Budget Bikes – Cheap Motorcycles for Small Budgets | Devitt

Working with your budget

So you have passed the various bike tests and you have got your licence, but how do you choose what motorbike to buy?

The first thing to do before buying a bike is to know exactly what it is going to be used for. Once you know this, options can be narrowed down and choosing becomes much easier.

There are a lot of different bike types available from 50cc scooters, to sports and off-road dirt bikes.

Buy a bike you are capable of operating safely. Basically, know your limits.

Insurance premiums for motorbikes will likely be higher for sports bikes and often insurance companies will not cover novice riders on a powerful bike. If you are a new rider it is wise to gain experience on a smaller, less powerful bike first.

Motorbikes can cost anything from a few hundred to tens of thousands of pounds. If you are on a budget, a smaller, less powerful bike will be cheaper to buy, run, tax and will usually have a lower insurance premium.

Many new riders buy a cheaper motorbike that they are just going to use until they gain more riding experience. They then move on to a bigger, more powerful bike.

Other riders just don’t have the funds to be able to spend big money on a motorbike.

When buying a second-hand motorbike, you should follow these basic tips:     

• Check the bikes service history to ensure it has been properly maintained.
• Check it has a valid MOT certificate.
• If the bike doesn’t look safe, walk away.
• Check the sellers ID against the logbook details in case it is stolen.
• Check the bike’s history to ensure it hasn’t previously been written off, damaged, stolen or if there is any outstanding finance.