New vs. Used

[Dan K]

Probably already done, but how many of you buy new bikes vs. used bikes?  Or maybe old, left over new bikes?  Curious to see the numbers.  Personally, I only buy used, but that's because I stretch a one bike budget into two bikes...

Seems to me the amount of money saved vs. the quick depreciation and the amazing performance of all bikes made in the last 5-10 years, why buy new?  Warranty? Not a good enough reason for me...

- Dan

[MadOzodi]

First was used, second new...third will almost certainly be used/left-over.  

Hell, I was looking for Duc 748/9's yesterday.  Who knows what it'll be tomorrow.

[sammyseaman]

I've only bought 5 new bikes out of..... ahhh.... a bunch. Two of the new ones were dirtbikes and the other three were leftover models. I've purchased a few new leftover cars and trucks also. I don't like to call it being cheap. I like to call it being fiscally responsible  

[RRdvark]

I'd prefer buying new, but will buy used if it fits the plan (like when I hopefully buy an Aprilia Futura in the near future).  I like to buy old, worn-out stuff to fix up and sell, making the money to use on what I really want.  That said, I just bought a beat-up GSX-R600 that the SO thinks I am fixing up to sell, but I am really fixing up to make a track-day bike.  Shhhhhhhhhhh - don't anybody tell her.

[garry]

I tend to go for new leftovers. Decent discount plus a factory warranty.

   OR

Lightly used at a big discount (versus new). Extra points if it comes with an extended factory warranty.

[KLRchickie]

  Whatever gets me the bike I want.

I've bought:
One new leftover ('05 KLR new in '06).
One barely used (~5 year old XT with 170km on it ).
One used (my Monster was on consignment at our local Ducati shop & they'd gone over it with a fine tooth comb, so I felt it could be trusted).

[Jetpilot5]

All so far either new or new/left over but that may change with my next bike.  There are just so many garage queens out there it's hard to ignore the money that can be saved when a bike only has a few hundred miles on it.

[Texatl]

Done it all.  New, leftover (best deal I think), used, dead to the world....  its all good.  But really I like the previous year leftovers, good deals to be had usually.  Except for one pesky dealer and his Duc's.  Damn place wouldn't deal on some left over Monsters.  But that did land me a sweet deal on a left over SV1000 naked, from the same place.

[lizard]

We've had 6, all used and paid for with cold hard cash.

[jay547]

all of my street bikes have been used. five of my dirt bikes were new.

[Dan K]

Looks like, bike whores aside, people buy used....interesting.

- Dan

[MadOzodi]

Looks like, bike whores aside, people buy used....interesting.

- Dan

Honestly, I'm not surprised.  I think the majority of the members here - myself excluded - have been around the block as far motocycle ownership is concerned and have developed some kind of practicality sense.  But these are also the people that will buy a brand new bike if it's something they've been lusting after.

[Squareman357]

I've bought mostly left-over new with the exception of my first ZX-14, the '06, that I was lusting after.  I got a helluva deal on my '08 ZX-14, bought spring of '09, to replace the '06 that the left turner wrecked.  I like knowing that if something is wrong with it from the factory, it's warrantied, and if nothing is wrong with it, then I know all the maintenance history and how the bike has been ridden.  With sport bikes I worry some squid has been wheelie happy, or didn't break it in right, and it'll develop problems long after I've purchased it due to that, so that's why I tend to stick to new or leftover new.

[napper]

I've bought mostly left-over new with the exception of my first ZX-14, the '06, that I was lusting after.  I got a helluva deal on my '08 ZX-14, bought spring of '09, to replace the '06 that the left turner wrecked.  I like knowing that if something is wrong with it from the factory, it's warrantied, and if nothing is wrong with it, then I know all the maintenance history and how the bike has been ridden.  With sport bikes I worry some squid has been wheelie happy, or didn't break it in right, and it'll develop problems long after I've purchased it due to that, so that's why I tend to stick to new or leftover new.

I've only bought old-men's bikes (C-10, XR650L), so I've felt safe buying used.

[auggius]

Mostly new, but 2 of were left-over from the previous year:

1. 1987 Kawasaki EX500 - first bike, brand new, traded-in on bike #2
2. 1989 Honda CBR600 (now my wife's bike)
3. 1995 Honda VFR750 (current bike)

My one used bike is a 1996 Suzuki DR350SE, which actually I've bought twice. I bought it used, sold it to my brother-in-law a couple of years later, and then bought it back last year.

[Bryan217]

My first two were new. The next was used. My current was a leftover. I'm liking the leftover idea. Zero miles but closer (or cheaper if you get the right deal) in price to used. I'm shooting for a leftover VFR1200 some day.  

[chornbe]

I voted "I'm a bike whore..." but I want to amend that by adding "where ever I find the best value for my buck". Sometimes, that's new. Others, it'll NEVER be new.

For instance, I'd have been disappointed had I dropped $14k on a new Breva 1100, however, getting it slightly used and not at all abused for $5k, I got one hell of a value, I think. Conversely, I was very happy with the money I spent buying both the FJR and the Street Glide new when I did.

There's no single answer.

[Dan K]

I voted "I'm a bike whore..." but I want to amend that by adding "where ever I find the best value for my buck". Sometimes, that's new. Others, it'll NEVER be new.

For instance, I'd have been disappointed had I dropped $14k on a new Breva 1100, however, getting it slightly used and not at all abused for $5k, I got one hell of a value, I think. Conversely, I was very happy with the money I spent buying both the FJR and the Street Glide new when I did.

There's no single answer.

Nice answer - I'd say you epitomize the cost conscious bike whore.  I'm working on getting up to your level....always in search of the perfect ride.  What's that saying by loose women, "I'm not looking for Mr. Right, I'm looking for Mr. Right Now!"  Applies to bikes.

- Dan

[Skee]

...however, getting it [Breva 1100] slightly used and not at all abused for $5k,

Doesn't sound like a bargain to me.  That's closer to grand theft.

[chornbe]

Well, in fairness, I did spend about $2000 going to get it, as part of an impromptu family vacation to Florida and a couple of days at Disney and Orlando.