ok, i am sorta starting to look at bikes, and i have read some threads on here and decided that a used bike is definately the best option for a first bike. well the guy at the suzuki dealership was saying that most used bikes are more than likely to have serious problems, not only with body but with the motor due to extreme overrevving, etc. my question is, is this true? i know that people with sport bikes dont buy them to putt putt around. and i also know that the guy is a salesman and his job is to sell me a bike preferably new on his part. but hearing this it still sparks a bit of conflict. i would like to hear anyones unbias opinion on buying a used bike, your good or bad experiences. any help is greatly appreciated, and i hope i can get a bike soon so i have more reason to post in this forum,lol.

 

Your salesman is half-right. Some bikes have been put through a hard life - such as being used for stunting and racing. That's not always the case, and usually you can find tell-tale signs that the bike has been used to stunt or race.

I bought my bike off eBay, off a guy with no feedback. It was definitely a risk, and I was actually thinking that I wouldn't stand a chance of winning it (the starting bid was low). The price was good, even after factoring shipping from Texas. Unfortunately, when I received the bike, the previous owner had obviously put on the wrong size tire (which chewed through the rear fender), the wrong battery for my bike, and the bike had been dropped on one side (hard to see through pictures).

It's always better to see the bike in person so you can inspect it. If you're not sure what to look for, read up on some books and bring a knowledgeable friend.

 

yeah. i would never buy a bike, or anything for that matter without seeing it and investigating its history first. its just the guy was throwing stats at me, like he said somethin about how 70 percent of all used bikes are trash. i was like uhh i can understand a few but not 70 percent, and just for confirmation i wanted to hear it from others how it really is rather than from a salesman. one thing that threw me from his statement was what i have read on the internet. alot of the threads about what bike should a beginner get insist upon getting a used bike, so why would they insist upon a used bike if all of them are gonna blow up since 70 percent are trash, they wouldnt.

 

Ask yourself this...would you rather drop your over-revved, used bike or your brand spankin' new supersport?

 

not all used bikes are trash..yea some of them are. You just have to inspect all the fairings to make sure it has never been down and lots of other stuff. Its like buying a used car. Lots of them are shitty, but some are a hell of a deal.

If you somewhat know about bikes, take it for a test drive and see if everything functions correctly. Either that or ask someone that you might know that is good with bikes to inspect/ride it for you.

I was one of the people to buy a used bike that i thought was never laid down. upon further inspection a couple monthes later i found the fairings were repaired. Other than that everything else works good.

You just gotta find the right ones

 

Definitely a used bike as your first bike is the way to go because:
1) there's a very high probability you're going to drop it.
2) the money you save from not buying a new bike can go towards protective gear, insurance, registration, gas, etc...matter of fact, you should probably buy protective gear first and then use the left-over money for the bike. don't skimp on the gear.

I wouldn't necessarily go to a dealer to buy a used bike because they still mark it up and you'll have to pay tax (if applicable), but they may offer you a warranty. I would rather buy from a private owner and have the bike inspected by a mechanic you trust...either someone you know or who has been referred to by a friend.

by the way, i recommend an F2 or F3. Those bikes have been the most bullet-proof in my experience.

 

the first bike i looked at was a mid 90s yzfr(what ever its called). i didnt have a motorcycle license so my dad had to test ride it. it was a little ruff on the body but when my dad test rode it it never came back, it blew up!

but then i went to a dealer and got a 89 katana 750 w/10,000 on it for $2000. witch i think is a deal. so just wait a little and keep looking at dealers trade-ins