New vs. Used

so i was thinking what would be better to start with a used bike or new.  With a new one you have a "NEW" bike, but what if i drop it or lay it down.  But with a used one i wouldn't worry so much about dropping it but what if i inherit someone elses problems they had with the bike before me.  let me know what you think  

would really like your opinion  

this is a battle many people have. There is no TRUE answer to the question. But I personally believe, if you have a friend that rides and knows bikes, that if you have someone else look at a used bike you should not have to many problems. You will have to put money in it to make it what you want but the used option is a lOT smart money wise, atleast for the initial part. My first bike was used and I had zero problems with it. I owned it for three years and the only thing besides oil/filters and plugs I had to get where new tires. I still regret selling that bike but it was time to upgrade. Just ride within your limits when you do get one. Be safe and ride smart.  

thanx a ton  

personally, i have been riding for 18 years and have only owned 2 new bikes.  i really don't like the hastle of the break-in period and you lose enough money in re-sale value just riding off the lot to buy a whole new exhaust system.

do a little homework.  bike prices might be higher or lower in your area than book values.  check classifieds and places like ebay and cycle trader to see what average prices are on what you like.  when you find one you like, ask to see service records.  if the bike has 8k miles and services at the right intervals, no problems, is clean, and the owner seems compitant, it's probably a good buy.

if it has had the clutch replaced 3 times in 3k miles, or only has 4k miles and a huge pile of service receipts, no service papers, or the owner seems less knowledgeable about bikes than you, the bike has probably been ridden way too hard or not maintained well, you probably don't want it.

always check to see if the title matches the VIN number on the frame, and the numbers match the ones on the engine.  if it's not clean when the seller show's it to you, it probably hasn't been maintained well.  also check for bluing on the exhaust, especially on the header, this indicates hard riding.  

what does bluing on th exhaust mean??  

i would personally think about buying a used one for my 1st bike lol thats exactly what i was thinking about doing. Like you stated above i dont think i would feel like takign care of the used bike as much as i would take care of the new one it just makes more sense that way  

It'd be better if you start out with a smaller, lighter-weight used bike. But before buying a used motorcycle, do some research. It will help you out a lot.
Don't worry if you drop it; almost everyone drops their first bike!   Talking to other bike riders will be helpful as well.  

bluing on the pipe is where pipe starts to turn a sort of blue color due to hard riding.  revving the hell out of it constantly causes more exhaust gases and spark in the exhaust system and creates more heat, which will eventually discolor it.  black pipes are harder to tell with, but they will even start to loose the black color and start to turn a sort of blue color, you just have to look closer.