Buy New

Advice for buying a new off-road bike.

First off, when you’re buying a bike be prepared – this means do your homework!

You need to know what size of bike is right for you and what type of bike is right for your needs. If you want to race motocross there’s no point buying a trail bike – and if you’re 10 stone dripping wet with little or no riding experience you don’t want to be spending your hard-earned cash on a 450F. It will hurt you!

It’s also worth checking out the age/capacity restrictions for youth racing – there’s no point in buying a 125cc machine if you’re only allowed to race an 85cc bike. The ACU’s website (www.acu.org.uk) is a good place to look for rules and regulations.

Once you’ve done your homework and know the machine for you it’s time to find the bike of your dreams. The safest way is to buy new from an authorised dealer – this way you have protection if there’s any mechanical problems and the added comfort of a warrenty.
Buying privately is more risky but there are some great bargains to be had. Unless you know what to look for make sure you’ve got a mechanically-minded mate in tow. Always ask to see proof of ownership and proof of identity from the seller and if the bike is road registered you’ll need the vehicle registration document, MOT certificate and the logbook.

When it comes to paying a banker’s draft is safer than handing over cash and insist on a receipt – if the seller is straight up this won’t be a problem.

And remember, don’t feel pressured into buying anything. If in doubt, leave!