17 Reasons Why You May Regret Buying a Motorcycle

One of the common concerns among some people is whether they will regret buying a motorcycle. I have heard that question so many times. A motorcycle can be considered an important purchase after all.

Will I Regret Buying a Motorcycle? Motorcycle riders sometimes do feel buyer’s remorse after purchasing a motorcycle. A buyer’s remorse is usually associated with buying expensive items and is considered normal. That being said, riders rarely feel regret buying a motorcycle if they have made a well-educated and informed decision.

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People feel buyer’s remorse even after purchasing fairly cheap goods. So spending money on a motorcycle is very likely to trigger some form of regret or buyer’s remorse in most people.

In this article, I go over some important things that will give you a better perspective on the whole thing, including information about the top reasons why you may regret your purchase.

Do riders regret buying motorcycles?

Is it normal to have buyer’s remorse after buying a motorcycle?

According to the data from a survey carried out by Autotrader, about 69% of people feel buyer’s remorse after purchasing a car. 

It is also interesting to see the reasons why most people felt buyer’s remorse. These top reasons were:

• Mechanical issues and problems
• High price or potentially bad deal
• Impulsive purchase
• Lack of features

Does buyer’s remorse apply to motorcycles?

There is no concrete information or studies on motorcycle purchases, but this still gives us a good picture of how many people tend to regret their purchases.

It is normal to feel buyer’s remorse after purchasing a motorcycle—especially if it is a very expensive motorcycle. Doing some research, ensuring the motorcycle does not have any mechanical issues and has all the features you want will prevent the feeling of regret and buyer’s remorse.

This may sound strange to new riders.

But.

More often than not, riders regret selling their motorcycle—especially if they are giving up a motorcycle for a car. Of course, there are some exceptions as people sometimes will simply enjoy more their new motorcycle and will not feel any seller’s remorse, so to speak.

Will you regret buying a new motorcycle

Very rarely will owners regret buying a new motorcycle.

New motorcycles are less likely to require any time-consuming and important repairs. This allows riders to have a more worry-free experience, and if they have to put in some work, it will more likely be in connection to some minor tweaks or mods that may not necessarily have to be done immediately.

This is just one of the great things about buying new.

That being said if you have to finance your motorcycle, and depending on how much you can afford to put down, you may not really enjoy having to repay your loan over time—especially when adding in the interest rates and fees.

Usually, it is best to pay cash (not financing) for a new motorcycle. By paying cash, you may even be able to negotiate a better price. So you really need to do the math and weigh in the pros and cons.

Will you regret buying a used motorcycle?

Most riders will not feel regret buying a used motorcycle if they have done their due diligence beforehand.

A used motorcycle may need more attention and care and likely more maintenance, but it is not necessarily a bad deal.

The thing is, you will never know what you get when buying a used motorcycle—especially understanding what people can do to their motorcycles. This is why buying a used motorcycle from somebody you know personally and can trust is the best way to go. 

In comparison, if you buy new, you will not have to worry about any problems.

Conversely, buying a used motorcycle may get you on a motorcycle that you would otherwise not be able to afford, which is worth considering if you are on a tight budget.

Reasons why you may regret buying a motorcycle

If it was an impulsive purchase

Impulsive buying is not necessarily a bad thing, however, it often can be and thus should be avoided—especially when talking about products that cost a lot of money like motorcycles.

The numbers show that younger people are more prone to impulsive purchases. And nearly half the people regret making an impulse purchase.

If the motorcycle will be your only means of transportation

If your motorcycle is the only mode of transportation you have, you may feel regret it under certain circumstances.

For example, if your area’s climate is not suitable for year-round riding, you may find that once it starts to get too cold riding, riding a motorcycle can turn into a very difficult and unpleasant task.

Riding on snow and ice is dangerous, and the low temperatures also call for appropriate winter riding gear. Riding at highway speeds at temperatures near or below freezing can be extremely taxing and requires good preparation.

That being said, people are different, and while many will avoid riding a motorcycle during the winter, some will not find it a problem.

If you need to carry stuff around

Carrying around groceries and other things on a motorcycle can be a challenging task. Most riders use suitable backpacks, saddlebags, or top boxes for storage. 

Of course, there are motorcycles out there that have more cargo room, so to speak. Nonetheless, the storage capacity is nowhere near what a car can offer.

If the motorcycle is too powerful

One of the things that make motorcycles so unique is that they can pack a lot of power in a very small package. This makes motorcycles capable of very high speeds and super-fast acceleration.

While this may seem great, it is a double-edged sword as these things also make motorcycles very dangerous.

Often beginner riders are tempted to buy powerful motorcycles. However, the consequences can sometimes be fatal. Of course, riding a motorcycle does not mean the rider will automatically die. The problem is that powerful motorcycles can be hard to control for beginners who do not have the necessary experience behind their back.

Generally speaking, a motorcycle crash has worse consequences than a car crash.

This is a well-known fact in the community and the very reason why beginner riders are not recommended to start on powerful motorcycles.

See article: Best cc motorcycle for beginners

If the motorcycle is not powerful enough

Of course, there is also the other end of the spectrum where a rider may start with a very underpowered motorcycle only to find that it is not enough to meet their daily commuting needs.

This is often the case for riders who may need to spend a lot of time on highways and have chosen a low-cc motorcycle. And others will simply outgrow their motorcycle really fast.

This only goes to show how tricky it can be for beginner riders to pick the right motorcycle.

See article: How many cc motorcycles do you need for the highway?

If the motorcycle has mechanical issues

One of the easiest ways you can guarantee regretting your purchase is to buy a motorcycle in very poor condition. If you like purchasing older models and restoring them, this is one thing, but we are talking about something very different.

Some people can end up buying a motorcycle only to realize that it has a ton of issues that can cost a lot of money to get fixed.

If you cannot afford a motorcycle

One of the reasons why you may regret buying a motorcycle is if you cannot really afford to own a motorcycle.

Make sure you understand the recurring costs of owning a motorcycle and be 100% certain that you can meet them without putting significant strain on your budget.

This also brings us nicely to the next thing.

If you purchased a motorcycle for its fuel efficiency

Buying a motorcycle should not be done with the idea of saving money.

It is true motorcycles get good mileage which brings fuel costs significantly down compared to most cars, however, motorcycles are often accompanied by significant tire, chain, and sprocket expenses.

Of course, the costs of owning a motorcycle vary a lot depending on a number of different factors like riding conditions, riding habits, type of motorcycle, and more.

So be honest with yourself. Do some research. Put some numbers down, and see if owning a motorcycle will be a problem.

Maintenance

Motorcycles don’t really require more maintenance than cars. However, you will need to be willing to carry out the necessary maintenance in order to ensure the motorcycle is in top shape. The maintenance schedule on some motorcycles may also be a little tighter compared to most cars.

On top of that, it is worth understanding the impact of not taking care of your motorcycle. While something breaking on a car may be seen as an inconvenience, something breaking on a motorcycle may be a health hazard that can end up with you crashing.

Carrying out the maintenance and care on motorcycles requires more attentiveness.

If the rider got a bad deal

There are different things that you should consider before buying a motorcycle because getting a bad deal is a sure-fire way to regret your purchase later.

Not checking out the motorcycle before making a purchasing decision or not doing your due diligence can lead to some mistakes and buying a motorcycle that you may not be happy with.

Ensure you understand how the pricing on motorcycles can vary throughout the year in order to get a good feeling of how much you should be paying.

See articles: What is the worst time to buy a motorcycle? and What is the best month to buy a motorcycle?

If you are unwilling to embrace the motorcycle lifestyle

Another thing to consider is that you may regret purchasing a motorcycle if you are not ready to embrace the fact that motorcycles are different from cars.

You cannot really haul a lot of luggage around or bring many passengers with you on a trip. 

You will be exposed to the elements and will not be able to relax the same way you can inside a car.

Those very things are what make motorcycles what they are and can be seen as either advantages or disadvantages depending on your personal preferences.

This brings us nicely to the next thing.

If the motorcycle lacks important features

When making a purchasing decision, people have to consider the different features of the motorcycle they are going to buy. Sometimes missing a vital feature like ABS can be a deal-breaker.

If you have not tried the motorcycle

Both people and motorcycles are very different.

So naturally, some motorcycles will not feel comfortable to some people. The ergonomics can be off, or the handling may feel awkward too.

This is why one of the rules of thumb when it comes to buying a motorcycle is always to try it before buying.

Before finishing a riding course

Buying a motorcycle before finishing an MSF course is usually considered a bad idea. After taking the MSF course, some people may find that they do not really enjoy riding motorcycles. Best of all, MSF courses do not cost a lot, although prices do vary depending on where you live.

See article: Is the MSF course worth it?

There are both pros and cons to riding motorcycles.

Imagine putting down a significant amount of money, and buying a motorcycle, only to find that you do not really like it or enjoy it. It is possible, and naturally, you will regret getting into a hobby you do not really like.

In some areas, people may even have access to free-riding classes, so there really should be no reason to skip out on these. On top of that, many riders share that MSF courses are often not only super informational and helpful but also very fun.

Opportunity cost

Some people will feel buyer’s remorse no matter what. To a certain degree, you need to make sure you understand where your feeling of regret comes from.

Is it really the motorcycle or something else? Some people may feel what is known as opportunity cost, which is another way of saying that you may regret not having to look for other motorcycles anymore.

Getting into a crash

Riding responsibly and beyond one’s skill level or doing dangerous things, in general, is a recipe for trouble. Crashing on a motorcycle is not a fun thing—especially considering that the consequences for the rider are usually a lot worse compared to crashing with a car.

Getting into a crash is easily one of the worst experiences for any motorcycle rider and can easily put them off of riding and make them regret ever buying their motorcycle in the first place.

Motorcycles can be addicting

Riding a motorcycle can really be addictive. Many riders consider it like therapy or meditation.

But things do not end here. Often, owners will constantly think about riding their motorcycle, browsing through classifieds, and reading about motorcycles and motorcycle brands—as the saying goes, “one is never enough.”

FAQ’s

• Is it common for motorcycle riders to regret their purchase?
  • This question addresses the common concern of buyer’s remorse among motorcycle buyers. It acknowledges that buyer’s remorse is a normal phenomenon, but emphasizes that well-informed decisions can help prevent regret.

• What are the main reasons someone might regret buying a motorcycle?
  • This question delves into the factors that can contribute to regret after purchasing a motorcycle. It covers a range of reasons including impulsive purchases, mismatched transportation needs, mechanical issues, affordability, and more.

• Do buyers experience different levels of regret with new and used motorcycles?
  • This question explores whether the level of regret differs between new and used motorcycle purchases. It highlights the advantages of new motorcycles in terms of reliability, but also discusses the benefits of purchasing used motorcycles for budget-conscious buyers.

• What are the potential consequences of buyer’s remorse after purchasing a motorcycle?
  • This question examines the potential outcomes and consequences of regretting a motorcycle purchase. It covers aspects like financial implications, crash risk, and the addictive nature of motorcycling.