What to Know Before Buying a Used Motorcycle

Buying a used motorcycle is a great move. You get a quality machine at a fraction of the cost. But not all pre-owned motorcycles are created equal. You’ll need to be intentional about how you approach the shopping process to ensure you find a gem and not a dud. We created a guide to buying a used motorcycle below. When you are ready to look at different models, visit Cross Country Powersports. We are located near Newark, New Jersey.

Consider Your Budget

It’s all too easy to get talked into a more expensive pre-owned motorcycle than you can afford. All you need is to combine a charismatic seller and the irresistible appeal of the motorcycle right there in front of you. That’s why it’s important to establish a budget before you look at used options. There’s no need to consider motorcycles you can’t afford, so don’t even let them be a part of the equation.

Your budget needs to include the cost of the pre-owned motorcycle as well as insurance and any gear. If you already own a motorcycle, check out trade-in options as a way to reduce the cost. You can also check out financing options. These allow you to ride the motorcycle home today in exchange for monthly payments.

Consider the Type of Used Motorcycle

Once you know how much you can spend, you can look into the specific options. But there are way too many pre-owned choices out there! You’ll need to narrow the selection down to a more manageable level. The easiest way to do that is to only consider one type of motorcycle.

There are three broad categories of motorcycles that are each geared towards a different riding style. If you plan on cruising down the highway in fast-paced city riding, a cruiser is for you. These motorcycles balance out high power with high style. If you plan on commuting or going on endurance riders, you’ll want a touring motorcycle. These are made with comfort as the priority and offer features like an ergonomic frame. If speed and performance is your priority, then a sport bike is a good fit. These are often found on the racetrack and offer top-of-the-line handling, acceleration, and speed.

Consider the Seller

You can go to two main places to find a pre-owned motorcycle: an individual seller and a dealership. There are many advantages to going to a dealer.

First, their reputation is at stake. An individual seller can sell you a bad bike and all you can do is write them an angry email. A dealer sells you a bad bike and you can use online reviews to warn away potential customers, which hurts their brand and business. A dealer is incentivized to keep you happy.

Second, a dealership puts all vehicles through an inspection process so they can assign it a price. This process also helps them catch any issues (that an individual seller may miss). Many dealerships have a parts replacement and service department so they can fix the motorcycle. This is cheaper than you taking the motorcycle to a mechanic.

Third, a dealership gives you multiple options in the same location. Make one stop and test drive multiple models. With an individual seller, you would need to drive to homes all over town to check out different choices.

Ready to look at some used motorcycles? Visit Cross Country Powersports to check out our selection of used motorcycles. We offer brands from Kawasaki to Harley-Davidson, making it easy to find the right one for your lifestyle. We proudly serve those in Newark, New Brunswick, Paterson, and Trenton, New Jersey.