Eight tips on how to choose a bike

Buying a new bike can be exciting but it can also be challenging and confusing. There are a lot of different makes and models out there and buyers should be prepared to do some serious research before purchasing.

Here are a few tips for anyone who is considering buying a new bike.

1. First, shop around.  Determine what you can afford and then find out what is out there. Browse a few bike shops and compare and contrast the different makes and models, the cost, features, warranties and the cost of repairs.

2. Once you have narrowed your search go online and simply type in the make and model into a search engine like Google to get reviews and find out what people are saying about the different bikes.  The Internet has lots of product information and reviews so use this to your advantage. Be sure to review performance, reliability and maintenance ratings. 

3. Talk to people locally who have the model you are looking at buying and get recommendations. Find out how satisfied they are with their bike, the company they bought it from. You should ask them have they had to get parts and what experience have they had with the bike?  

If you get consistently bad feedback about a particular bike or company you know to strike them off of your buying list.

4. Also find out what parts the dealer stocks and how long it usually takes to order parts.  This is very important because you do not want to have your bike off the road for three months while you wait for parts.

Do not take the word of the bike distributor, do your own research. Sales people have an ulterior motive when telling you “we’ve had no problems with these bikes” — they want to sell you a bike.

Test drive

5. Make sure you always test drive the bike and over different terrains — a steep hill to test its performance and capabilities.  Don’t forget to consider your storage needs, passenger needs and your height. If you can’t store your purse or helmet or plant your feet firmly on the ground when you come to a stop you should consider a different bike. Make sure that the bike you purchase can comfortably and safely carry a passenger, if that is your intent.

6. Contact your insurance company to ask if they have any known problems dealing with a certain bike company when getting repairs done.  

They may provide valuable feedback on how your claim will be handled if you find yourself in that situation.  

7. Try to stick to well-known brands and not “one off” models from a distributor just because they are cheap.  If a distributor has bought a shipment of a certain model and will never deal with that model again you will more than likely have a hard time getting parts for the bike in the future.  

8. Lastly, make sure you fully understand the warranty and that you can afford the after care and maintenance of your new bike. 

So before you buy your bike do a lot of research beforehand to ensure a smooth and stress-free ownership.  Do not let style, image or even the lowest price be the deciding factor.  And, if you encounter problems with your brand new bike, go to the Consumer Affairs website for helpful information on how to resolve any issues.

Honey Adams Bell is the education officer for Consumer Affairs. For more information on buying a bike or any automobile go to www.ca.gov.bm.