When you are buying used motorcycle parts, not all are created equal. Parts will have different levels of wear and tear, and it’s important to find good, high quality parts that are not damaged.
Buying used parts online has a variety of benefits over buying new OEM parts, and if you follow these steps you will be sure to find something that works well and saves you a ton of money.
1. Find a reputable vendor.
This seems like a no-brainer, but with the ease of availability of used bike parts online we may become complacent and buy the first thing that seems to fit the bill. Don’t just pick the first result on Amazon because it’s the most convenient option, do your research and find someone you can trust.
Reviews on websites like Amazon and Ebay can be a good indicator of the quality of the vendor, and can alert you to any complications you may encounter with them. Google also often has reviews of businesses, and so that is another way to get an honest look at others experiences.
2. Know what part you need.
Motorcycle parts are not one size fits all, so it’s important to know what part you are looking for, especially because you are buying from a third party vendor, not straight from your manufacturer. If you find the wrong part the best outcome will be that it doesn’t fit and you will have to return it and reorder, but if it is the wrong part and it seems to fit you may end up further damaging your bike or having it malfunction when you are on the road.
3. Compare prices and quality.
You’re not getting any value if you order the cheapest part you can find and it wears out in the course of two rides. You’re also not getting much value if you spend twice as much as you need to on a quality part. Get the best of both worlds by comparing both quality and price between vendors, and choose the highest quality part for the lowest price that you can find.
Vendors should have exact photos of the used part you are ordering, so make sure that there is no visible damage that may impact its function. Scuffs or minor dents may not impact the parts functionality depending on what you are ordering, and these parts can often be found at a heavy discount. Just make sure that the part you are ordering will last you a long time.
The internet makes it seem so easy to buy used motorcycle parts, and it really is as long as you take a few precautions. A reputable vendor will only sell you high quality parts, and they will be honest about the price. Still, it is important to compare prices so that you know you are getting the best deal possible.
