Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Buying a used motorcycle and the balance between quality and price.

Plan9 · 04-19-2009, 08:18 PM

You don't have to settle for a beater and you can do better than that $1000 eyesore. I'd skip on something that was repeatedly abused, regardless of the attractive price, given the nature of motorcycle owners. It would be very easy for you to find a garage kept bike, never dropped, that the owner neglected only through not riding it due to job / marriage / other bike. I'd recommend shopping the used market more. Get onto Cycletrader.com and see what is in your area and go check it out. You'd be surprised to find how many gently used gems are sitting around within 2 hours of your house and have owners that are willing to negotiate a dynamite deal. Bikes are like guns... people buy 'em and try 'em for a little while and trade 'em for something else. I agree that used is the best way to go, but that doesn't mean you have to end up with damaged bike.

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It's been my experience that if you intend on riding for longer than an hour and a half or doing any distance, a cruiser would better suit your needs. The combination of the upright position on a good cushy saddle and a highway bar with pegs for your boots makes for a riding experience that is a similar to chillin' in a cushy recliner with the footrest up... something a crotch rocket can't come close to emulating. The insurance on a cruiser is significantly less pricey as well, from what my insurance company told me at the time of purchase. I'm a post-25 youngin' and pay $157 a year for my cruiser (1100cc) versus the $600+ that it would have been for a comparable sport bike.

04-19-2009, 08:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	You don't have to settle for a beater and you can do better than that $1000 eyesore. I'd skip on something that was repeatedly abused, regardless of the attractive price, given the nature of motorcycle owners. It would be very easy for you to find a garage kept bike, never dropped, that the owner neglected only through not riding it due to job / marriage / other bike. I'd recommend shopping the used market more. Get onto Cycletrader.com and see what is in your area and go check it out. You'd be surprised to find how many gently used gems are sitting around within 2 hours of your house and have owners that are willing to negotiate a dynamite deal. Bikes are like guns... people buy 'em and try 'em for a little while and trade 'em for something else. I agree that used is the best way to go, but that doesn't mean you have to end up with damaged bike. ... It's been my experience that if you intend on riding for longer than an hour and a half or doing any distance, a cruiser would better suit your needs. The combination of the upright position on a good cushy saddle and a highway bar with pegs for your boots makes for a riding experience that is a similar to chillin' in a cushy recliner with the footrest up... something a crotch rocket can't come close to emulating. The insurance on a cruiser is significantly less pricey as well, from what my insurance company told me at the time of purchase. I'm a post-25 youngin' and pay $157 a year for my cruiser (1100cc) versus the $600+ that it would have been for a comparable sport bike. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake." Last edited by Plan9; 04-19-2009 at 08:27 PM..