Things To Look Out For When Buying A Motorcycle

Key Considerations

Motorcycles have their own issues, and if you’re going to buy a used one, you need to pay attention. Certainly, there are makes and models of new bikes which have their problems; but used vehicles can have unpredictable flaws. Following we’ll cover a few things you should look into as a means of assuring the bike you’ve bought will serve you as intended.

How Does It Look?

It’s seldom a bike has a fender-bender that does minimal damage. You lay down a bike, it’s going to get scuffed up. Unless body work is done, that will be evident. So as you approach the used motorcycle, take in its basic appearance and look for evidence of crashes.

Some motorcycle owners never lay down their bike once. However, that tends to be the exception rather than the norm. Look at the basic appearance of the bike to determine if it might have been treated in such a way as to cause notable issues down the line.

Is The Exhaust In Good Shape?

Crawl under the bike and look for dents in the header of the exhaust; these can have an impact on performance.

What level of impact is variable to the damage, but at minimum, if there are just a few dents, you can use them as evidence toward your offer of a reduced sum for the motorcycle. A little due diligence in examination could save you a few hundred or a few thousand dollars.

While Looking At The Exhaust, Give The Frame A Gander

When you’re under the vehicle checking out the exhaust, see if the bike has any cracks in the frame, scrapes, or dents. These may indicate the bike has been laid over one or more times. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty feeling for issues; sometimes you can’t see what’s wrong with your eyes.

Check Out The Clutch, Brakes, And Suspension

When you’re on the bike, see how it shifts, check the effectiveness of the brakes, and push down on the front of the motorcycle to see if any funky noises show up. If there are loud noises when you push down on the fork, that’s not a good sign.

Ideally, when you push down on the front, the bike should return slowly, smoothly, and silently to its resting position. Bumps on the fork tube could be rust, again don’t be afraid to actually feel the bike with your bare hands.

How Are The Tires And Wheels Holding Up?

General wear and tear is to be expected, but look at that rear wheel. Is it more worn in the middle? That may mean this particular bike has either been used to burn out extensively, or it’s been driven on the interstate for long stretches. Either issue could mean the bike’s engine may have problems on the horizon, as they indicate it’s been used harder.

Getting The Best Bike For Your Buck

These are just a few things to consider before a test drive. Be sure to check out everything you can, and never buy a used bike without at least attempting to haggle a little bit. There’s always room for negotiation. For more tips on motorcycles, cars, and other vehicles, be sure to explore our blog at Anybody’s Autos!