I could never afford to buy new either, so dont worry about it. I think what they are saying is that you don't want to buy one that has been regularly raced. 9 times out of 10 they have been thrashed, and you could end up paying big $$$$ to fix them. Engine rebuilds can get expensive. But if you buy carefully you should not have a problem. It is better to buy a (for example) a 2005 model that has been well looked after, than say a 2007 model for the same price that has been abused. Newer is not always better. Some bikes are bought and then hardly ever ridden and are a few years old when the older decides to sell. These are the ones to buy. But dont be scared buying used, there is some great bargains to be had. Good luck.