 TITLE: Do You Need Good Credit to Finance a Motorcycle? CONTENT: What Else Do Motorcycle Lenders Look at to Determine Financing?\n---------------------------------------------------------------\nOther than your credit score, a lender will consider these factors when reviewing your application for a motorcycle loan:\n*   **Credit history**: A lender checks your credit history by pulling your credit report. Information in the report includes how much debt you have, how long you've had credit and how often you pay bills on time.\n*   **Debt-to-income ratio**: This ratio weighs how much debt you owe each month against how much monthly income you have.\n*   **Down payment**: This is the amount of money you offer upfront when you're taking out a loan. For instance, you might put down $3,000 when you're buying a $15,000 motorcycle. A bigger down payment reduces the amount you need to borrow and can mean better terms on a loan.\n*   **Loan total**: This refers to how much money you're borrowing after subtracting the down payment.\n*   **Loan term**: This is the number of months you're given to pay off the loan, such as 36 or 48 months.\nA lender also will evaluate specifics about the financed motorcycle. Since the motorcycle serves as collateral on the loan, the lender will want to know some details about it, including:\n*   **Price of the motorcycle**: How much are you paying for your new ride? Is it $4,000 or $40,000?\n*   **Value of the motorcycle**: A lender will compare how much the bike is worth and how much you're paying for it. This math will determine whether you're paying a fair price.\n*   **Age of the motorcycle**: Are you purchasing a new or used bike? A new motorcycle might cost more, but it's also more likely to stand up to wear and tear than a used motorcycle is. On the other hand, a used motorcycle typically costs less than a comparable new motorcycle.\n*   **Trade-in**: Are you swapping an old motorcycle for a new one? If so, your bike's trade-in value will figure into the lending equation. END