A Buying Guide For Used Motorcycles

When you’re looking for a motorcycle, you have a lot of things you need to think about. One of those things is how much you can afford to spend on your desired bike. If you’re interested in saving yourself some money, you may want to consider buying a used motorcycle instead of a new model, since you can get a great bike at a fraction of the cost that you can ride for years to come.

Here are some tips on how to find a used motorcycle that’s in good condition so that you don’t get burned. 

Establish a Budget

First, take stock of your finances to determine how much you can afford to spend on a used motorcycle. Don’t forget to factor in costs like riding gear, lessons, accessories, fuel, and regular maintenance, in addition to storage, if you need it.

Buy From a Reputable Seller

While there are thousands of motorcycles for sale every day in newspapers and online classified ads like Craigslist, you’ll want to make sure that you’re buying from a reputable seller. A good seller will be happy to answer any questions you have and they’ll allow you to test the bike and get its full history. A seller that is less than trustworthy is probably going to do everything in your power to part you from your money as quickly as possible.

Buying from a reputable local dealership like Desperado Harley-Davidson® can help save you a headache, since we thoroughly vet all of the used motorcycles we sell.

Inspect the Used Motorcycle Thoroughly

Once you’ve landed on a model you like, you’ll want to do your due diligence by performing an inspection of the bike. Check over the bike for signs of significant cosmetic damage or worn parts, such as balding tires. Make sure that lights and signals work. The seller should let you turn on the motorcycle to see how it starts up, and you should be able to take a test ride to see how it handles.

Get the Paperwork

Finally, make sure that you get the full maintenance history of the used motorcycle you’re buying from the seller. You’ll need this information for your own records, but it also helps you to decide whether the previous owner took good care of the motorcycle. Thorough maintenance records will also be useful to have if you ever decide to sell the bike again down the line.

Stop by our dealership in McAllen, TX, to take a look at our current inventory, which includes a wide array of used Harley-Davidson® motorcycles for sale. We also provide financing options, in addition to trade-in values and price quotes. You can do a test ride on any used motorcycle that interests you, too! Desperado Harley-Davidson® serves the city of Edinburg, TX.