Buying a Used Motorcycle

Not sure where to start in the used motorcycle buying process? Check out the following guide to finding your perfect used Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. Then come over to Ol' Red's Motorcycles to check out a wide selection of used Harley bikes. We proudly serve those in Greenville, Columbia, and Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Make a Budget

Sure, this isn't the most exciting stage of researching used motorcycles. But it's an important one! There's no use in wasting time looking at used Harley-Davidson® motorcycles that are beyond your budget. Plus, it's all too easy to get talked into buying a used Harley that's beyond your means. It's better to create a strict budget and only consider options that meet those needs.

The cost of the motorcycle is most of your budget, but it's not all of it. Include the cost of motorcycle insurance and any gear you'll need to buy. If you already own a motorcycle, look into trade-in options. You'll be able to get that model off your hands while bringing down the cost of the next one! You can also consider financing options, which allow you to take the motorcycle home sooner in exchange for monthly payments.

Pick a Type of Motorcycle

There are so many kinds of motorcycles out there that are each tailored to a different style of riding. Narrow down your used motorcycles search by picking one category of motorcycles to consider.

If style is what matters most to you, then you'll want to look at cruisers. They are modeled after the bikes built between the 1930s and 1960s with a vintage and retro look.

If comfort is what you prioritize, then look at touring bikes. These are made with long-distance riding in mind. They offer features such as padded seats, plenty of storage, and ergonomic backrests.

If adrenaline rushes is what you seek, then consider a sport bike. These are built for racing, but can take to the city streets just as well as the racetrack. They'll give you intense acceleration, top speeds, and impressive agility.

Your Riding Level

What type of used motorcycles you consider is influenced by your riding level. New riders should stick with a used Harley motorcycle that is lightweight and easy to handle. More experienced riders can look at used Harley-Davidson® motorcycles that are heavier and will bring improved performance and stability.

Pick The Seller

Once you narrow down your search, you're ready to shop for used motorcycles! Now is the time to decide where you want to buy your used Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. There are two options: go with an individual seller or a dealership. Going with a dealership is advantageous for a few reasons.

First, a dealership has to worry about their reputation. One angry customer can destroy their Yelp rating and scare away potential customers, which gives them extra incentive to give you a fair deal on a used Harley motorcycle.

Second, dealerships put used motorcycles through an inspection process. It's how they assign a value to the used Harley bikes, but it also helps them catch issues that an individual seller could miss. Many dealerships operate a service department and can repair it before they sell (which is cheaper for you then having to pay a mechanic to fix it).

Third, a dealership offers you the ability to scope out a number of used Harley-Davidson® motorcycles in one stop. With a private seller, you would need to drive to homes across town to get the same number of options.

Ready to look at used Harley motorcycles? Visit Ol' Red's Motorcycles. We offer a wide range of used Harley-Davidson® motorcycles for all budgets and riding levels. We proudly serve those in Greenville, Columbia, and Spartanburg, South Carolina.