You’re off to buy your first motorcycle. Or your second, after you retired your first, old love. Or maybe even sold her to finance your new love. The demand for used motorcycles has always been high.
But thanks to Covid-19 a.k.a. Corona the demand has blow through the roof. ‘Cause when you are not allowed to do almost everything we love, motorcycling is still possible. And riding a motorcycle might even give you that beloved feeling of freedom again. But what to look out for? We give you several tips for buying a used motorcycle.
Maybe that motorcycle license has been lying around in a closet for a while now. And did the Covid-19 restrictions stimulate you do dust it off and start to ride again. Or perhaps you took a better look at your old, trusted motorcycle and decided you’re ready to start a new adventure with a new bike. Whatever your reason might be to start and search for a used motorcycle, the search can be quite a challenge. Because the market for used motorcycles is huge. Alright, it might be less huge thanks to the big demand for used motorcycles since Covid-19, but still it remains a struggle for many. REDRIDINGBOOTS will help you out.
Nowadays, there are many different websites on which you can start your search for a used bike. Are you looking to buy a motorcycle in the Netherlands? Then marktplaats.nl, but also autoscout24.nl or motoroccassion.nl are great places to start. Just scrolling through the big offer will give you sore fingers in no time. So start with a plan. What kind of motorcycle do you want? You can always have doubts, but limit the options to make the search as efficient as possible. Follow the list below and set the filters on the relevant website.
After you’ve set the filters on the website in question, it should provide you a selected bunch of used motorcycles. Now it’s a matter of examining the pictures and the information the seller provided. Let’s search for that perfect match. In the most ideal situation the seller provides real clear pictures. And he or she gives you a description that doesn’t only state the good things of the bike, but also the less perfect things or possible damage. And even shows that damage in one of the pictures. Sadly, it often doesn’t work like that in reality. So the search for that perfect second-hand bike requires a bit of Sherlock work.
Do you want as little risk as possible? Then it’s wise to buy a used motorcycle from a motorcycle shop. Do you have a good understanding of technical matters? Or do you know someone who does and wouldn’t mind to accompany you? Then buying a used motorcycle from a private individual is also no problem.
Buying from a private individual:
Pro: often cheaper
Con: no warranty and a higher risk of hidden defects
Buying from a dealer or motorcycle shop:
Pro: more certainty thanks to warranty
Con: often more expensive
When buying a used motorcycle, there are a few questions which are smart to ask on forehand. It might sound logical to you to ask them, but others might not have thought about it. You often have contact with the owner or dealer through email of phone before you check out a bike. Questions you want to ask are;
If you’re convinced by the answers the owner or dealer has given you, then you can arrange a test ride. Even if you know the model or type of motorcycle already, still we recommend you to do a test ride. The smallest modifications can give a completely different feeling. Don’t be stubborn, just test the thing. Not feeling comfy by testing it yourself? Then take someone with you who has more technical knowledge or who knows lots about bikes. In any case, it is useful to check the following points:
You’re probably very eager to test the bike.
That might even be the most fun part of the search for a used motorcycle. Don’t be too careful with it. We fully understand that you handle the bike of someone else with cause. That makes perfect sense. But do let that bike work during your test ride. Make a lot of revs, brake hard. Change gears enough to feel whether it does so smoothly or rusty. And feel how the bike reacts to it. Ride a little faster over a speed bump and ride some twisty roads. Of course you want to feel how the bike handles, if it suits you etcetera. But a test ride is also the perfect moment to check and test a few things. For example:
Did everything go well? And were you on cloud nine the whole time during your test ride? Then it probably is your perfect match. Do you buy the motorcycle from a private individual? Then there is always a risk of hidden defects. You simply never know for sure. There are some mean people out there who sell a bike because they know big maintenance is coming up and hide it well to still be able to sell it. But there are also still honest people out there, who do treat their bikes with love and give them the well deserved TLC.
The negotiating fase begins. Maybe you’re buying the bike of a seller who sticks to his of her price. And you don’t mind that. Just keep in mind there is always a change that you have to fix things or do unexpected maintenance. So to negotiate a bit never does any harm.
Don’t be fooled by all kinds of meaningless accessories. A short license plate holder, fancy indicators or a Puig racing screen.. these kinds of accessories add little to the value of a motorcycle. Does the seller use this as an excuse to increase the value of the bike? Then don’t be fooled. Does the bike have a full custom exhaust system? Or a blipper? Or has the standard suspension been replaced by Öhlins? These kinds of modifications do are of value and actually contribute to a better performance of the motorcycle.
Do you reach an agreement with the seller? Hurray! Don’t forget to insure the bike after you’ve fixed all the paperwork. Especially if you want to ride the bike home, it’s a clever idea to insure the bike immediately. These days, you can arrange an insurance online in just a few seconds. Do you put the bike on a trailer and do you expect things to go well? Then you could also fix the insurance at home.
There she stands. Your new love. You’re as happy as a little kid and super excited. It’s a new chapter in your life on 2’s. You will ride lots of miles together during breathtaking ride out’s. Cruising down twisty roads. Or perhaps you immediately ride that bike on track. You will have lots of fun for sure. And you’ve deserved it after that intensive search.