Chances are, if you’re reading this article – you’ve probably already made your mind up on finding dirt bikes for sale. With this being said, let’s skip the small talk. The dirt bike market is a unique one but also can be a little bit sketchy at times.
If the world were a perfect place, anyone could go out and buy a fresh, brand-spanking-new CRF250R on any given day – but that’s just not how things work. For many of us, buying a used bike is the only option, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
This article is meant to spread all of the knowledge that I’ve acquired over my 20-plus years of riding and purchasing bikes – and nearly every one of them was used. For those of you who do prefer to buy new, there will certainly be some advice for you as well.
Buying New VS Buying Used
- Buying new: There are many benefits to buying a new dirt bike, with most of them being obvious. But for those of you who haven’t had the experience of buying new, what does it entail? First off, a brand-new bike means exactly that – no previous owner, which means no potential for abuse. On top of this, a stock, brand-new dirt bike is like a canvas – do as you please, and make it your own.
- Buying used: The biggest benefit to buying used is, obviously, the lower cost. On top of this, many used dirt bikes already have upgrades and aftermarket parts that increase the performance and improve the looks of the bike, which saves you money in the long run.
How To Buy New
When it comes to buying a brand-new dirt bike, you’ll obviously need to go to a dealership. There are, however, powersports shops and motorcycle shops that will also stock new dirt bikes. You can expect some benefits to avoiding dealerships as well, which I’ll explain below.
A great way to score a deal on a brand-new dirt bike is to go to a secondhand shop, such as a powersports seller mentioned previously. Another tip for buying new is to go with a model from a previous year that has been sitting around as a leftover. This is a common occurrence, and many powersports shops as well as dealerships are usually happy to cut a deal on a dirt bike that’s been sitting around for a year or more.
Tips For Buying Used
If you’re looking to buy a used dirt bike nowadays, think of yourself as lucky. About 10 or 15 years ago, the only option was Craigslist. Most of the sellers were sketchy, and you’d have to drive hours just to find out the bike looks three times worse in person. Thankfully, Craigslist is no longer the only choice, with options like MX Locker, Facebook Marketplace, Cycletrader.com, and others all being more relevant than ever.
Another option is buying a used dirt bike through people you know. If you’re in the racing scene, it shouldn’t be hard to find a bike for sale after asking around for a bit. If you do decide to go with a private seller that you don’t know, it’s important to stay safe during the interaction. Ensure you take someone with you, and don’t just keep your cash in hand when first meeting up! A recommended method is to have the seller meet you in a police station parking lot – if things go well and you want to buy the bike, run to the bank and have them wait there.
Getting A Good Deal After Finding Dirt Bikes For Sale
As unfortunate as it is, the majority of private sellers will know what the dirt bike is worth – but their still going to try to get as much as they can get. Here are some tips on ensuring that you won’t get ripped off:
- Check out how much other sellers are listing their bikes for: Chances are, most of the same models being listed will fall into the same price range. If a certain bike is drastically higher or drastically lower, that should be an instant red flag.
- Look into the dirt bike’s history: If a dirt bike has previously been raced, that’s typically not a good thing. This usually means it’s been ridden to its full potential, the engine has always been revved out, and it has seen a lot of track time. There are a few instances, however, where a race bike may be better maintained than something that has sat in a garage and barely been ridden.
- Negotiate with the seller: This should always be done in person once you’ve gone over the bike. Unless you feel that you’re already getting a good deal, don’t be afraid to try to shave a bit off of the price. It’s never recommended to straight-up lowball someone unless the bike is a piece of junk. But if that’s the case – you probably don’t want it.
What To Check When You Meet Up With The Private Seller
It’s very easy to fall in love the second you see the dirt bike, but you’ll need to keep yourself in check. There are various things that should be looked at before handing your precious money over to the seller – so here’s what to look out for:
- Has the oil been changed frequently? Obviously, you can ask the seller, but you can’t always expect strangers to be honest. A good way to check is to lean the bike over on its side and check the oil through the sight glass (if it’s equipped with one). Check for the proper oil level, and also check that the oil isn’t significantly dirty or contains any metal particles.
- Check the suspension condition: Blown fork seals are a hassle, and so is blown-out suspension. It’s also dangerous! Jounce the rear of the bike, and ensure it doesn’t bounce back up too quickly (or continue to bounce) – that means the rear shock is bad. Hold the front brake, push down on the handlebars, and feel for the same thing. If the front forks leave a ring of oil at the spot where they were last compressed, that means the fork seals are bad.
- Ensure it starts properly: An old-school trick is to feel the exhaust pipe with your hand when you arrive to look at the bike (be very cautious, however, as if it was recently started the exhaust could easily burn you). If it’s still warm, that means the seller recently had the bike running, and it probably doesn’t run as well when the engine is cold. This isn’t as big of a problem with the newer, fuel-injected dirt bikes, but still something to look out for.
- Test drive if possible: This will obviously depend on whether the seller feels comfortable enough to let you take it for a test drive. If so, start it yourself to get a feel for the bike – after all, if you can’t start a dirt bike, you can’t ride it. Don’t just send it, but go through as many gears as possible, if space allows. Test the front and rear brake, while also feeling for any shimmies or wobbles coming from the rims/spokes.
After checking every aspect of the bike, make a decision on whether it is still something that you’re willing to spend your hard-earned money on. Anything that you noticed about the bike that wasn’t mentioned, gives you the ability to offer a lower price. Just don’t lowball someone – that only makes people mad.
Good New Options For Dirt Bikes For Sale
Now that you know what to look out for, it’s time to decide which dirt bike you want. You may already have your mind made up, and if so, you should have everything you need to make a solid purchase. But if you’re still a bit unsure, here are some of the best new dirt bikes to look out for:
- YZ250F: One of the most favored 250Fs currently on the market, they are known for being ready to race right off of the showroom floor, just like KTMs.
- CRF110F: Pit bikes have become ever so popular in the last few years, and Honda is one of the best models to look out for. This bike also serves as a great recreational dirt bike for kids and teenagers, making it the best of both worlds.
- KLX140R: Just like the CRF110F, the KLX140R serves as a great dirt bike for adults or teenagers, although it is more of a trail bike and not ideal for motocross.
Good Used Options For Dirt Bikes For Sale
- YZ125: The YZ125 has been produced since 1974, meaning there are decades of research and development that have gone into this bike. This is one of the most commonly used 125cc two strokes to find on the marketplace, and also one of the best to invest in. This bike is great for trails, motocross, cruising, or anything in between. On top of this, YZ125s always seem to hold their value compared to other bikes.
- XR100/CRF100F: The XR100 (now called the CRF100F) is one of the most popular dirt bikes for adults and children. They are easy to upgrade and provide amazing reliability while not skimping on the fun factor. Another added benefit is that they’re dirt cheap – meaning you can get in on the fun for less than $1,000 in most cases.
- Kawasaki KX450F: If you’re in the market for something fast and worthy of racing, look no further than the KX450F. Why the KX over all of the over 450s? Well – the KX is one of the most commonly used motocross bikes found on marketplaces and is also one of the best performing, just like the YZ125.
Conclusion
So – you’ve decided which bike you want and how you’d like to acquire it, but what about the price? How much you’re going to deem worthy of spending should depend on multiple factors. What type of bike is it? What type of condition is it in? Before making a deal, look up a few other dirt bikes being sold (the same model, obviously) and make sure the pricing is in line with the rest. If it has some issues, subtract a bit from the price that you were originally going to offer.
Something else that’s important to consider is the type of riding that you’ll be doing. For someone who plans to cruise around their front yard, or hit the occasional first-gear trail, there’s really no need for a 450, or probably not even a 250F. If you plan on riding motocross on the other hand, you’ll want to stay away from trail bikes like the CRF100F and KLX140R – these are meant for play riding and trail riding.
While you’re here, we’ll go ahead and give you some tips for what to do after you’ve made the purchase:
- Once you’ve got it home, take an in-depth look at everything on the dirt bike.
- Check all of the important nuts and bolts and ensure that nothing is loose. Basically – anything you didn’t have the time to go over during the meetup, you’ll want to check before taking it for a rip.
- Properly maintain the dirt bike – that means changing the oil on time, keeping the air filter clean, keeping the chain lubed, and more.
You should now have all of the information needed to make an informed purchase – if this article was helpful, be sure to let us know below!
