Get Financing7 Things To Look For In A Used Cruiser Motorcycle
Like a 1957 Chevy or a Gibson Les Paul guitar, some things are simply classics. You can put cruiser motorcycles into that category as well. Cruisers follow a vintage style primarily associated with the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. The rider sits feet forward in a reclining position. The seat of a cruiser is relatively low compared to standard or sport bikes, while its handlebars are relatively high.
Before you buy a cruiser—or any road bike, for that matter—make sure that you’re comfortable in its riding position. All good there? Then read on for some shopping tips that could spare you some costly lessons.
1. Price
Most motorcycle buyers have a budget for what is more than likely a second vehicle. As of this writing, used cruisers on MotorSportsUniverse.com range in price from $1,300 (a 1980 Suzuki) to $26,500 (a 2009 Harley Davidson Screamin’ Eagle with low miles). New cruisers are currently available for $3,999 (a 2017 Honda Rebel 300 on clearance) to $13,650 (a 2020 Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster) on the site. However, you should note that machines marked “Call For Price,” like many dealership bikes, are not figured into that price range. A new Harley-Davidson can cost anywhere from $7,000 to nearly $44,000, according to a late 2019 article by U.S. News and World Report. As you look at more and more bikes for sale, you might find yourself willing to exceed your budget a bit to get the cruiser you like the most.
2. Age
MotorSportsUniverse.com currently has cruiser bikes for sale from model years 1980 to 2020. With a little research, you can read about improvements made in a particular model year, which along with any product recalls or service bulletins may affect the desirability of a cruiser of a certain vintage. Older bikes obviously have more quirks and potential problems, but well-maintained examples that have been ridden by their owners can be good buys if you’re willing to tinker a bit.
A bike that has been sitting for a long time may need fluids, the battery, and various parts to be replaced. Age affects the tires and rubber components such as seals and gaskets, especially if the bike isn’t ridden occasionally to keep the latter from drying out. Old fluids can likewise go bad, especially used motor oil, which becomes more acidic over time and can attack the bearings and other parts inside the engine.
3. Condition
It’s a good idea to have a professional bike mechanic or an experienced buddy take a look at any motorcycle before you buy. If you choose to skip that step, there’s a list of problem spots to look for.
Physical damage can indicate whether a cruiser has been wrecked, in a skid, or tipped over. These can include rashes and scrapes along the side that indicate a bike has been down. Consider creases and dents as scars from physical impacts, along with broken plastic fairings, damaged steering stops, and windscreen cracks. Bent levers usually mean that the bike was knocked over.
Corrosion is another problem that can indicate neglect or hidden damage. Look into the fuel tank for rust or water. Check over the exhaust system and bike frame for cracks, holes, or deep corrosion. Bulges or bubbles under the paint or chrome often indicate rust.
Leaks, noises, and excessive play can indicate a lack of maintenance. Look for a worn chain and/or sprockets, noise or drag in the brake engagement, and more than a little slack in the clutch. If you plan to drive the cruiser home, make sure that all bolts and especially wheel nuts aren’t loose enough to remove with your fingers.
Test the motorcycle’s lights and blinkers, as well as the movement of the shocks and fork. Look for pitting damage or corrosion on the fork tubes, as well as oil leaking from their seals. The brake fluid should look slightly golden, like a light beer; dark brake fluid should be replaced.
Finally, the seat is where you’ll spend your time. Has it been damaged by being left out in the elements? Does it show age cracks? Does it need new foam?
4. Engine
Possibly the number one bit of advice from experts is that before you go see a motorcycle you’re interested in, to ask the seller to leave the bike cold before you arrive. Not only does a cold engine allow you to feel the parts of the exhaust system that you can’t see, it also lets you find out how easy (or difficult) it is to start up the cruiser cold. Frequent motorcycle sellers place enough importance on this tip to recommend that if the bike is warmed up when you get there, either arrange to come back later or forget the deal.
A cruiser’s type of engine and its displacement will vary from model to model. You’ll see everything from the 300 cc of a 2017 Honda Rebel 300’s single-cylinder to the 649 cc of a 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S parallel-twin to nearly 1,200 cc in a 2018 Harley-Davidson Iron 1200’s V-Twin engine. Bigger engines—such as a Harley-Davidson Low Rider’s 1,753 cc—provide more torque and horsepower, while smaller mills weigh less, use less fuel, and are arguably easier for the uninitiated to handle. If you’re new to motorcycling, have an honest conversation with more experienced riders about the displacement class they would recommend for you as a beginner.
If the engine is liquid-cooled, take a look inside its (cold) radiator to make sure you don’t see any oil floating on the coolant, which would require repair. Another pro tip is to slip a wooden dowel or a flexible dipstick into the oil fill tube, and then examine the oil that clings to it. If it smells burnt or like antifreeze, or contains little metal shavings, the engine needs at least an overhaul and possibly a complete rebuild. Note that the seller may have recently changed the oil.
Ask the seller to show you how the cruiser likes to be started. This will also let you know whether it has a manual or electric choke and an electric or kick starter. Give the sound of the engine a good listen at various rpms. Watch out for the smell of either burnt oil or vaporized coolant in the exhaust.
5. Paperwork
There’s little point in taking a chance on buying a stolen bike or running into a hassle when you go to register it, so make sure that the owner’s name on the title is the person who is selling you the cruiser. This will ensure that the seller can sign over the title to you so you can get the motorcycle properly registered. Also, check the VIN on or near the headstock to verify that it hasn’t been altered or restamped. The VIN should match the number on the frame, if present, and on the title, as should the license plate number.
Ask the seller for the bike’s service records and receipts, if available. If an owner’s manual or other documentation comes with the bike, or spare parts, so much the better.
6. Test Drive
If the seller will allow you or a more experienced friend to test drive the motorcycle, that will give you a wealth of information about how it handles and feels on the road. Note that many dealers won’t let you do this for a number of (very understandable) reasons. A more agreeable seller may require you to pay either a substantial deposit or the full amount, and perhaps other collateral, before letting you ride out of sight.
7. Mileage
What about mileage? Why is it so far down on this list? Well, cruisers are road bikes, meant to be comfortable for long drives on the highway. If a cruiser is in great shape, doesn’t appear to have been off-roaded, the engine sounds fine, and the service records/receipts indicate regular maintenance, it might provide you with years of enjoyment even with a relatively high mileage figure. At this writing, the cruisers available for sale on MotorSportsUniverse.com range from brand-new bikes to units with more than 40,000 miles; that being said, not all sellers report the mileage. Those high-miles motorcycles are more the exception than the rule, however: Only 1.6% of the number of used cruisers report more than 30,000 miles on the odometer.
Discover Your Next Cruiser Motorcycle
Come to MotorSportsUniverse.com for a big selection of new and used cruiser motorcycles for sale, including bikes from Harley Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha.