Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hi I will be taking MSF in a couple of weeks and I am SURE I will pass. The thing I am worried about is what I do after the course:

1) Should I get a used bike or a brand new bike?

2) How much are monthly payments on a motorcycle and how much down payment do you have to put? Lets say it is a $10,000 bike?

I know what everyone will say. Don't get a brand new bike because you will just trash it and regret it. But I have done my research on used bikes and I can't seem to find the right one, so I might be forced to get a brand new one over a used bike. Any suggestions??? Advice???

1) buy used

2) $10k! I'd only pay 10k for the new Aprilia Mana 850 I "need".



It's your first bike, not your last. Don't purt yourself in a financial hole just because... And actually shop around, you'll find the right bike.

But if you already have your mind made up to buy a brand spanking new expensive bike with payments and financing and yadda yadda yadda, go right ahead.

Financing will depend on your age and credit history. If you are young and have little or no credit, you may have a hard time getting approved for financing. And if you do get approved, it'll mean getting shafted with interest. Also, a brand new financed bike will likely mean you may need/want full coverage insurance...which can be expensive, especially if you are young.

You sound pretty confident for a newbie, do you have a dirtbike riding background or anything? I would always advise a beginner to buy a used bike in case you drop it in the driveway or something. Financing a $10,000 bike for a first ride is a pretty risky endeavor.

I'm curious what bikes you're looking at that will cost $10,000? The commonly recommended beginners bikes are all less than $7,000 brand new except the Sportster. It should be less than $10k INCLUDING all new riding gear and a new bike.

Monthly payments will vary on the length of loan and your interest rate. I always recommend checking with your local credit union first. The rates tend to be better.

Downpayments will depend on how much you want to finance and your lender. I only put $300 down and financed the rest.

Don't forget insurance. Depending on your age and the bike you get, it could be pricey. I'd recommend sitting down with actual agents rather than trusting the online quotes.

Good luck with your MSF and

Good luck and welcome!

Tigger wrote:I know what everyone will say. Don't get a brand new bike because you will just trash it and regret it.

i'm not sure why you're asking the question if you already know what everyone will say... people value material possessions differently. if you're the type that'll get upset if/when you drop the bike and get a few scratches/dings, maybe you should look at a used bike... if you want a new bike over a used one, then get it. a word of caution - make sure you can handle it financially. as previous posters have suggested, there's a lot more cost in owning a bike that the price of the bike - insurance, gear, maintenance...

Tigger wrote:But I have done my research on used bikes and I can't seem to find the right one, so I might be forced to get a brand new one over a used bike. Any suggestions??? Advice???

forced, huh?? i think if you take your time looking around, you can find a good used bike...

if you make a good chunk of change from where ever you work, financing shouldn't be a big deal...obviously if you go the whole 60 months of payments at a high interest rate, you'll be paying alot, but if you can pay it off relatively quickly, reducing your principal by more than the required amount per month, the amount you pay in interest could be lower than someone paying 60 payments at a lower rate.

Bought my first bike from a dealer new. Put $100 down and financed the rest. The dealership arranged the financing through a credit union for me and I got 6.9% over 60 months. I fully plan on keeping my bike for many years. Cost of bike was $10K and I had $1500 in accessories thrown on so I financed a little over $12K with taxes, title, etc. My monthly payment is $310 and I pay roughly $25/month for full insurance. I was in the middle of a divorce and I was honest about that when applying for the credit. It's a cruiser and I imagine that a sportbike would cost more to insure. There are simply way too many variables regarding insurance to even guess what you would pay. Simply call your insurance agent and get quotes right over the phone for the models you are considering before making a final decision. I've had my bike for 2 years and over 10K happy miles and haven't dropped her yet but I would venture to guess that I am an exception to the rule.