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Cash is getting tight for most of us, and that means looking for new ways to save money on your moto habit. For some of us, that might mean a more fuel-efficient bike, or maybe less trips in 2023, or maybe camping instead of staying in hotels.
What about buying used motorcycle gear and parts? I mention this idea for two reasons. First, because here at ADVrider, we have our forum Flea Market, where inmates have been buying, selling and trading their used equipment for years. Second, it’s a tactic I’ve used myself when money’s tight.
Maybe you would never consider the idea, maybe you have no other option. If you’re open to it, though, here are some guidelines I generally play by:
Jackets? Why not?
If a moto jacket is damaged, you’ll see the road rash; if it looks good, it’s probably good to go. This is one piece of gear where you can save a lot of money buying used (obviously, the same rules apply to riding pants). Maybe it won’t be as waterproof as new, but—around 2008, I remember buying an Olympia AST from an inmate here, and I used it for several years as my go-to, all-season riding jacket. I crashed in it, but it was very decent quality and held up, and was even still waterproof after.
My eyes! The goggles do nothing… errrr, I bought this lightly-used Olympia AST off an inmate around 2008, and wore it for many years, including my trip around Labrador a decade later. It never let me down. Photo: Zac Kurylyk
My father-in-law needed a jacket after finishing his riding course, so I gave it to him and he used it for a few years. A while later, I needed a jacket to do the Trans Lab and I stole that AST back from him and used it. I junked it at the end of that tour because one of the arm vent zippers had blown out, and I couldn’t see how it could be repaired, practically speaking. I felt like I was betraying an old friend when I threw it into the garbage can, after thousands of miles of adventures. Leaving the Old Yeller sentiments aside, this to me was an example of how you can save a lot of money and still get high-end kit that will last for many years. Want an Aerostich, a Motoport jacket, a high-end Alpinestars Gore-Tex jacket, etc., but you’re on a ramen budget? Watch the Flea Market.
Be careful with used helmets
The first helmet I ever had, as a perennially-skint university student, was my boss’s old full-face. He wanted a day away from the shop to play golf, I needed a helmet. One off-the-books overtime shift later, and I had a helmet and he had his time off. Looking back, it was probably not the best idea, especially as that helmet was already likely well-past its best-before date.
You certainly can save a lot of money on a used motorcycle helmet, but you have no idea if it was taken care of or not, and if the helmet is already compromised through age or unseen damage, it won’t protect you. For that reason, I don’t recommend you ever buy a used helmet unless you’re 100 percent sure that it’s been well cared-for (maybe your buddy bought it online, and it doesn’t fit?).
Boots? Sure, if you dare…
Moto boots can be one of the raunchiest—smelling pieces of equipment you’ll encounter this side of an beer league hockey dressing room. I don’t see how their safety would be compromised, and see no reason not to buy them second-hand, except for the yuck factor. Yuck.
Tools—a no-brainer
Used tools can be a great buy. As today’s big box stores cheapen their lines, the made-in-America (or made-in-Canada, made-in-Germany, made-in-Japan, etc.) tools of a generation ago are now showing up in ReStore outlets (where the profits go to Habitat for Humanity) for bargain values. Pawn shops, or other Goodwill-style stores are other potential places to find old tools. Yard sales are also a great opportunity to pick this stuff up, or you can just watch Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, Craigslist, whatever. If you need to build an on-the-bike toolkit, this is a no-brainer.
A slightly out-of-date GPS unit like this older Garmin will still get you from A to B, and you won’t cry when the screen gets scratched. Photo: Gervasio S. _ Eureka_89/Shutterstock.com
Electronics? You might not save much
GPS systems are not cheap, and most riders on tight budgets are just moving to mobile phone-based solutions. But if you want something from Garmin, etc., you can find deals on the Flea Market. If you’re only looking for a handheld-style GPS like an eTrex Legend or similar, those are very affordable if you keep an eye out on your local Facebook Marketplace, etc.; I’ve seen the old B&W eTRex 10 units for as low as $10. Admittedly, they are very limited in their capability, and that’s the thing with buying used electronics. If you’re buying second-hand, you’re buying something a generation outdated or more. If you’re buying new, it’s very hard to find a better deal on the used market than you’ll find from an online retailer, since they usually have Black Friday or other big markdown events.
This Ventura luggage system was a bargain at $120ish. Thanks to the Flea Market, my old oil-boiler is now a legit tourer with minimal investment. If you’re riding a bargain bike, used farkles make sense. Photo: Zac Kurylyk
Farkles? For sure!
Some of my most-appreciated moto accessories have come from the Flea Market thread. If you’ve got an older bike, this may be the only practical way to find accessories. If you’ve got a new bike, this is still a very good way to get a deal on parts that would otherwise be outside your financial reach. Last summer, I bought a Ventura rack and pack system for my 2003 Suzuki Bandit 1200S for about $120 on the forum here. If I’d wanted to buy new, I probably would have had to import those parts from Europe or the UK, at much greater expense.
Are you a penny-pinching motorcyclist? Share your thrifty tips below!
The post Used Motorcycle Gear: Deal Or No Deal? appeared first on Adventure Rider.
