Old motorcycle or New motorcycle

[Leventesz]

Hello guys. I’ve been looking to buy a motorcycle and I found myself in a dilemma. Is it better to buy a motorcycle from 2019 with 7k miles or is it better to buy a motorcycle from 2021 with 20k miles. The prices are the same. Please help me out. Thanks 

[Bender]

Depends on how they've been looked after and serviced.

[Simon Davey]

@Leventesz

Exactly as mentioned above. 

Just look at the condition of the bike, look for rust, also look underneath to see how clean it is. 

You can't tell just from milage. 

Listen to the engine, listen for rattles etc. 

Also check how much the next service will cost, sometimes bikes are part exchanged to avoid an expensive service. 

Edited December 21, 2024 by Simon Davey

[Capt Sisko]

3 hours ago, Leventesz said:

Hello guys. I’ve been looking to buy a motorcycle and I found myself in a dilemma. Is it better to buy a motorcycle from 2019 with 7k miles or is it better to buy a motorcycle from 2021 with 20k miles. The prices are the same. Please help me out. Thanks 

What style / cc / type of bike are you looking at? The answer for a learner 125 is somewhat different to if it's a pampered adventure bike.

[Leventesz]

26 minutes ago, Capt Sisko said:

What style / cc / type of bike are you looking at? The answer for a learner 125 is somewhat different to if it's a pampered adventure bike.

 

2 hours ago, Simon Davey said:

@Leventesz

Exactly as mentioned above. 

Just look at the condition of the bike, look for rust, also look underneath to see how clean it is. 

You can't tell just from milage. 

Listen to the engine, listen for rattles etc. 

Also check how much the next service will cost, sometimes bikes are part exchanged to avoid an expensive service. 

Thanks for your reply. Condition of the bike is pretty much same. No rust or sign like that. In terms of techs 2021 is not updated. They are far from where I live and I was thinking better to ask before I make a journey to see them. Thank you 

[Leventesz]

29 minutes ago, Capt Sisko said:

What style / cc / type of bike are you looking at? The answer for a learner 125 is somewhat different to if it's a pampered adventure bike.

It’s an mt-09 . I previously had a Cb650f. 

[Capt Sisko]

On 21/12/2024 at 20:19, Leventesz said:

mt-09

Just be aware that the MT-09 needs a valve check at 24k sevice, and that makes it an expensive service. If you go for the newer but higher mileage bike make sure you either negociate a deal that the dealer does it or they give you a healthy discount to cover it. The rest comes down to condition, how it's been looked after and what sort of mileage you're going to be putting on it.

Those Yamaha triples are pretty reliable, but come resale or trade in time and punters, and therefore dealers don't like high mileage bikes. If you do a lot of miles in two years time that 20k bike could be a 40k bike and you'll lose a lot at sale/trade time compared to the older model with just on an extra couple or three tho' on it. Are you a keeper or a trade in every two years type of owner?

Edited December 23, 2024 by Capt Sisko

[bud]

To a lot of people, 20K is a high mileage bike. So if you sell it later on. It would be worth less to the average buyer.

A couple of bike shops wouldn't even consider taking my friends VFR800, with 24,000 miles on. It was three years old and a touring bike used for its intended purpose.

The valve service is a good call too. Could add quite a bit of expense.

[Bianco2564]

Car dealer told me if condition is comparable, take the low mileage over newer reg.

[RideWithStyles]

I thought There was a slight spec difference between the two? Fork and particular the shock?

If the spec (this is the most important) /colour/ year and they’re still new bikes, 
this case I’d plump for the lower mileage one.

bikes get older but stay the same, bikes do the mileage dont.