Buying your first 2B Motorcycle in Singapore

Hello fellow riders and P-platers. Today i will be sharing you with my experience and also some advice about buying your first 2B motorcycle.

You have just passed your Traffic Police test and can't wait to buy your first motorcycle. I was in the same situation like many of you guys. Something that you could try is to rent a motorcycle. As compared to 2015, there have been a number of companies and private businesses that provide motorcycle rental services. You can find them by doing a search on Google or Carousell. Personally, i rented a motorcycle from Starkholdings at Ubi. It turned out to be an unpleasant experience. 

My friend when he rented from Vroomleasing at Boon Lay

It would be good to get some experience in riding on the roads alone and learning the different routes.

When i rented a motorcycle, i had to plan my route beforehand via google maps. 

When it comes to buying your first motorcycle, i would say that you have to take many factors into consideration. 

FIRST

Your budget. You need to set aside a couple of thousand dollars whether you choose to buy via a dealer or a private seller. 

I can't say much about buying from a dealer as i did not buy my motorcycles from them. But if you go via a dealer, you could either pay them full cash or place a down-payment, from which, you would need to Carry On Installment (COI) for a specific number of months. If you go through a dealer, they would settle your insurance for you. Moreover, they might offer you deals like free servicing for a few months etc. 

SECOND

Another factor you would have to consider when going through a dealer and down-paying, is whether you are able to afford to pay monthly. When it comes to any vehicle, breakdown is the most common issue. If you are unlucky to experience a motorcycle breakdown, you have to consider the maintenance fees and the monthly payment as well.

Alternatively, you could browse through sites like Carousell and sgbikemart to search for your preferred motorcycle. One factor that shadows going through a dealer, is that you are able to negotiate with the seller when you are buying the motorcycle. Usually, the seller would price his motorcycle based on the following,

Machine Price + Remaining amount of COE + maintenance fees spent on the bike.

On a side note, a common issue used motorcycles face, whether you are buying through a dealer or privately, is breakdown. Just because you buy it from a shop, it will not guarantee that the motorcycle is a good condition. 

When you are going to view a motorcycle, it is best to bring along a experienced rider. 

THIRD

The third factor you will have to consider is the type of motorcycle you want to buy. In Singapore, we could categorize motorcycles like this :

Classic Bikes

Cruiser

Cubs

Scooters

Scrambler/Dirt Bike

Sport Bikes

Sport Tourers

Street Bikes

Super Motards

Three Wheelers

You will want to find a bike that is comfortable for you. If you are not comfortable with the riding position, i will not recommend buying the motorcycle. Secondly, you might want to consider if you will be having a pillion most of the time, like your family member etc. If so, you will want to get a bike that is both comfortable for you and your pillion, like a scooter for example. 

A extremely comfortable Suzuki Burgman 200

Along with choosing the type of motorcycle that you want. You also have to take the brand of the motorcycle into consideration. It is best to got for the Japanese brands as they are know for their built and reliability, as compared to other Chinese and Korean brands. 

The only other good brand i can think of is Bajaj. Besides that, your European brands like KTM and Aprilia, are considered quite expensive. But also, it depends on your budget. 

FOURTH

When you are viewing a motorcycle, another factor you will have to consider is the availability of the parts, especially if the brands are not well known. Such as Daelim, Megelli, Derbi, Reiju etc. It will be extremely,troublesome for your bike to breakdown, and you having to source for the spare parts yourself via online. 

Personally, i would recommend going for the Japanese brands as most of the spare parts for their bikes are widely available. 

FIFTH

The fifth factor is whether you will be taking your Class 2A license a year later. This factor also plays a role in buying your 2B bike. Personally, if you have the time and money, i would recommend going for the classes and obtaining your Class 2A and 2 licenses. A friend of mine kept reminding me not to spend too much money on my 2B bike. He kept telling me the reason would be my Class 2A lessons when i attend them. Truly enough, after attending my Class 2A lessons at BBDC, i felt the urge to get a more powerful bike. 

If you do intend to obtain your Class 2A license a year later and possibly switching to a Class 2A bike, i would recommend sourcing for a bike that is cheap and easy to maintain. In this way, you will not make a huge loss when selling off your bike. 

Nevertheless, you can still take your Class 2A license and ride your 2B bike. In addition to this, i know of some friends who bought a Class 2A bike after a year of waiting. In this way, you are able to save up enough money to get a good powerful bike. 

In my opinion, i feel that new riders should spend less on their first 2B bike, save up their money, and spend it on a good Class 2A or 2 bike. Reason being, i feel that the more powerful bikes start from around  300cc. You should not be hungry for power and speed when sourcing for a 2B bike. 

My opinion comes after years of spending huge amounts of money on maintenance due to bike breakdowns. Reason being, i rushed to get a motorcycle. I could not control my excitement to own a motorcycle. Please new riders, do not be lured by the cheap price of a bike and be too excited. Be patient and do your research wisely before purchasing a motorcycle. 

This is all i would love to share with the new riders. In my next post, i will be writing about owning and maintaining your motorcycle.