Although used bikes are easier on the budget, buying a new motorcycle has its advantages. Among them, the fact that a new motorcycle comes with a factory warranty. But just like with cars, not all bike warranties are created equal. So, how do the different motorcycle brands available in the US compare?

Is there any difference between a motorcycle warranty and a car warranty?

New cars are typically sold with at least one of two warranties: a powertrain one and a bumper-to-bumper one. The former covers your car’s powertrain components, such as the engine, the transmission, and the differential. A bumper-to-bumper warranty, though, covers the powertrain and everything else, such as the suspension and electronics.

Bikes, although they have slightly different maintenance needs than cars, share many of the same major components. And, like cars, they can suffer from problems related to manufacturing defects. That’s exactly what a car warranty covers, and that’s what a motorcycle factory warranty covers, Motorcyclist explains. Though again, like cars, bike warranties don’t cover wear and tear, fire/water damage, improper maintenance, or damage you cause, Car and Driver explains.

That being said, bike warranties aren’t necessarily split into powertrain and bumper-to-bumper categories. Generally speaking, most motorcycle brands’ factory warranties provide “some level of top to bottom coverage,” Motorbike Writer reports. However, as with any general statement, there are some key exceptions.

And while bike warranties cover similar things to car warranties, the coverage durations aren’t always identical.

Which companies offer the longest or best warranties?

Not every automaker’s warranty lasts for the same amount of time. Honda’s powertrain warranty, for example, lasts for 5 years or 60,000 miles. But its bumper-to-bumper warranty is 3 years/36,000 miles, the same as Ford.

Compared to cars, most motorcycles have shorter-duration maintenance schedules. So, naturally, you might expect bike warranties to be shorter. But that’s not necessarily true. The now-defunct Victory, for example, once offered a 5-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, Motorcyclist reports. However, while most motorcycle brands’ warranties offer unlimited mileage, they don’t last quite as long.

The warranty durations break down as such (sourced from the manufacturer, unless noted):

• MV Agusta: 36 months
• BMW: Up to 36 months/36,000 miles
• Royal Enfield: 36 months for the Continental GT and Interceptor 650, and 24 months for the Himalayan
• Harley-Davidson: 24 months (source: The Drive)
• Indian: 24 months
• Janus: 24 months
• Aprilia: 24 months (source: Cycle World)
• Ducati: 24 months
• Moto Guzzi: 24 months (source: Motorcycle.com)
• Triumph: 24 months
• Ural: 24 months
• Zero: For non-demonstrators, 60 months for the Power Pack and 24 months for everything else
• KTM: 24 months for street models, 12 months for ‘R’ models, and 6 months for dual-sport EXC-F models
• Husqvarna: 24 months for street models and 6 months for dual-sport models
• Cake: 24 months for street-legal models, 6 months for off-road models, and 24 months for the battery “in case of…a capacity loss of 30% or more”
• Energica: 36 months/31,000 miles for the battery pack and 24 months for everything else
• Honda: 12 months
• Kawasaki: 12 months
• Yamaha: 12 months
• Suzuki: 12 months

Also, Triumph offers a 12-month/unlimited-mileage warranty on its certified pre-owned motorcycles, RideApart reports. Harley-Davidson’s new certified pre-owned program offers a 12-month/unlimited-mileage warranty, too, Autoblog reports.

Should you get an extended warranty for your motorcycle?

Some motorcycle brands offer buyers an opportunity to extend their bikes’ warranties. Ural, for example, offers an extra year for $850. And Harley-Davidson customers can get up to an additional seven years of extended-warranty coverage, The Drive reports. But should you consider it for your bike?

It’s worth pointing out that ‘extended warranties’ aren’t always warranties, Edmunds explains. Instead, many are really long-term service contracts, and often don’t cover as many items as ‘true’ warranties do. And usually, these ‘extended warranties’ aren’t worth the purchase price. The only real exception, Consumer Reports explains, is if you plan on riding an older bike until its wheels fall off.

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