes sense.
Please don’t neglect to have a professional mechanic do an inspection and give you his opinion. This will add to the cost, but it is the first line of defense against getting yourself ripped off.
And do consider buying an extended service coverage warranty from Discount EPS.
The way it works in a way is like buying insurance but for mechanical problems. If you have a breakdown with your motorcycle or it starts having issues, you will be covered.
Conclusion on Buying Motorcycle
It can be a little overwhelming, but you’ll manage.
Personally, I prefer to buy from dealers for the peace of mind, convenience, and time-saving it gives me.
Plus, visiting dealers can be fun, especially if they got some events going on.
My advice and personal way of looking around for buying a bike and getting the best deal usually goes like this.
I will roll around town visiting my local dealers and looking over the pre-owned lineup they have. I take a picture of every bike with its price tags that got my interest as a note.
As I visit, I’ll also look at the brand new models and ask the salesmen if they got a deal on some leftovers inventory. You never know. That is how you uncover a pearl under a rock in my mind.
I will let the day pass get back home and start browsing around in the Facebook marketplace and Craiglist during the evening.
If something catches my eye, I send a message or call the seller if it is not too late.
Then open up a beer, go over my choices, think over everything but not too hard, and then go to sleep.
I will usually know which bike I want in the morning and make the call.
That is my way of doing it, and I hope this post helped you in any way.
Hope to see you soon on the roads.
Ride safe
