Buying guide

Buying a premium or exotic motorcycle: title, recalls, the helmet, and the license

Updated October 23, 2026 · Written by the Only for the Wealthy editors · General information, not legal or financial advice

A Ducati, an MV Agusta, a limited-run Harley-Davidson: the connoisseur’s motorcycle is bought on emotion and kept on paperwork. Several of the protections car buyers take for granted work differently on two wheels. Here is what the official sources actually say, so your purchase is as considered as your taste.

We don’t sell vehicles. Only for the Wealthy is a publisher. We don’t sell, broker, consign, or arrange the sale of any vehicle, and we don’t act as an agent for buyers or dealers (see 625 ILCS 5/5-101). Buy only from licensed dealers or verified private sellers.

The Buyers Guide you may not get

The FTC’s Used Car Rule requires dealers to post a Buyers Guide saying whether a vehicle is sold “as is” or with a warranty. The rule’s own definition of “vehicle” leaves motorcycles out [1], and the FTC says plainly that dealers don’t have to display a Buyers Guide on motorcycles and most recreational vehicles [2]. So on a motorcycle:

Ask in writing whether the bike is sold “as is” or with a warranty, and get any promise written into the sales contract. The FTC warns that spoken promises are hard to enforce [2].
Federal law doesn’t give you three days to cancel and return a vehicle. Get the dealer’s return policy in writing, and check your state attorney general for local rules [2].
If you buy a service contract, check whether it duplicates a manufacturer warranty that is still running, and confirm the warranty dates with the brand’s dealer using the VIN [2].

Mileage: the odometer rules still apply

Motorcycles aren’t on the federal list of vehicles exempt from odometer disclosure. The exemptions cover heavy vehicles, vehicles that aren’t self-propelled, and older model years: a 2010 or older model once it’s 10 years past its model year, and a 2011 or newer model once it’s 20 years past [4]. For a recent premium bike, the seller must disclose the mileage at transfer. NHTSA’s tips [3]:

Compare the mileage on the title with the odometer, and look closely if the title’s mileage is hard to read.
Compare it with service and inspection records and any maintenance stickers.
Check that wear on tires, controls, and pegs fits the miles shown. Digital odometers are harder to inspect, so the bike’s condition and history count for more.
Suspect fraud? Contact your state’s enforcement agency. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline (888-327-4236) takes reports of large-scale schemes [3].

Title, theft, and open recalls

Run the VIN through the free NMVTIS, NICB VINCheck, and NHTSA lookups in our title and history guide.
NHTSA’s recall lookup by VIN covers motorcycle manufacturers, including BMW Motorcycles, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, and KTM. It shows only unrepaired safety recalls from the past 15 calendar years, and it leaves out small manufacturers, “including some ultra-luxury brands and specialty applications,” and international vehicles [5]. For a boutique or imported bike, ask the maker or its U.S. importer directly.
Get an independent mechanical inspection with a written report that lists the VIN. The FTC notes that a history report usually won’t show mechanical problems [2].
Bringing a bike in from abroad? Read our import guide. EPA’s age exclusion for motorcycles is different from cars.

The helmet: don’t let a sticker fool you

A fine machine deserves a real helmet. NHTSA doesn’t approve helmets. Makers self-certify to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218, and NHTSA tests some and can order recalls [6]. NHTSA warns that “novelty helmets” that fail the standard are sold online and in stores, and that fake DOT labels are sold to stick on them [6]. Its checks [6][7]:

A helmet made on or after May 13, 2013 should carry a label on the back with the maker or brand, the model, “DOT,” “FMVSS No. 218,” and “CERTIFIED.” Older certified helmets may just say DOT.
There should be a stiff foam inner liner. NHTSA’s web page says unsafe helmets are under 1 inch thick, and its leaflet says a compliant liner is typically at least ¾ inch.
Compliant helmets generally weigh about 3 pounds and have sturdy chin straps with solid rivets.
Nothing may stick out more than two-tenths of an inch from the shell, so a spike or rigid decoration means it isn’t compliant.
Be wary of ads for the “thinnest” or “lightest” helmet. A label inside from Snell or ANSI is a good sign too [7].

The license: Class M in Illinois

In Illinois, Class M covers any motorcycle, and Class L covers motor-driven cycles under 150cc [9].
Riders 18 and older can earn Class M by passing the written and riding tests at a Secretary of State facility. Or they can finish a course in IDOT’s Cycle Rider Safety Training Program and show the completion card, which waives both tests [8][9]. IDOT says its courses are free to Illinois residents 16 and older who hold a valid driver’s license or permit [8].
Riders under 18 must complete an IDOT course [8][9].
You need a license with the right motorcycle classification to rent a motorcycle [9]. Other states have their own rules, so check with your state’s licensing agency.

A before-you-buy checklist

Get the sale terms, warranty or “as is” status, and return policy in writing [2].
Match the VIN on the frame, title, and paperwork, and run the free title, theft, and recall checks [5].
Compare the odometer with the title and service records [3].
Have an independent mechanic inspect it, and keep the written report [2].
Pay in a way you can trace. Never wire money to a seller or “escrow” site you can’t verify (see our escrow fraud guide).
Check that your helmet has a real FMVSS No. 218 label, and that your license covers the bike before you ride it home [6][9].