{"id":17059,"date":"2016-05-13T10:22:46","date_gmt":"2016-05-13T17:22:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/?p=17059"},"modified":"2016-05-13T10:22:46","modified_gmt":"2016-05-13T17:22:46","slug":"buying-a-used-motorcycle-can-be-tricky-so-shop-carefully","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/motorcycle-insurance\/buying-a-used-motorcycle-can-be-tricky-so-shop-carefully\/","title":{"rendered":"Buying a Used Motorcycle Can Be Tricky \u2013 So Shop Carefully"},"content":{"rendered":"

The warmer weather typically brings out an onslaught of motorcycle riders \u2013 from the experienced to the \u201cnewbie\u201d who seeks to partake in the thrill of cruising the open road on two wheels at 70 mph for the first time. This can lead to a common mistake newbies often make of going out without sufficiently developed riding skills and buying more motorcycle than they can handle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Furthermore, while there\u2019s nothing wrong with wanting to buy the used motorcycle of your dreams, doing so without knowing what to look for or expect could result in a major disappointment, financial loss, or even injury. That\u2019s why you should first decide on a bike that best fits your lifestyle and riding expertise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Buying a used motorcycle can be tricky<\/strong><\/p>\n

Buying a used motorcycle can be tricky, so you\u2019ll want to shop carefully. Choosing the right motorcycle and one that won\u2019t turn into a nightmare involves research and following a few simple rules to help you make a decision you won\u2019t regret.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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  1. What type of motorcycle best fits your lifestyle and skill?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Generally, age plays an important role in your decision. Younger riders will have their sights on sport and dirt bikes while older riders and retirees are more inclined to buy a cruiser or touring bike for longer trips, such as exploring the country on two wheels.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Check the Kelley Blue Book value of the used motorcycle<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Having an idea of the Kelley Blue Book value of any motorcycle you\u2019re considering can tell you if you\u2019re getting a deal that\u2019s realistic or one that\u2019s unrealistic \u2013 meaning it could be a nightmare waiting to happen should the price be way too low. Perhaps the motorcycle has mechanical or other issues the owner is not disclosing.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Consult with your insurance carrier before committing<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Don\u2019t assume you\u2019ll automatically get motorcycle insurance<\/a> from your insurance company. Rates and acceptance will be based on several factors, including your age, class or model of motorcycle, your skill level, and your auto driving record.<\/p>\n

        Consult with your motorcycle or auto insurance company<\/a> about rates prior to making the purchase.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

          \n
        1. From whom should you buy the motorcycle<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          The old saying \u201cbuyer beware\u201d applies whether you\u2019re buying a car or a motorcycle, but a used bike can sometimes be more troublesome than a used vehicle. So, carefully consider where you plan on getting that used motorcycle you\u2019ve been dreaming about.<\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

            \n
          • Private party<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            While buying from a private party may result in getting the best price and no sales tax, you may not have the same benefits as you would from a licensed dealer. Unless it\u2019s a \u201csingle owner\u201d motorcycle with service records, you may have to rely on the owner\u2019s word and be taking a chance.<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

              \n
            • Dealership or independent dealer<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Buying from a dealership or independent dealer presents several advantages when buying a used motorcycle, such as a choice of \u201ccertified pre-owned\u201d motorcycles, which often come with a complete service history and a guarantee or warranty. They may also take your old bike in trade, if you have one.<\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

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              1. Test ride the bike<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                This is where having previous riding experience is important. If you\u2019ve got minimal skills, taking the bike on a test ride may present a serious problem. The last thing you want to do is be less than honest about your skill level with the private party or dealership and get into a crash, damaging or destroying the bike \u2013 not to mention getting injured.<\/p>\n

                 <\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. Have the motorcycle inspected by a qualified mechanic<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  If you\u2019re buying your used bike from a private party, have it inspected by a qualified mechanic before you hand over a check. This shouldn\u2019t be a problem, if the owner has nothing to hide. Without a thorough going over to make sure the motorcycle is road worthy, mechanically fit and safe to ride you could be setting yourself up for expensive repairs and safety risk.<\/p>\n

                   <\/p>\n

                  If everything checks out and the motorcycle is the perfect fit for what you intend to do with it, go ahead and make the purchase. But, keep in mind, taking a motorcycle safety course \u2013 regardless of your riding skill level \u2013 not only makes you a better rider; it can also lower your motorcycle insurance rates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  The warmer weather typically brings out an onslaught of motorcycle riders \u2013 from the experienced to the \u201cnewbie\u201d who seeks to partake in the thrill of cruising the open road on two wheels at 70 mph for the first time. This can lead to a common mistake newbies often make of going out without sufficiently […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17060,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[325],"tags":[],"importance":[],"type-content":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17059"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17059"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17059\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17059"},{"taxonomy":"importance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/importance?post=17059"},{"taxonomy":"type-content","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type-content?post=17059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}