I’ve always been a believer in buying used. Nearly every bike I’ve owned came to me pre-loved, and I’ve never once regretted it. Take my XSR900, for example. I bought it from a good friend who treats his bikes like family. It had all the upgrades I would’ve spent months installing myself, was in immaculate condition, and cost me about 25% less than if I had bought it new. I’ve since put more miles on it than on my car. That’s not a compromise, that’s value.
And that’s really the story of 2025. In a year when new-unit sales are sputtering, the used market is proving to be the smartest path forward for riders and dealers alike.
The economic climate hasn’t been kind to new-unit sales. Interest rates remain high, inflation has riders thinking twice before financing a toy, and inventory at the dealer level is still unbalanced from pandemic whiplash. Data shows that new powersports sales dropped nearly 8% in April 2025 alone.
