When shopping for a motorcycle, you really should consider the risks and costs associated with buying new. Of course, everyone loves that new bike smell and they love to see the chrome shine, but as soon as you take it out of the dealership you have taken a big hit in cash.

Another big reason people buy new is because they are looking for reliability. The reality is that a bike that is slightly used can offer the same reliability at a greatly reduced price. The best deal isn’t always the obvious one.

Consider that the the original owner of a motorcycle may have only used it a few times, but that ownership created a large gap of depreciation. You can often take advantage of this to buy a gently used bike for a lot less that the sticker price, but it still has factory warranty left, looks new and, of course, it absolutely is a new motorcyle for you!

If you really are looking for the best price then you should look for one that is free! Free sounds good, right? Too good to be true? Maybe, but free motorcycles are exchanged every day. Some people just don’t want the hassle of fixing their bike and they are willing to part with it for the simple benefit of you hauling it away. Of course, you need to be willing to either do some repair work yourself, or have someone else do it.

If that doesn’t fit your profile then it is a good idea to start on a web site such as Kelly Blue Book or Nada. They can tell you what a good price is for a particular motorcycle in your area. It is important to understand that pricing depends on the market and a bike may be worth more in one area of the country than in another.