I just have to add, if your looking on creigslist, and other such places (and assuming your looking in your local paper as well) PLEASE, dear god, no matter what ANYONE tells you, Ask to either see a vin check- RECENT, or go get one BEFORE you finalize the deal.
(50% up front, 50% in a few hours when it comes back clean title- or whatever you can get the seller to agree to) It’s going to possibly save your ass, and your bank roll!
I’m a fan of “I’m selling because I out grew it” bikes that are 2-4 years old. I personally, am not swimming in cash, and its within my budget to find one that either somebody out grew, or bought, then realized they didn’t like it.
BUT
if your looking at sport bikes, its a MUST if your buying from a personal seller, as opposed to a shop, to run that check. As I just said today, if its marked Salvage, it could only require a frame check to get it back on the road, but if its Un-repairable- WALK. Even if it LOOKS fine, with or even without (some guys are a WHIZ at buffing and painting the marks out!) visible damage, be CAREFUL.
Yes, I LOVE bikes a few years older, but… if its your first purchase from Joe Blow down the block- CYA! (cover your ass!)
…and no, I havent had the misfortune of buying something that would cost twict the price to repair, but…. it CAN easily happen- and it HAS been tried on me before. Guess us chicks look gullible. *lol*
Best of luck- and I say, let somebody else break them in… and loose money the second they pull off the lot! *LOL* Their loss = my gain!
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