Things To Consider When Buying A Second Hand Motorbike
Many motorcyclists will have already made the decision to buy a used bike as their
next ride and this guide will help you avoid the pitfalls of ending up with a dud. If you are buying your first bike, we definitely suggest you buy used and get a courier ship it to you. It's the best way to buy a great bike for cheap while you get a feel for riding. A loud engine and a rocking body kit do not make a great bike (although they do certainly help) so it is important to enter the market with knowledge and preparation ahead of time.
Do Your Homework
When you're doing your homework -and you really should do your homework-you'll quickly find that there are a huge variety of bikes available on the used motorcycle market. It is important to ask what type of bike you both want and need? By narrowing your choices you will dramatically reduce the number of bikes that you have not interest in. If you can select one or two bike types to work from. For example cruisers, sportbikes, scooters, touring bikes, dirt bikes, choppers, enduro bikes, etc-based on your personal tastes and needs. Once you have the type of bike locked down you can explore the various makes, models and accessories.
Pick Your Seller: Dealer or Private
So you've done the research and finally decided on what you want to buy, now it's time to figure out from whom do you want to but it: a private party or a dealer! You should always enter a potential transaction safe in the knowledge that you know as much about the bike as possible.
Before you buy your bike have a ceiling in terms of price and work from there. You do not want to risk your life for the sake of a bargain. Safety first, an under budget buy second.
Giving it the Once Over
You do not want to buy any bike sight unseen. You will want to see the bike in real life but also to inspect it in real life - thoroughly. Checking the frame should be your first point of call. Even the smallest crack or hairline fracture in the bike's frame can become a real problem, resulting in thousands of dollars worth or repairs. Frame damage should nearly always be a deciding factor - if does have frame damage do not buy unless its is very cheap and with the intention of repair. Also remember to remove any parts that might cover potential damage.
You should then, check the sprockets and chain for any wear, the battery and battery leads, examine the tread of the tires and of course sit on the bike and test the brakes. It's also ideal and quite commonplace that you ask to see any maintenance and service records.
Give it a Test Drive
After the used motorcycle passes your inspection it's time to test-drive it. Whenever we talk about riding motorbikes we ALWAYS stress that safety gear should always be worn. This applies to test drives. Be prepared for that.
Often when you buy a brand new motorcycle you will not get the opportunity to test-drive - so make of the use of it. If you go through a dealership to buy a second hand bike you should expect to have to sign a lot of liability and insurance forms. Do not worry...this is simply the way it is.
Make sure you feel comfortable on the bike and if you can make the test-drive as long as possible so that you become aware of any quirks and feel how it will handle on long journeys. Also, you will want to familiarize yourself with the bike before you hit the roads. Get a feel for the pedals, the throttle and handle bars, the mirrors, etc. When you feel up to it you can take her for a spin!
When test driving a used motorcycle, variety is the key! Test it at different speeds and give the brakes and acceleration a good workout, mix up the road conditions if possible and road types (curves, straight-aways, flat ground, hills, and so on). Try to simulate, as best you can, how you will be driving the bike if you were to buy it. But don't go crazy! You do not own the bike yet.
Take it to a Garage
Finally, after the bike passes your inspection and after you enjoyed the test-drive, ask if you can take the bike to a mechanic for a proper inspection. This will come out of your pocket so make sure you are very interested in the bike at this point. In the short term this will of course cost you but the long term saving could be greater if a mechanical problem is spotted early on!
Once you have given the bike a thorough once over, you can then negotiate on price! Have a concrete price that you are unwilling to go beyond and be ready to leave if the seller cannot meet it. With the power of the "walk out" you might just ride home on a sweet deal.
If the bike is not local to your home address you can organise the motorradtransporte service to bring it home.
by: Brian Fantana
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