What are some things to look for when I want to buy a motorcycle?

Question

I want a sports bike, and what is a reasonable price of a good motorcycle?

Answer 1

Just look for a Harley Davidson :)

hehe

Answer 2

if you want a sport bike any of the big 4 make good ones (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha).

One thing to remember is that true sport bikes pack a lot of horsepower into a small package. This means a lot of speed and high insurance prices. keep it under 750cc to keep insurance prices lower.

If you're a beginner, you should take a lot of time sitting on bikes to make sure the one you get is the right size for you. It really sucks to not be able to touch the ground with both feet at a stop light. Also you end up leaning forward a lot on a sport bike which can get uncomfortable after a while.

These days sport bikes are going from $7000 to $12000 retail new and maybe about $1000 to 1500 less for used bikes. It just depends on the brand and model.

Answer 3

For a first sport bike, I'd say to go with 50 hp or less. That may not sound like much, but given how little these things weigh, that's in the same power to weight zone as a Corvette or WRX. That would put you in the 500 cc and under zone, usually, and these typically cost around $5,000 or less for a brand new bike, plus tax and title. There's some good choices from Suzuki (GS500F), Kawasaki (Ninja 250 & 500), and Buell (Blast). While there are some sport bikes from Communist China on the market, I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot torque wrench.

Make sure the bike fits you. Sit on it for a while with it on the sidestand, with your hands and feet where they'd be when you would be riding. Make sure you don't feel cramped or uncomfortable. And make sure you can get both feet flat on the ground while sitting in the saddle.

And you'll want to budget at least $500 for some good riding gear - helmet, jacket, boots, gloves, and if you want to play it safe, riding pants too.

Also, I recommend investing in some riding lessons. These can cost as little as $50 to as much as $350, depending on your state and whether you get them through the government or a private company like Harley's series of Riders' Edge courses. It's a good chance to learn the basics of motorcycle control, without having to worry about hitting an 18 wheeler.

Answer 4

Of course it depends on what year you get... The newer, the better. Fewer miles means fewer problems. Traditionally, guys beat on their motorcycles and do (or try) wheelies, which can kill the motor. If you are thinking of buying a 600 with 5,000 miles from a 24-y.o. guy, you can safely assume that it has AT LEAST 1000 miles of hard riding on it. (after the break-in period)

Personally for a beginner bike, I would recommend a Ninja 500R. They are very reliable (My '02 has 29,600 miles, and all I have ever had to do to it is basic maintenance - oil, chain, tires, brake pads) But that is because I have treated it very nicely. It gets about 50 MPG, and basic insurance is $8/mo for me (21, no tickets, accidents in 4 years) I have ridden one for 3+ years now, and I haven't really outgrown it. It has more power than other 500s. I learned on a Ninja 250R, and I outgrew that in about 1 month. I am assuming you have no riding experience, and have personally talked with many guys who said that they bought a 600 because all their 'friends' told them they needed a 600 or bigger, and crashed it the first day or first week. I have known wayyy to many guys that have done that. And once you crash it, it INSTANTLY does at least $2000 in damage to it (the main plastic piece up front [fairing] usually costs about $800+ to replace, and most other bigger parts are at least $200) So if you learn to ride on a 500, there is a VERY good chance that you won't crash it, and will be able to sell it 1 year later after you are done learning the basics, and you should be able to get about the same $$$ amount out of it as you put into it, assuming it hasn't tipped over.

I did a quote on Progressive.com and insurance was $25/mo for the cheapest.
I did an IDENTICAL quote on Geico.com and the cheapest was $8/mo... So make sure you try them both.

When looking, check carefully for scrapes on the footpegs. They may have dropped it and fixed everything else up. Look for ANY crack, scratch, and ask about it. Check to see if the tire wall is cracked, if the tires are good, any leaks, if the chain is clean, brake wear.

Personally, I would recommend purchasing one from a female, if at all possible. They are honestly the ones that treat their motorcycles the way they should be treated. (unfortunately, female sports riders are really rare, though)

And try to get one that has tipped over in a parking lot. You should be able to tell if it was tipped over in a lot, or while riding. A lot tip will have cracks, while road rash will have long scrapes on the muffler and scrapes on the plastic (not just cracks). It knocks a lot off the value of the bike, and if you tip it over, you don't really do any damage that wasn't already there. So you should still be able to sell it for about what you purchased it for.

Answer 5

What makes you happy?

As for myself, I appreciate simplicity of engineering and form that follows function. So I ride a '55 BMW. (Well, I would if the helmet law weren't in force)

If you solely crave speed, simply compare the specs and get the fastest. If you want longevity, get a Suzuki with the Suzuki Advanced Cooling System (SACS). If you want looks, buy a Ducati made more than 3 years ago. If you absolutely, positively must have the words "Harley Davidson" on your bike, get a bone-head (V-Rod).

If price and price alone is your criterion, get a 1 or 2 year old Jap crotch rocket.
.

Answer 6

Forget about HD, they are nothing but very high priced novelty items.
Look for starter bikes from Kawasaki and Suzuki, the little Ninja line is very good..please don't look at anything with more than 650cc's...it's just too much power in the hands of inexperienced riders.
Suzuki has a great bike for beginners that's not endowed with too much HP, the VStrom 650 and the SV650. both have plenty of HP and are fun to ride for beginners like you and advanced riders like me!

Answer 7

best time to purchase a bike is in the winter prices are down there always lookin for a sale then i'd 7 to 10 K is fair

Answer 8

Well first you probably need to find a store I suggest the phone book.

Answer 9

cc power, bike weight, gas mileage, total weight with driver and baggage.--maybe the color.

Answer 10

If you want to get more for your money go Harley./