Tips for buying a motorcycle?

Question

I'm taking the Evergreen Safety Council course in a few weeks so I can learn how to ride and how to work a motorcycle. I have not bought a motorcycle yet; i'm clueless to what I should I buy and what to look for in a bike. I am 5'2" and a woman, so smaller is better then bigger for me. I will be riding to work mainly on flat roads & freeways, the speed the whole way is 55-60mph. I would like some just general tips on buying a bike. I'm not looking to spend over $1500. Any help is great. thanks

Answer 1

It's going to be hard to find something for $1,500 unless the bike is a little older, but there are options. I would recommend finding a reputable dealership and looking for used bikes there. With a dealership, you usually get a warranty if you have problems with the bike within the first 60 days and they will do the repairs at their expense. This is very important when buying a used motorcycle as a new rider you have no idea what potential problems might arise. You may want to focus on smaller bikes in the 250cc - 500cc range for highway riding. The web is also a great resource where you can find beginner bike types and also view local dealer websites to see what they might currently carry. I bought two used Ninja 250s last year. I did a lot of research on the web and called a number of places. Unfortunately, one of the bikes had a starting problem a few weeks after, but the dealer was able to fix it at no extra cost.

Its hard to know what to look for when buying as a beginner. First you need to sit on the bike and make sure if feels comfortable to you. Put both feet down and rock it a little to get a feel for the size and weight. You can easily spot any cosmetic damage such as scrapes, gashes or rusting, and ask the dealer about the history of the bike. Also check the tires to see if the treads look worn. I would always recommend buying brand new tires if the bike doesn't have them and the dealer doesn't know how old the current ones are. Tires are one of the most important safety features on a bike - especially properly inflated ones. You should also ask the dealer about the service history and what they did to the bike to get it ready for the showroom floor. Usually they will replace a thing or two and its important to know that they actually went over the bike in detail.

Answer 2

Get a scooter

Answer 3

look for an older 70- 80s bike something 500cc or smaller or look at a used ninja 250 the older bikes will be easier to learn how to ride on because the insurance is cheap and you won't worry about scratching it  

Answer 4

A used scooter is about your only reasonable option. If you pay only $1500 for a motorcycle, it will be so old as to be undependable on your commute. Check your local Craigslist ads.

Answer 5

Whew! You need to get a bike with enough power and reliability to take on the highway, yet you don't want to spend the money required for this. $1500 is not much, even for a little motorcycle- and any bike you plan on tackling highways with should have some meat behind the throttle.

Take the course first, so you can get a feel for the type of bike you may want to ride. Because you are 'laterally challenged' I would generally avoid sport bikes because they sit so high.Any bike in which you cannot sit with your feet flat on the ground is not a good idea- even if there are folks on this board that may tell you otherwise. Not only must the bike be able to go highway speeds, I'd want something with enough thrust to get you out of the situations that highways often present and stamina to do it for more than a short burst. I'd stick with something over 350cc- with a preference for 550-750cc as a starter bike.

What you want:

A bike in which you can sit comfortable with your knees bent- in case you are on a piece of road that is not level or out of canter.

Something with enough power to sustain highway speeds - and allow you to gun it if someone is coming in on you.

Something with a way of carrying items (your purse, a lunch bag, a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread that you need to bring home with you).

A windscreen to keep the dust and bugs out of your face.

If you are buying used- which you will be if you are looking to spend so little- you need to bring someone with you that knows something about bikes or at least mechanics. Older bikes, even those that have been well maintained and have low miles, suffer rubber rot. I won't use tires more than four years old. Look for leaking oil around heads, gunk under the belly, check for smells that are off. Again- bring someone with you that knows something about engines. Bikes have the same types of problems and the smells are caused by the same things- running too rich, too hot, etc.

My biggest piece of advice is go with something newer from a dealership- and spend the monthly cost of buying something that can be warranteed.