Home / Top Stories / Helpful Tips & Info / 5 Tips for Buying a New Motorcycle
5 Tips for Buying a New Motorcycle

5 Tips for Buying a New Motorcycle

When the sun begins shining daily in the spring and flowers are blooming along the roadways, it seems natural to drift away into thoughts of buying a new, or even used, motorcycle to complete the joy of the arrival of the warm seasonal weather. Being able to coast down the backroads or highways without worrying about one’s phone or other distractions of daily life can be completely exhilarating and can be the perfect peace of mind that many of us badly desire. For many people, this is the perfect time of year to finally go for it, get your license, and make the commitment to the bike of your dreams. If this is you, then you need to take a little time to learn a few great tips about buying a new motorcycle.

1. The Price. The cost of a motorcycle, especially a new one, can range anywhere from $4000 to more than $10,000 for a relatively new vehicle, but much less for well-loved one. If you are a beginner, you need to find a bike that you feel comfortable on but you also need to assess your finances to make sure you find one within your budget.

You can also think about how the time of year can effect the purchase price of a motorcycle.

2. Personal Gear. You definitely need to have the right protective gear when you plan to ride. A helmet, which is recommended for the minimum safety, will run between $100 and up to more than $1000 depending on the brand and style you want to have. Whether you are a novice rider or someone that’s been riding for many years, you know that protecting your head is important. You may also know that protecting your skin is equally important. We’re not talking sunscreen here, instead, we mean motorcycle jackets, gloves and even boots made from leather. You want to find a high-abrasion leather than will help protect skin if you happen to slide. While many people ride in jeans or even shorts, you may want to consider the fact that jeans and other cloth material as well as your skin, will shred off your body quickly and most likely, painfully. Good personal gear can cost around $1000, but many can find gear online or even used for far less.

motorcycle rider

3. Horsepower. When you are buying a new motorcycle, you may have this vision of cruising down the highway on a bike that is lightning fast and super powerful. Perhaps you got to ride on the back of your uncle’s bike when you were a kid and you want one just like his. Listen, when you purchase your first motorcycle, there is no reason at all to buy a large bike. You should buy a motorcycle that you will have plenty of time to really learn how to ride well before you start increasing the speed or horsepower. All of that will come later, but for now, take the time to learn to ride without making deadly mistakes before you hop on a bike that may have too big a kick for you to handle. Remember, this is your first bike, not your last. It is always better to be safe than sorry when you are riding off in the sunset, especially if you plan to return to your home and loved ones when the ride is over.

4. Have the Facts. Before you begin a physical search to buy a new motorcycle, you need to really know the facts of the particular bike you may be looking for. For this, the internet can truly be your best friend. You will probably find that the salespeople at the local motorcycle shops will really know what they are talking about when it comes to the bikes they sell and which bikes may be best for you as a beginner to riding. Most of them ride motorcycles and will be able to show you the ropes, so to speak, about the things you need to know about the motorcycles on their property. Occasionally, you may find someone that doesn’t know the facts as deeply as they should and you will need to be well-informed so you know what you are looking for. Before you start shopping, be sure to figure out things such as how often you plan to ride, what the road conditions are like where you will ride and what the weather patterns may be in the area. You also need to know what horsepower you will be comfortable with. Never let someone talk you into buying a bike that is 1500cc may be really tough to handle, but a bike with between 500cc and 600cc will be one that will be fairly easy to learn riding and will stay fun for a long time after you really feel comfortable.

5. Getting the Bike Home. If you live close to the shop or seller that you buy your new motorcycle from, and you have already taken the time to truly learn to ride and feel comfortable on the road, then riding the bike home will most likely not be a big deal. If you live far away from the seller or you have not yet mastered riding, you should have the motorcycle transported by a professional transporter to get it to your home or other location where it will be stored. You will want to hire a reputable motorcycle transport company such as Motorcycle Towing Toronto that keep the bike safe and will offer a price that is reasonable. You need to ask if they use a motorcycle trailer or if they strap the bike inside of a shipping crate and what will be covered if the bike should happen to be scratched or damaged during shipment. Choose the company based on the answers they give to your questions, the level of safety that you feel they use and whether the transport will be licensed and insured. You may also want to check and see if you can track your bike during shipment as this can help ease stress by letting you know where your new motorcycle is at all times once it leaves the seller and heads your way. Choosing the right company to ship your motorcycle will help keep the bike in tip top shape and safe and sound until it reaches you.

motorcycle transportation

There are quite a few things to keep in mind when you are planning to buy a new motorcycle, especially if it will be your first motorcycle purchase, but keeping these things in mind can really help guide you along the way. Be sure to ask as many questions as possible when you speak to the seller or to the sales staff at the motorcycle shop, Questions are never scoffed at and a motorcycle sales person will be more than happy to assist you with gaining knowledge about the bikes they have in order to make sure you will truly be able to not only enjoy your new motorcycle, but to also ensure that you will choose one that you will be safe on and feel comfortable riding. Happy riding and best wishes for safe travels!

About Adrian from YouMotorcycle

I started riding motorcycles in 2007, founded YouMotorcycle in 2009, and was working in the motorcycle industry by 2011. I've worked for some of the biggest companies in motorcycling, before going full-time self-employed in the motorcycle business in 2019. I love sharing his knowledge and passion of motorcycling with other riders to help you as best I can.

One comment

  1. 5 Tips for Buying a New Motorcycle https://t.co/wecxC0qoFh vía @YouMotorcycle

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*