New Bike Choosing Factors

As per Hammy's suggestion for a pole what will you look for or what have you looked for when buying a new or recently new bike?

Add in weight?  A significant factor for me.

I needed:

1/ had to be able to afford it
2/ had to be suitable to use as a daily commuter
3/ had to able to carry 2 people and our luggage 1/2 way around Australia (and anywhere else we decide to go) in some sort of comfort (I don't find the seat as bad as some do)

The bonus with the Bandit was I could get all of that in a new bike and didn't have to worry what a previous owner had or hadn't done to it

You left out babe pulling ability!

Or... None, I own a bandit

Can only have 10 options

It can vary. Some have a bike for a commute. Some its a toy on the wknds. Some use it for both 

Re-Cycled wrote:You left out babe pulling ability!

Never heard this term "penis extender" till I joined this site. Do you need one for the babe pulling ability ?

MattyC wrote:

Re-Cycled wrote:You left out babe pulling ability!

Never heard this term "penis extender" till I joined this site. Do you need one for the babe pulling ability ?

You should know Matt your bike has two penis extenders

Having only ever owned one new bike and having lost big money on it when moving it on, I learnt that used bikes are better value for me. 
I now own four registered bikes, two of which I could ride around Aus tomorrow, if I chose. 
The four all up still cost me less than a new bike of similar ilk. 
If buying new, resale value would be a major consideration.

Bosco15 wrote:Having only ever owned one new bike and having lost big money on it when moving it on, I learnt that used bikes are better value for me. 
I now own four registered bikes, two of which I could ride around Aus tomorrow, if I chose. 
The four all up still cost me less than a new bike of similar ilk. 
If buying new, resale value would be a major consideration.

But i like the smell of a new bike

Bosco15 wrote:Having only ever owned one new bike and having lost big money on it when moving it on, I learnt that used bikes are better value for me. 

A lot depends on how long you intend keeping it

My VX800, $7,200 on road (+ another $300 6 months later for the genuine bikini fairing) in Dec 1990, Jan 2012 sold for $2,500 within a day of advertising it (I still wonder if I should have asked for more), $5,000 "loss" over 21 years

I plan on keeping the GSF for at least 10 years, if it loses 1/2 its value that would make it $5,500 or $550 a year, it could be worse but that's not huge to own any vehicle

Well.  I ticked two boxes.  Price and reputation.  Low and behold if they are not the two leading choices.

Thanks 2W.

I may have found the replacement for the Bandit.   No more headlight problems. No pillion comfort worries. Thin paint, a thing of the past. Unique, under seat storage. And !  When you run out of petrol, you just pedal to the next servo. 

This just goes to show that bikes and what appeals to the rider is very subjective.
I guess thats why there are so many variations available.

Probably got better resale value than any bike you have ever owned,  too.