If you’re new to dirt bikes, you’ll soon realize that they are quite expensive and you’ll have to save up quite a few bucks first.
Most people are quite surprised at the upfront capital required, as they are for the extras that they’ll need. Why is this so? Well it’s quite straight forward.
Dirt Bikes cost so much money because of the materials required to build them, as well as the cost to import them from Japan and Europe. In addition, the marketing expenditure, operating costs of dealerships including staff and leasing, as well as constant progress in technology adds up to the cost…with dirt bikes often costing between $5,000 and $17,000 brand new.
It’s for this reason that China has become the #1 supplier of more affordable dirt bikes that serve the budget-conscious riders of the world. These bikes typically aren’t the most reliable nor the most technologically advanced, but can still help you get out there on the trails.
Why Dirt Bikes Are Expensive
Dirt bikes aren’t made with inferior materials. The frame, tyres and engine certainly adds up to the cost. However, it’s the marketing of these bikes including rider sponsorships, dealership branding and constant Research and Development that adds up massively.
We can attribute less than half the cost of a dirt bike to be attributed to the actual physical materials. The rest of overheads are at a corporate level which can’t be avoided to bring machines like this to the marketplace.
How to Afford a Dirt Bike
Once you get over the upfront price for a new dirt bike, you’re then left paying an additional amount for registration and insurance. We recommend that you factor in an additional $2,000 and this is assuming you have riding gear and a trailer to cart your dirt bike around.
Here’s how you might make dirt bike ownership more affordable:
1. Look on Craigslist, Gumtree or eBay
In your local area there are likely people selling used dirt bikes all the time. You can expect to pay just 30% of the new value of a dirt bike, even if it’s only a few years old. Be warned, however, that these are sometimes stolen so you’ll need to pay close attention and run checks prior to the sale.
2. Ask your dealership if they have used bikes
Often dealerships have some used bikes out the back which have just been traded in and need to be re-sold. If this is the case, you’ll be able to get a bargain pretty easily and sometimes these include warranties too. You won’t have to worry about these being stolen either as dealers do comprehensive checks before listing them for sale.
3. Go halves with a dirt bike share or syndicate
You can create a 50/50 split between a friend where you each go in a share of a dirt bike. Similar to boat ownership which is split between several owners, this allows you to enjoy the fun of a dirt bike without having to front up for the full ongoing expediture. You’ll need to get some legal paperwork and still get your own riding gear, but you’ll still save a ton of money.
4. Look for end of year sales
Generally at the end of year, dealerships become more willing to move stock on and get ready for the newer models. For that reason, keep an eye out for these sales as you can save $500 to $1,000 off the cost of your dirt bike if you play your cards right. They simply need the space for next year’s models so you’ll be helping them out.
5. Buy in a group syndicate
If you can get a bunch of friends together to buy at once, dealerships generally provide a discount or saving off the price of dirt bikes. This way you’ll all benefit as well as having a bunch of friends that you can ride with often. Neat!
6. Go for a Chinese bike instead
That slick looking KTM or Yamaha on the showroom floor looks amazing, but your budget may not allow it for now. If you’re still keen to get out there on the trails, then consider some of the newest Chinese bikes which are coming to the market at half the price of their competitors. Build quality on these bikes still isn’t up to Japanese or European spec, but they are increasing each and every day.
In Summary
Dirt bikes, like cars, boats and planes, simply have a lot of moving parts. This isn’t just the mechanic nature of the physical machine, but also at the corporate business to.
This increase on price has created a barrier to entry, especially for the younger riders. However, the prices have been trending down year-on-year while reliability has been increasing. Either way – you gotta get out there as soon as you can! The trails are ready and waiting!