Motorcycle Buying Tips
If you are anything like me, and for your sake, I hope you are not—when you want something, you don’t always take the time to think things through and get the best possible product. For some reason this seems especially true when dealing with items that are very costly, which makes that instant gratification habit doubly worse. Today I want to discuss some steps to take when purchasing a motorcycle.
Sure, it would be cool to buy the biggest baddest bike on the block, but you will be much better off if you can display a little patience, which in the long run could save you some trouble and lots of money.
Research
First, you need to decide which bike is the best for you. Figure out what you are going to use your motorcycle for—cruising on the road, taking on trails, going super fast, etc. Talk to someone knowledgeable and do some research online. Really try to narrow down your choices of the type of bike you want. One of the most important starting points is—what can you afford to pay? It’s vital to remember that insuring a motorcycle can be costly, particularly if you are young.
More Research
Getting the idea? Knowledge is power, and in this case, it’s the power to make a better decision. There is nothing worse than running out to get a motorcycle only to find that it’s too much for you to handle, has too much upkeep, you can’t afford it, etc. Look at the market. What benefits are offered by each brand, and more importantly, which benefits work for you the best. Find out all you can about the models you are interested in, visit online forums, read reviews, and by all means don’t be afraid to ask the dealer questions. Make sure you get what you want—if the bike you want isn’t available, go somewhere else to find it, or wait until it becomes available. Take it for a test ride, see how you feel while riding, is it easy for you to handle? Does it fit you?
Go with Your Gut
Finally, after going through the data gathering stages, narrowing down your choices, and taking the bike for a test ride, if you feel a little odd about the bike, if something doesn’t feel quite right, allow yourself some time to think about it before you make the commitment to buy. Another bike will always come around, so you should never feel like you are being forced into anything.
The bottom line is make sure you get something that you want, and are happy with . . . it will make the riding experience that much better.