Dealer vs Private?

[FLV]

OK, so being new to bikes I dont know a whole lot about them, although I'm not a complete numpty (errm...) with stuff I certainly dont know the common things to check up on and such like.

With this in mind would it be better to use a reputable 2nd hand dealer when buying the first bike than it would to attempt a private purchase.
Prices seem quite a bit higher generally, also it does limit the choice to what the dealer(s) has on the forecourt.

Whats the general consensus?

[angryjonny]

Depends whether you want the bike as cheap as possible or whether you'd like some comeback if it turns out to be a nail.

Of my 4 bikes, 2 have been private sales and 2 from a dealer.

[FLV]

I guess it's reducing the chances of buying a nail in the first place thats the priority,

[Polarbear]

If you are buying almost new, go to a big dealer and be prepared to pay premium prices for the pleasure, but be secure in their warranty etc. I'm taliking main dealers like George Whites, Chiswick Honda etc here.

Second hand dealers further down the food chain selling older bikes, no. I think all they are interested in is turning over quantity and will be very difficut to pin down for after sales repairs.

I find owners are more honest when selling their bikes than these 2nd hand sharks.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[JP7]

In the market sector I buy in, which is usually up to £3k, you don't spend all that much more for a bike from a dealer than you do for one privately. A quick browse on Biketrader for my bike shows that private ones are only a couple of hundred cheaper.

Within a couple of weeks of buying my FZ6 a fault became apparent, so I asked the dealer to pick it up and fixed it, which they did promptly, paid for under warranty.

If you buy a dealer bike, someone is accountable if it goes wrong. Buying privately, you have very little comeback.

[swiftb]

[Rowey]

You can barter at dealers also. Sometimes they'll stick, sometimes they'll chuck In small bits like a tank of fuel off, or next service free, or only pay for consumables. Other times they may knock a couple hundred off, or extended warranties. Especially if you go over the bike with a fine tooth comb and show that you know the prices of that particular model.

Always worth a try. Usually once you've made out you want to buy it, sit down to do the dirty then threaten to walk out if they don't sweeten the deal they'll budge. If not find another or swallow your pride.
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ZX6R C6F.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[Paxovasa]

If you know what to look for then buying private will get you more for your money
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[Pete.]

I always buy privately. Dealers rarely inspire me and used bike dealers even less than new bike ones.

Your biggest benefit as a buyer is that there are hundreds or thousands of bikes out there but you only want one of them. Be patient and spend a lot of time looking, view as many as you can and you'll get a better idea of what's good and what's tat. Take your time and you'll end-up with the ideal bike.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[G]

[multijoy]

You have statutory rights when you buy from a dealer (and, indeed a private trader). If you pick a proper wrong 'un, it may be cold comfort and you'll have to resort to the courts and trading standards, but you'll have some recompense if you end up with something duff.

If you buy private, you've next to no comeback at all- it is very much 'buyer beware'. (Although there may be some circumstances where you could take action, it'll be a slog).
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'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[G]

And of course, with the courts you still have to prove that it is the dealer who is to blame. With bikes it's very easy for them to claim "well, they obviously abused the bike, that's why it's broken now".

[Mord]

Privately you get a better bike for the same money. Dealer only when you want something and you have no money to buy it. But buying what you can afford is always the best way.

Avoid independent dealers with tatty bikes. Big chance they don't even check their bikes before they sell them. All they do is putting a price tag on them.

[JP7]

[Ariel Badger]

I never buy from dealers, I buy from mates but the worry so much about the bike I strip and rebuild it anyway!
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[colin1]

It comes down to simple economics.

The dealer has to sell the bike at a profit just to cover his overheads. There is a building to be maintained, a lease to be paid, wages to be paid etc

If you need finance to buy, and you cant get it elsewhere, I guess you need to use a dealer, otherwise, just take the price you would of paid to a dealer, hold back some contingency money in case things need fixing, and go get a bike from a private buyer.

Your contingency money does not get eaten up by having to pay someones wages, lease etc, so any problems, and you will fix them for less than you would have paid for the dealer bike, and you dont have to read him the riot act either.

Dealers are good for test rides though.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[gearboxkart]

iv had 2-3 bikes from dealers over the years but find you get a much better deal going private, and if you are worried about reliability etc just go and buy a warranty its only £200 ish depending where you buy them from, just check it covers the engine/box electrics really and you are about covered. bearing in mind the difference in price between a dealer and private + buying a warranty it still works out alot cheaper going private..

[swiftb]

Today I yet again experienced how retarded people will be when trying to sell.
A year ago I spotted a car I wanted which was a 150mile round trip away. As it was a fair old trek I asked the dealer to be very specific about the condition as I was travelling a couple of hours to see it.
Immaculate he said, A1. So off I went, within 30 seconds of walking up to the car on the forecourt I turned round and left. The whole drivers side of the car had a bad case of missing/peeling laquer and various trims missing.
Awesome.
Today I did a 300+ mile round trip to see a bike which I had specifically asked "any damage other than that stated as im travelling a couple of hours". Answer was no.
So after travelling all that way I pull up, the bike is parked on the drive and hey ho, big scuffs to the ns fairing! On closer inspection also to the ns mirror, nosecone, bar end and indicator. And some kind of botched repair to the engine casing. Also some dirty great scratch on the opposite fairing. So the bikes been down the road.
"it got scraped against the garage wall" - yeh righto.
Oh joy. What a fuking tard. Is it not common decency to be honest with someone travelling for hours or do these fukwits think your going to turn up with a white stick?

[FLV]

that is beyond a joke to be honest.
I've found a dealer near where i work in norfolk who seems to have very good condition bikes. He seems happy for me to pop in and sit on the bikes and ask daft questions without him pressing me one way or another even though he knows i can buy just yet.
The bikes are a little over fleabay prices but it gives me a little confidence at least