| Whether interest rates are high or low or it's the end | | | | an installment motorcycle loan for a longer term. |
| of a model year with lots of incentives, motorcycle | | | | Borrowing too much. |
| buyers tend to make the same mistakes when | | | | The most common mistake the first time motorcycle |
| shopping for a motorcycle loan. Here are four | | | | buyer makes in not having a clear sense of how |
| common mistakes motorcycle buyers make with | | | | much motorcycle they can afford. This is especially |
| motorcycle loans. | | | | true for young motorcycle buyers who look to buy |
| Shopping for a motorcycle before shopping for a | | | | the top sport bikes that cost up to $10,000 - |
| motorcycle loan. | | | | $15,000. What they fail to realize is that financing a |
| Many motorcycle buyers enter the showroom looking | | | | $10,000 - $15,000 motorcycle can stretch them to |
| for a motorcycle before they determine how much | | | | thin, resulting in them having little cash to enjoy |
| money a motorcycle lender is willing to loan to them | | | | themselves and the motorcycling lifestyle. They may |
| for the purchase of a motorcycle. There is no need | | | | also have too little cash to pay for insurance, |
| to shop for a $20,000 Harley Davidson motorcycle, if | | | | maintenance, registration or new accessories for their |
| a lender is only willing to provide a loan amount of | | | | motorcycle. |
| $10,000. | | | | Not asking the right questions. |
| Additionally, once motorcycle buyers enter the | | | | The first warning sign that motorcycle buyers should |
| showroom slick salespeople often pressure them into | | | | see is that if they do not understand the type of |
| motorcycle loans with much higher internet rates than | | | | motorcycle loan, then they should be sure to ask a |
| they could have gotten had they shopped for a | | | | lot of questions. |
| motorcycle loan at a bank, credit union or online. | | | | Here are some good questions to ask:o Is the |
| Salespeople do not like motorcycle buyers to leave | | | | interest rate fixed or variable? If fixed how long will it |
| the dealership to get a motorcycle loan. In the | | | | be fixed for?o Are there circumstances that can |
| salespersons mind this only increases the chance of | | | | make the interest rate on the motorcycle loan |
| loosing a sale and commission. Therefore, salespeople | | | | change in the future?o What happens if a payment is |
| frequently try for a quick sale which normally results | | | | 30 days late? Does the interest rate increase?o |
| in pushing motorcycle buyers to get motorcycle | | | | What happens if a payment is 60 days late? Does |
| financing at the dealership. | | | | the interest rate increase?o How long is the term on |
| The bottom-line is that it is always best to shop for | | | | the motorcycle loan?o If the loan is an installment |
| a motorcycle loan before entering the showroom. | | | | loan, does it use rule of 78 or simple interest? (Simple |
| Diving into the unknown motorcycle loan. | | | | interest is always better because it does not penalize |
| Motorcycle buyers often jump into motorcycle loans | | | | the motorcycle buyer if the loan is paid off early.)o |
| that they do not completely understand or may not | | | | What is the down payment requirement to get the |
| be the best alternative for them. For instance, in | | | | motorcycle loan?o Is full coverage insurance |
| today's age manufacturers frequently run credit card | | | | required?o How much is registration and are these |
| motorcycle loan promotions on their private-label | | | | fees included in the motorcycle loan?o Are there any |
| credit cards. But these promotions typically offer a | | | | administrative fees to get the motorcycle loan and if |
| low interest rate for a short term like 12 or 24 | | | | so how much are the fees? |
| months and have a much higher interest rate after | | | | Overall, motorcycle buyers can avoid these common |
| the short promotional term. On a credit card | | | | mistakes by spending a little extra time focusing on |
| promotion if motorcycle buyers can not afford to | | | | shopping for a motorcycle loan and asking lots of |
| pay off the loan during the short promotion period, | | | | questions. |
| then they are typically better finding a lender offering | | | | |