Pros and Cons to new or used

[Blankslate7x]

After reading and writing a lot of this forum, a lot of new and different topics have been brought to my attention.. Such as when buying a bike would you want to buy a new one or get a used one.. of course you can break it down to the pro's and con's.

NEW
Pros
- Warranty
- Break the bike in at your own pace
- If the bike breaks, bring it to get it fixed for free
- Larger selection of the bike you want ( for the most part)

Cons
- Generally more expensive
- If this is your first bike ( It is for me) You will feel horrible WHEN you drop it
- May have to wait for new inventory to come in
- Payment plans

USED
Pros
- Generally cheaper
- Engine broken in
- Won't feel as bad if dropped
- Have a much larger selection of bikes you want

Cons
- Could have gobs of unknown damage that you won't find till you bring home
- Costs in repairing, changing fluids b/c of unknown history
- No warranty
- If bike breaks, and you don't/can't wrench...it's gonna cost ya


Overall each section has it's good and bad.
While constructing this i had the New 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250r being compared to a used 500r.

The 08 looks beautiful, but will she still fend off the cages on the freeway? or is she just meant to look pretty going past your local library?
While the 500r is not the prettiest bike in the world, but she has power and stability.

What do you guys think?

[Tim_Stanley_47]

I think you have to decide which road to go down just like the rest of us when buying a bike. My decision, I buy new, that way I know nobody has ever beat on it (riden it hard) or wrecked it.

Tim

[Blankslate7x]

Originally Posted by Tim_Stanley_47

I think you have to decide which road to go down just like the rest of us when buying a bike. My decision, I buy new, that way I know nobody has ever beat on it (riden it hard) or wrecked it.

Tim

I'll add that to my Pros list under the NEW section. haha.

[alec]

I wouldn't exactly say that the 500 has power or stability....as for that 250, I'm sure it will keep up on the highway, even little a honda 125 would be ok. Not that I would want to take either on the highway though. That 250 is going to be dirt cheap, like $4000 why not just pay it all then you won't have to deal with financing. That's what I did with my zx6r and haven't regretted it one bit.

[CT1200]

Not everyone has $4k burning a hole in their pocket.

[Blankslate7x]

True... I have about 2K in my bank, then am going to take out a bank loan, but refuse to drain my account... Sooo im trying to do the math and find out what bike is worth the most bang for it's buck right now. B/c after i buy it, i have to deal with all the extras of a " used bike" oil changes, fluid exchanges, valve readjustments, etc.

[eidian]

Buying New Pro: You can find deals like this:

Advanced Kawasaki - getakawi.com Kawasaki Orange County, Buena Park, California powered by sDealer

Buying Used Pro: You can find steals like this (any in the SoCal area looking for 650R?)...

2007 Kawasaki 650R Ninja

[ervins]

Buying used for a first bike is smart...No MAJOR concerns about dropping it...Just the concern of riding your first bike and envisioning a new one.

[vulcan500rider]

Some people get great deals buying used bikes - I'm just not one of them. I bought a 1991 Suzuki Bandit 400 for $1000 - was in great shape except for the crack in the crankcase I didn't see until I was washing it a week later. The crack was covered with JB Weld and to replace the case would have been $900 for parts not including the labor needed to break down the engine. I rode it for a while and sold it FULLY disclosing the crack.

I bought a Moto Guzzi from a friend. The bike had been sitting for a while but I just wasn't ready for all the nickel and dime crap that went wrong. If I got it at the right moment with the choke opened just right the bike would fire right up - if not I had to wait 20 minutes to try again. The battery went out almost right away ($100), the lights wouldn't work right etc etc.

Buy new and save yourself a headache.

[jaseman]

I'm a firm believer that you always buy used for your first bike. No matter what bike your buying.

1. You won't feel as bad when you drop it the first time
2. It's much cheaper than buying a new bike, and then deciding that riding just isn't for you
3. Leaves you money for buying proper gear
4. Leaves you money for buying oil, chain lube, etc. for general maintnance
5. Any wrenching you have to do, helps you get intimate knowledge about your bike, and gives you a sense of ownership
6. It's easier to learn when your not as worried about scratching your brand new bike
7. Years down the road, you'll say with pride and a grin "When I learned to ride, my first bike was a [insert name] that smoked and belched, and so on, and such. Man, I loved that old thing..."

And the list goes on...

[KeithB]

new is the way for me.

[MaxB]

I was thinking about getting a new zx6r 2008, BUT* I dont wanna go thru a monthly payment. I bought my car cash for 3200 its used of course and I rather drop a few thousand at one time than have to keep paying over and over.

If my credit is good enough I'll get the $79 a month deal for a 2008 zx6r, If not im probably going to get a used one. Plus this will be my first bike.

[CT1200]

Well I'll tell ya a smart man would attempt to get the $79 a month deal, and if you do get it pay them at least $200 a month. Pays it off in no time and a lot less interest. And it helps your credit score. If you need help in building it up.

[aftermath4788]

i personally feel for the first bike, buy a used good running bike for about $1500 then it is yours and if you drop it, pick it up and keep going. and they are good to learn to be your own mechanic because if you screw something up, o well, at least you wont have to worry about making that payment while it is out of commission. then after you do all that and you get the hang of it. if you want new go for it. if i finance another bike, it will be used with about 900 miles on it this way it is broken in and hadnt had much riding in after the break in period for them to have dogged it so you stand a better chance at getting a good bike straight off the floor that you can drag race out the parking lot.

[Blankslate7x]

Originally Posted by aftermath4788

i personally feel for the first bike, buy a used good running bike for about $1500 then it is yours and if you drop it, pick it up and keep going. and they are good to learn to be your own mechanic because if you screw something up, o well, at least you wont have to worry about making that payment while it is out of commission. then after you do all that and you get the hang of it. if you want new go for it. if i finance another bike, it will be used with about 900 miles on it this way it is broken in and hadnt had much riding in after the break in period for them to have dogged it so you stand a better chance at getting a good bike straight off the floor that you can drag race out the parking lot.

Used for 1500 eh? lol i wish i could find something like that, that isn't REALLY USED!!
That's why im looking at a 06 ninja 500r for my first bike.. it has 300 miles on it and i want to have it for a few seasons until i understand how a bike works and respect it.. anything under 2K sounds like problems.

[techy]

I do my own work and have always bought used. Too cheap to buy new.

[MaxB]

Originally Posted by CT1200

Well I'll tell ya a smart man would attempt to get the $79 a month deal, and if you do get it pay them at least $200 a month. Pays it off in no time and a lot less interest. And it helps your credit score. If you need help in building it up.

Im a college student so I really cant afford the 200 a month

[CT1200]

Originally Posted by MaxB

Im a college student so I really cant afford the 200 a month

Well anything above the $79 is the main point, anything above the minimum.
The minimum is what they what you to pay so they get all the interest they can out of you. If you can't pay the $200 "every" month, how about "every other" month, or "every 3rd month".

[eidian]

Originally Posted by MaxB

Im a college student so I really cant afford the 200 a month

Then you really can't afford the "$79-a-month" plan at 7.99% either. You do know that if you only pay the $79 for the first 2 or three years, you're going to end up with a payment close to $200 after the loan's "honeymoon" period...right? Here's the fine print from a local dealership's website for an '07 Yamaha R1 (Kawasaki isn't running promotions right now but they're all the same); I've italicized and bolded for emphasis:

*Available at participating Yamaha dealers on approved Yamaha card purchases made between 9/1/07 and 12/31/07. Valid on Yamaha Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, & Side x Sides. 8.9% APR and $39 (maximum $4,800 purchase) or $69 ($4,801 to $8,500 purchase) or $89 ($8,501-$10,000 purchase) payment plus any late fees for 24 months. Paying only this amount will not pay off the purchase during this period. Thereafter, the regular Minimum Monthly Payment and Standard Rate APR of 12.99%, 16.99%, 18.99% or 22.99% apply. For Accounts not current, the promotion is cancelled and regular Minimum Monthly Payments and the Default Rate 24.99% APR apply. Minimum Finance Charge $1. Certain rules apply to the allocation of payments and Finance Charges on your promotional purchase if you make more than one purchase on your Yamaha Card. Call 1-888-367-4310 or review your cardholder agreement for information. Offer good only in the United States, excluding Hawaii.

Going the cash method the way you alluded to is best but CT1200 is correct also. If you can pull $120 or $130 a month it would be worth getting a 5 year loan with a minimum payment of around $90 on a used bike around $3,500. I did that with a horrible interest rate (I think 13% but my credit rating really sucks) so with taxes and fees the loan came out to just under $4k. I've been paying $120 and recently started doing $130. The math turns out that I'll be done in just over 3 years--instead of five--and because I'm knocking down an extra $40 to $50 a month on the principal, my payment for interest is closer to like 7 or 8% over the life of the entire loan.

Yeah...I wanted a bike that badly.

[CT1200]

And when your done with the loan your credit score goes up.
So next time when you going to get a new car, a house, more school loans you get a better % rate.

Listen to the guys that are paying for their mistakes.
Someday I will be debit free. Someday.