Best place to buy a bike?

Dignam · 06-29-2008, 10:10 PM

So I have finally gotten serious about getting a bike after having my license for a couple years and riding a little on friends. To my surprise it seems to be much much harder than I ever imagined. I have missed out on 3 just in the last week because bikes seem to sell in a matter of hours in some occasions. So far it seems Craigslist is the only site that exists that really has any substance. There is always eBay but I am not interested in buying something far away that I can not see, not to mention the shipping cost. I have looked around some other places like cycletrader but there is next to nothing listed there.

So anyone have any advice on places to look?

I am after a CBR F4i which seems to be a popular choice I guess because I am about to lose my mind trying to get one.

DUX · 06-29-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dignam

So I have finally gotten serious about getting a bike after having my license for a couple years and riding a little on friends. To my surprise it seems to be much much harder than I ever imagined. I have missed out on 3 just in the last week because bikes seem to sell in a matter of hours in some occasions. So far it seems Craigslist is the only site that exists that really has any substance. There is always eBay but I am not interested in buying something far away that I can not see, not to mention the shipping cost. I have looked around some other places like cycletrader but there is next to nothing listed there.

So anyone have any advice on places to look?

I am after a CBR F4i which seems to be a popular choice I guess because I am about to lose my mind trying to get one.

I assume you're looking used. What price range? I'm always looking and will forward anything I see.

Dignam · 06-29-2008, 10:54 PM

Yea used. I have been looking at 01-04 cbr F4i's preferably under $4,500. I have found a few.. just been to late and have already been sold or have pending sales on them.

DUX · 06-29-2008, 11:04 PM

Give it another couple of months. You'll miss some of the riding season, but there are a ton of new riders who ran out and bought sport-bikes as commuters to "save gas." (How much gas does 8-9k buy?

)

A significant number of those people will be dumping them this fall when the novelty wears off.

bulldog12 · 06-29-2008, 11:09 PM

get on a "local" forum and check out their classified section.

drdrewdown · 07-07-2008, 11:06 AM

if you have friends with bikes, word of mouth was my lucky way of finding my 2002 cbr600f4i with only 3k miles on it..

craigslist is prolly a good idea, but local forums too like one guy mentioned will get you further as well.

doc

nedro · 07-07-2008, 5:20 PM

First off, you did not miss out on anything. And if you think so, get it out of your mind before looking at any other bikes. It will only make you pay premium for junk that you will not happy with, once the new car smell goes away.

Local news paper is always good. Local bike shops. Don't expect to get a good price on a honda from a honda forum. Everyone on forums think their bike is worth WAY more than it really is.

Best way is to go to the local bike shops (not just the dealers) and ask around.
If you were on the West coast, you would have many options. But I don't know your area.
Good luck!