That sinking feeling
Okay, so you’ve got your heart set on the CFMoto 675SR, right? Looks sharp, sounds mean on paper, everyone’s buzzing about it. Me too. I almost jumped headfirst into buying one last month.
Let me tell you, I came this close to making some classic newbie mistakes. Walked into the dealership, saw that blue beauty shining under the lights, talked numbers… it was tempting to just sign right there. But something held me back. Gut feeling? Maybe. Probably just the memory of a buddy getting hosed buying his first sports bike. Took a step back. Did NOT sign.
The homework nobody wants to do
Went home. Annoyed, honestly. Just wanted the bike! But forced myself to sit down. This wasn’t like buying some little runaround scooter.
- First, find your legit dealer. Don’t just walk into the flashiest showroom. Checked forums, local rider groups, even that weird guy at the coffee shop who always talks motorcycles. Word of mouth is gold. Found two decently reviewed ones, ignored the fancy downtown spot with the snooty salesguy.
- Reviews, reviews, reviews. Not just the shiny mag ones. Dug deep. YouTube long-term tests, owner groups complaining about squeaky brakes or weird engine noises a month in. Found some common gripes about the stock suspension feeling a bit soft for aggressive riding. Good to know!
- Pricing puzzle. Started calling those two dealerships. Asked about the OTD price – that’s “Out The Door”. Includes tax, title, freight, ALL their sneaky fees. And boom, the difference between the first quoted price and the OTD? Wild. One place tried tacking on $800 in pure dealer nonsense fees. Straight up asked “What’s this fee actually for?” Couldn’t give me a straight answer. Yeah, NEXT.
Getting hands dirty
Found a dealer that seemed less like sharks. Went back. Did NOT wear rose-tinted glasses this time.
- That test ride is NOT optional. Insisted on it. Felt the clutch pull – a bit stiff? Noted. Suspension over bumps? Yeah, those reviews were right, a bit bouncy for my weight. Crucial info!
- Inspection freakout. Even on a brand new bike. Peeled my eyes. Looked for scratches under weird lighting. Checked the tires – manufacturing date recent? Checked all the fluids were actually full. Even got down on the floor (felt silly) looking for leaks or anything bent on the underside. Salesguy probably thought I was nuts. Don’t care.
- Paperwork hell, but read it. The final OTD price was written big and clear. Then, the actual finance contract… tiny print city. Took my darn time. Made sure the interest rate, loan term, everything matched what we talked about. Made them point out each fee. One weird charge popped up? Made them remove it before signing.
What almost got me
Looking back, here’s where I nearly tripped:
- Impulse buy at first sight. The shine blinded me. Almost ignored my own rules about research.
- Trusting dealer charm. First salesman was all smiles and promises. Price sounded good… until the fees landed.
- Not demanding the test ride. I hesitated initially, almost said “nah, it’s fine”. Glad I didn’t.
- Assuming “new” means perfect. Almost skipped the deep inspection. Saw another brand new 675SR nearby with a small scratch hidden near the footpeg. Bet the buyer didn’t see it.
- Signing without triple-checking. That finance document? Easy to just scribble your name. Resist!
Got the bike now. Love it. But the key wasn’t the bike itself, it was avoiding the landmines during the buying process. Slow down. Be annoying with your questions. Check everything. Twice. Don’t let the excitement cost you money or headaches. Good luck!
