Your Guide to Buying a Used Cruiser Motorcycle
Buying a Harley-Davidson® cruiser can be a great way to become a part of a bigger community of motorcycle enthusiasts while also owning an awesome bike. However, purchasing a new bike can be expensive. Whether you want to save money or you’d rather test the waters first before paying full price for a new model, getting a used cruiser motorcycle is an excellent option. We’ve provided some tips to help you shop around for a well-maintained used cruiser motorcycle, so read on to learn more!
Bike History
The one thing any proper dealer will tell you to ask for when buying a pre-owned vehicle is the history report. This is just as true for used cruiser motorcycles. The history will let you know if the bike has been involved in any accidents. Even if there aren’t any issues with the bike, you’ll want to know the details of any previous incidents so you can decide if the bike could potentially pose any problems later on.
Price
Most likely, you’re buying used so that you can save money. Used Harley-Davidson cruiser motorcycles are much cheaper, and that leaves you with more money to spend on upgrades or other things. However, make sure that the asking price makes sense for the market value of the model.
Take a look around at the asking price for other bikes of the same year. If the seller is asking for a price that’s much higher than the value of the bike, then you know you’re probably getting ripped off. However, if it’s much lower, it might raise a red flag and you’ll either want to ask more firmly about the bike’s history or steer clear altogether.
Overall Condition
Don’t underestimate the importance of assessing the overall condition of the used cruiser motorcycle you’re planning to buy. Even if there’s nothing wrong with how it runs, you’ll still want to consider whether or not you’d like to ride this motorcycle. Start with the exterior. Are there any scratches or scuff marks on the paint? Is the seat in good condition? You’ll have to eventually fix anything that you don’t like about the look of the bike, or you could consider it a reason to find another model.
Test Ride
The last step is to go on a test ride. Make sure that the used cruiser motorcycle starts up without any issues and that it rides straight. Be on the lookout for any red flags, such as odd sounds or performance issues. You may want to hire a professional since they can catch problems that you might miss.
As long as you’re smart about buying a pre-owned bike, you can find a lot of great options at a much cheaper price. If you want to see our selection of used Harley-Davidson cruiser motorcycles, stop by Bert's Barracuda Harley-Davidson® in Clearwater, FL. We proudly serve all those in Tampa and St. Petersburg.