After sitting on a few at a local bike night, he realized his heart was with the . He wanted the windshield and bags for weekend trips, but the classic "old school" fenders for the look. Phase 2: The Budget and the "Harley Tax"

Elias spent weeks on the Harley website, feeling like a kid in a candy store. He realized he had to choose a "family" first.

He had to decide: A new bike had that pristine "zero-mile" glow and a warranty, but a pre-owned bike from a private seller or a certified dealer often came with thousands of dollars in upgrades (like those expensive Vance & Hines pipes) already installed for a fraction of the cost. He decided to look for a "Certified Pre-Owned" model to get the best of both worlds. Phase 3: The Inspection

He checked the sidewall codes. Tires older than five years are a safety hazard, regardless of tread.

He asked the dealer not to warm it up before he arrived. He wanted to hear it crank from a dead cold to check for any odd knocks or smoke.