So you have made the decision to buy a motorcycle. We welcome you to the family of motorcycle owners and we know you will have a great time enjoying your new ride. However, before you hit the open road, you will have to decide on whether to purchase a new motorcycle or one that has been used. While the decision is totally yours, there are pros and cons to both and we will lay those out and let you make the choice that is best for you.
When purchasing your first bike, many motorcycle enthusiasts agree that buying used is the best way to go. There are actually several reasons for this, but one of the most important is that you may find that riding a motorcycle is not for you after all. If you do find this to be the case, at least you will not have wasted thousands of dollars more on a brand new bike. While most new riders love the open road, there are a few who find that they may be happier doing something else with their time and their money.
However, if you are certain that you will enjoy being a motorcycle owner then here are some important considerations to take when trying to decide between purchasing a new or used bike. If there is a particular new model you are looking at, it will come with several pros associated with it. For one, it will come with a warranty. Much like cars, bikes are incredibly technical and complicated. When something goes wrong it can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars to have it repaired. However, if you decide to purchase a new bike, the warranty will give you extra piece of mind that any cost will be taken care of with no out of pocket expense. Another advantage to purchasing a new bike is that you can break it in at your own pace. In addition, there will be a large selection of bikes to choose from which can be very important when trying to find one that fits your needs.
On the other hand, there are some disadvantages to buying new. New bikes are more expensive than used ones and you will likely need either a loan or to set up a payment plan. In addition, if you have a particular bike in mind, you may have to wait for the inventory to come in. Finally, you will drop your bike and you will feel horrible when you do so and it gets a few nicks and scratches on it.
If you are thinking of purchasing a used bike as your first ride, it also has numerous advantages and disadvantages. As far as advantages go, it will be much cheaper than buying new. This is good if you are unsure how long you will keep the bike and if you are on a limited budget. In addition, the engine will already be broken in so it will be ready for the open road as soon as you drive it off the lot. Finally, you won’t feel as bad when it gets a few nicks in the paint.
However, there are some disadvantages to buying used. First, there may be damage to the bike that you don’t discover until it is too late and you already have it home. Any damage can also wind up costing you thousands as it won’t have a warranty associated with it.