Total Motorcycle Community Forums

ive been trying to build my credit. its tough cause i applied a couple of cards and i have a feelin someones intercepting my mail. (which annoys me) anyways i have no credit. anyone have any suggestions aas to how i can get a bike without a co signer?

Short version is 'you can't.'

A bike isn't a great thing to finance as it loses its value very quickly. If you can't afford a couple grand for a used Ninja or cruiser then you probably also can't afford the insurance (which will be much more if you have to finance it since they will require comprehensive coverage) and gear (about $300 on a very tight budget, but otherwise easily close to $1000).

If you want to build credit, get a credit card, use it sparingly and pay the full balance every month (and search these forums for 'credit' because there is a huge thread on this elsewhere, though it goes off track into a discussion of why credit is the devil, etc.)

If you want to buy a bike, save up a couple grand and buy a bike. Don't try and do them both together.

Septimus wrote:If you want to buy a bike, save up a couple grand and buy a bike. Don't try and do them both together.

+1

You can't isn't neccesarily true. You can certainly save up enough money to counter "bad credit" and not having a co-signer. There is a deposit point where you can be approved as a single holder, but the cost to do so makes not buying used a bit silly.

But definitely the easier path is getting that co-signer.

This topic was discussed pretty vigorously in another recent thread:

viewtopic.php?t=24221

I would suggest go to the dealer and see what happens. Worse case they say no. A credit card usually isn't the best way to go unless you really work out what your doing. I originally got my bike through a dealer offer of a low interest rate for a limited time, but then transfered to a 3.9% card. The real story though is never pay the minimum they ask or chances are they will stretch it out for a good chunk of your life. I paid my S50 off in less then 1 1/2 years so my deal worked out, had I just sent them them the minimum it would have been almost 15 years! At that point.. not a good deal.

thanks for all your help. Yamaha has a 1st time buyers deal running. hopefully ill be able to make the down payment before then . you've all been very helpful and im thankful.


(co-signers is not an option for me unfortunately