Are you an impulse buyer? When you’re making a big purchase, like a motorcycle, take the time to investigate and save yourself a headache.
TOO MANY CHOICES!
Be aware of what you need and not what your impulses scream, the bike you want might not be the bike you need. Avoid the impulse purchase and consider logistics such as your body size and level of experience. Equally important as comfort are finances. Consider that a bike is not just the initial purchase but also the cost of maintaining the motorcycle. Gas prices and general repairs can add up quickly!
KNOW YOUR BIKES
With so many choices make sure you shop around for the perfect deal. Make use of research tools like the internet to investigate private deals. If you end up buying from an individual use your common sense and good judgment. The best part of buying privately is the money you can save right off the starting blocks. If you go with a dealership it gives you a sense of comfort in terms ofwarranty and experienced salespeople but be ready to hold back until the price is right. Remember dealerships want your business and are willing to negotiate to make the sale.
BE THOROUGH WITH THE DOCUMENTS
The best thing is to schedule a meeting with the person selling the bike to go over all the documents and policies for buying or selling a vehicle in your country. If the meeting goes well and you are satisfied with the paperwork then take the extra precaution of having a vehicle check done. If all that works out then you can sign on the dotted line with confidence.
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
The best place to view a used bike is at the seller’s home. Don’t arrange to view at night, you want to be able to go over the vehicle with a fine tooth comb in proper daylight. A smart option for anyone not mechanically savvy is to bring a trusted friend with a solid background in mechanics. Does the bike look in desperate need of a tune up, will it last, is it worth the money being spent. A scam to watch out for is ‘clocking’, make sure the mileage is legitimate and not tampered with. Make sure the VIN number is correct on all documents and that it has not been altered on the bike. Trial runs of the bike should be for at least 30 minutes so that you can have a good sense of how it rides. Better safe than sorry so make sure you do a thorough check when inspecting your potential purchase.
TRUST YOUR INSTINCT
The last piece of advice is if there’s a little voice inside your head cautioning you against this particular purchase don’t ignore it – there are plenty of bikes and you will find the right one.




