buying secondhand motorcycle

While purchasing a used
motorcycle, you shouldn't
just buy the first one that you
like. Unfortunately,
previously used bikes can
have quite a few issues and
even if you don't mind a fixer
upper, you're going to want
to know just what is wrong
so you are paying the
appropriate price. Obviously,
if a bike needs a lot of work,
it should cost less.
There are some areas of
motorcycles that are more
likely to give problems than
others and you'll want to be
aware of these. Let's take a
look at what you should be
watching for in a used
motorcycle. These are all
things that a beginning rider
might miss in the excitement
of getting a bike.
General Condition
Before inspecting specific
parts of a used motorcycle,
you'll want to take a look at
what the bike looks like
overall. You can't expect it to
be in pristine shape, of
course, since it has been used
and this type of
transportation is more likely
to get banged up in
everyday use than a car or
truck.
Things to keep an eye out for
include scratches and dents.
These may not affect
performance, but they could
indicate that the bike has
been in an accident that may
have caused deeper damage.
Also, in some cases, these
damages could represent
something that you will need
to replace. For example,
missing handlebar grips or
badly damaged panels.
Rust can also be a problem,
since it only tends to get
worse. If there is moderate
rust, keep in mind that these
are parts you will likely have
to replace in the near future.
Rust can be very corrosive
and its presence is something
that will definitely lower the
price of a used vehicle of any
kind.
Gauges
These often break on older
bikes and should be checked
for accuracy. Usually the only
way to really check is to take
the bike for a test drive.
While the gas gauge may not
be absolutely vital, it does
make life a lot easier, as
opposed to looking into the
dark tank and trying to
figure out how much gas is
left.
Other gauges, such as the
speedometer are more
important, but also tend to
stop working in time, so
make sure that you check
this.
Brakes
As a safety feature, brakes
are indispensible, but they
are also one of the first
things to wear out on a used
bike. Check to see how well
the brake pads grip and if
they are worn down much.
Uneven thickness of the
brake pads means they are
probably poorly adjusted
and you will need to make
sure that this is checked
before you really ride the
bike. Chances are the back
brake system will be more
worn unless they have
recently been replaced.
Chain and Gears
Inspect the chain and all
visible gears for signs of
wear when checking out a
bike. The chain should be
able to be moved about an
inch up and down in the
center. Incorrect tension
could mean there is extra
wear and tear on the bike.
The same goes for
lubrication . . . if the chain is
not properly lubricated, the
engine will have been
working harder and may be
closer to needing to be
replaced.
You'll also want to make sure
that all gears and sprockets
are intact, not missing teeth
or damaged in any way.
Test Drive
Taking the bike for a test ride
will let you know pretty
quickly if this is a good
investment or not. There are
a few things to note at this
point.
How does the bike feel?
Check that it is a good height
for you, that you don't have
to balance on one foot to
hold it up and that the
handlebars are a comfortable
distance for you.
Does it start right up? A bike
that is hard to start won't get
any easier, so this is
definitely something to look
for. Many bikes have their
little quirks, so ask the seller
if there is a trick to it. For
kick-starters, it shouldn't
require huge amounts of
force to start the bike.
Does it keep running
steadily? If you have to keep
revving the engine to keep
the motorcycle going, that is
a sign that you should look
elsewhere.
Is the battery good? Start
and turn off the bike several
times. If it stutters and is
difficult to start, the battery
could be faulty and need to
be replaced. Depending on
the brand of bike, this could
get rather expensive.
Do all the lights work? This is
pretty quick and easy to
check, just flick each light on
and off, check the brake
lights and turn signals to be
sure they work. A weak
headlight could indicate a
bad battery or connection.
Are there any worrisome
noises or vibrations? If you
are accustomed to how a
motorcycle should feel and
sound, this is an indication
that something is not right
with the bike. Make sure you
try several speeds to get a
good feel for the bike.
Do the gears shift smoothly?
The last thing you want is a
bike that jerks you around
every time you have to shift
gears, so check this out,
going through each gear to
test it. Do this while on a
fairly straight, smooth stretch
of road so you won't be
distracted by other things.
All this might seem like a lot
to be looking for, but keep in
mind that this is an
important purchase. The
money you invest in a used
motorcycle is not the last
money you'll be putting into
it, so you will want to make
sure you know what you are
getting into. If you aren't
confident about your abilities
to check the bike over, just
go ahead and make sure that
you bring along someone
with mechanical expertise.
There's nothing wrong with
making sure the bike you get
is worth the money you pay
for it.