If you’ve just bought a new motorcycle you want to make sure that you can get it back to your home as quickly and safely as possible. But taking that first bike back home can be a bit of stress and there’s a lot of confusion involved. Don’t worry! You’re not required to ride the bike home the very first time. You have a whole lot of different options, and one of those is delivery.
7 Best Ways to Get Your First Motorcycle Home
There are several different ways that you can get that first motorcycle home, but the best ways are the seven that we’re going to talk about below.
- Ride home
- Ask an experienced rider
- Ask the seller
- Delivery
- Rent a trailer
- Rent a van or pickup
- Walk the bike home
Let’s take a little closer look at each of these options so you can decide which one is best for you.
1. Ride Home: Can You Ride a Motorcycle Home After Buying?
The first option, and definitely the easiest, is that you can ride the motorcycle home after you purchase it. This is the fastest and least expensive option, but it can be a bit stressful for those who have never ridden on their own before or haven’t owned a motorcycle before.
If you are riding home a long-distance or if you’re in heavy traffic this can also be a little unnerving for a beginner. You will need to make sure that you have all of the required documentation, such as license, insurance, and protective clothing/helmet to wear in case of any problems on your way home.
You will need to check the rules for your state as some areas do not allow you to ride a motorcycle without proper plates. In some areas, however, you may be legally allowed to ride it straight home from the purchase even without plates as long as you have a copy of the title. That means you’re not able to make other stops along the way.
It also may be a good idea to have someone follow you if you are riding your new bike home, especially if you are a beginner. This might make you feel more comfortable overall.
2. Ask an Experienced Rider
You’re not required to ride a brand new bike home if you’re not quite ready. In fact, you can work with a dealership to have it delivered to your home for no charge (in most cases) or you could ask someone else that you know who is more experienced to ride it to your house for you. Perhaps a friend or family member can help you out.
3. Ask the Seller
For those who aren’t buying their bike from a dealer but are buying a used bike, you have the option to talk to the seller about delivering it. They may be willing to ride the bike to your home in exchange for a ride back home after. You may have to pay them an added fee for this delivery but they will generally be accommodating.
4. Delivery
Whether you buy a new bike or a used one you can have it delivered. With a dealership, they may do this for you at no charge. With a private seller, however, you will need to pay a delivery company to pick up the bike and take it back to your house. This can be a little more expensive but there’s more to know about motorcycle delivery as well.
5. Rent a Trailer
You don’t necessarily have to work with a professional delivery company. You can also choose to rent a utility trailer and haul the bike back to your home on your own. These are relatively inexpensive to rent, especially for a few hours. And they generally include a ramp to make loading the bike even easier. You can even find motorcycle trailers often to help you with the transport.
6. Rent a Van or Pickup
Next up, vans and pickup trucks can be rented or you can talk to someone else that you know who already has one. They may be willing to help you out (maybe for a pizza or a couple of drinks). All you need to do is load the bike and the seller or dealer may be willing to help you with that process.
7. Walk the Bike Home
Finally, you can walk your bike home. Walking a motorcycle may seem strange but it’s absolutely an option and it can be inexpensive as well. However, this is only an option if the dealership is nearby.
Conclusion
For those who are brand new at motorcycle riding it might not be a good idea to try and ride your bike home. Instead, talk with the seller or dealership about the different options that they might have and consider a few of your own. Asking someone else to ride the bike for you or even getting it towed or delivered may be the best way to go.
Not riding the bike home may seem strange, but you may want to get a little more comfortable with it in a safer environment before you decide to hit the open road. This is especially true when you’re talking about a brand new bike and you would have to ride on a busy road. Just make sure that you know the person who is in charge of getting the bike to you and that you trust them to be careful with it.
