Choose from 15,000 used bargains

March is the best time to buy a secondhand bike, as 15,000 of them flood into showrooms and get crammed on to the pages of MCN BikeMart.

The surge in the number of secondhand bikes is due to the introduction of the new ” 02 ” registration plate on Friday, when more of us will buy a new bike than at any other period – and more of us will get rid of our old ones.

An estimated 18,500 of us will buy a new bike in March if 2001 figures are anything to go by – that’s 15 per cent of the annual total. And according to Rob Hobson, editor of used bike bible CAP Green Book, 80 per cent of those buyers will have a secondhand one to sell – so 15,000 more will be available.

The result is that you’ll have more choice than ever.

Hobson said: ” It’s been said before, but it’s worth saying again – you can get a lot of bike for your money at the moment. A three or four-year-old Honda CBR600 can be yours for ridiculous cash. ”

Less than £4125, to be precise. And that’s only one of many bargains you’ll find by wandering around a dealer or scanning the classifieds. We did that and instantly came up with 10 of the best – see the link on the right for the list.

There’s more good news for secondhand buyers, too – if you buy now, you’ll lose less money in depreciation when you eventually come to sell. That’s also some consolation if you’re buying new yourself. While low secondhand prices could hit what you get in part-exchange, your new bike will hold its value.

Tony Boskovic, a leading freelance bike trader, reckons secondhand prices are set to firm up. He said: ” What determines the price of a secondhand machine is the cost of the same bike new, and new prices are set to stabilise this year, which in turn will prevent secondhand values dropping further, ensuring you a good investment. ”

However, not all prices will fall during March. You might think the arrival of new models like the new Honda VFR800 and Pan European this year will mean great deals on used ones. However, Hobson said: ” Sometimes it works like that, but generally it’s not that simple. Take the GoldWing. Despite the arrival of the GL1800, the old GL1500 is still very much in demand. Some people prefer them. The same seems to be true of VFR800s and Pan Europeans. They always sell well and fetch good money. ”

Dealers and buyers have known 2002 stock is on its way for months, and 2001 bikes are already heavily discounted to clear the way for it. So those prices won’t necessarily drop much further once the new bikes have arrived. And since the price of a used machine is determined by the cost of the same model new, the same is true of second-hand examples.

But there are still loads of bargains around. We asked Boskovic and Hobson to list the 10 best secondhand buys for Spring 2002 and tell us what makes them so cheap.