Riding motorcycles is an excellent pastime/hobby and, for many, a way of life. On the other hand, for most it is definitely not a necessity but instead a luxury and, for those of us on a budget (i.e. most of us), purchasing a new bike should be done as carefully and cautiously as possible.
With that in mind, here are the Top 5 Tips that you should keep in mind when purchasing a used motorcycle so that you get the best cycle for your money, and have the least troubles down the road (pun intended).
Tip #1: When you test drive any motorcycle, make sure the engine’s cold.
The reason for Tip #1 is simple; a motorcycle that’s been running and it is “warmed up” will crank up much more easily then a cold engine will and, consequently, might hide a lot of tuning and engine issues. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t purchase a motorcycle that doesn’t crank up right away, only that you should certainly ask about lowering the price a bit because, if it needs to be tuned, that’s going to cost you extra money.
Tip #2: The more money being asked for the motorcycle, the more questions you should ask as well.
If you’re looking at an older motorcycle at an excellent price, asking a million questions might seem quite rude because, let’s face it, you pretty much know exactly what you’re getting and you’re getting it at a great price. On the other hand, if the price is quite high, you have all the rights in the world to ask as many questions as possible before you spend your money, and should ask those questions before making a decision.
Tip #3: Ask a mechanic to take a look at before purchasing
Just like with an automobile, you should take your motorcycle to an excellent mechanic, (someone you actually know would be a great idea if possible) and get their opinion before making a purchase. Unless you’re an expert mechanic yourself, they’ll be able to point out possible (or actual) problems that you should know about.
Tip #4: Do your research
It takes practically no effort at all today to research something online. Unless you know a brand/model/year of motorcycle very well, researching it online to find out if that model/ brand/year was a good one or not is definitely a good idea, and may save you a lot of misery.
Tip #5: Check with the DMV in your State
Calling the DMV to verify the current titleholder’s name, and making sure that they’re the actual owner/titleholder, is a must. You can also find out how much it will cost to register your motorcycle and, more importantly, make sure it’s not stolen.
I like your tip to make sure the engine isn’t already warmed up when you take it for a test drive. I’m thinking of buying my first motorcycle soon. I’ve used dirt bikes up in the mountains before, so I don’t think it will be much of a problem learning how to drive a motorcycle.