Life in the capital is a race. With the ongoing infrastructural development projects inside the city, the roads become congested almost all the time. And we can expect this to continue for the next five years before most major constructions are done. People with limited means can’t often bear the loss due to congestion. So, finding a convenient way of mobility is a must for the working class.
Here’s the fact:
With just 120K you can get yourself a brand new bike. But if you don’t have a budget for a brand new two-wheeler, a second-hand bike can be something to think about.
Owners sell their bikes for many reasons: going abroad, getting a new model bike, or simply because she/he doesn’t want a bike anymore. Whatever the reason may be, you have to make sure a full inspection is carried out before you buy a second-hand bike.
Second-hand bikes aren’t deceitful, only if you know what you are doing.
MotorAid tips:
• Have an expert with you when you buy it
• Hire a mechanic if you don’t have an expert
• Take the papers to either BRTA or to a police box
• Ask a sergeant to check it for you for verification. They should do it for free.
The real intruders:
The market for pre-owned motorbikes is booming. It’s a saturated segment with great options for new enthusiasts on a budget. Now you can either buy directly from an owner or visit a secondhand bike showroom or a dealer.
Yeasir Arafath, the owner of a Dhaka based pre-owned motorbike showroom ‘T9 Bike Collection’ says a significant number of customers prefer affordable bikes over brand-new ones, and not everyone seeks luxury in riding. Arafath is a textile engineer by profession, who is currently working in the RMG sector. 30% of his income comes from his showroom. According to what he has seen, 60% of the customers in the market has limited income, they save money for months to buy a motorbike. So, most of the time, new buyers will opt for a second-hand bike rather than a new one.
The industry for secondhand bikes caters to a huge portion of the community and creates job opportunities for many people, such as salesmen, mechanics, and brokers. The growth of the market is excelling day by day as it is assumed that the traffic condition of the city may worsen and the average speed of the traffic may fall under 4 km per hour, which is much less than walking on foot.