subject: Used Motorcycles: Some Basic Guidelines To Help Your Search [print this page] If you are starting to look at used motorcycles, there are some guidelines to help you in your search. Obviously, you want something at a reasonable price. But you also want to make sure that it will be safe as well.
First, you need to be clear on how you are going to be using your bike. Do you plan on using it for highway riding, back roads or local city traffic? Do not buy a motorcycle for the way you will use it a small percentage of your overall riding.
It is important to know if the bike has been in a fall. Scrapes and dents can be clues that it has been involved in an accident. Recent repainting can also be a clue as it may have been done as a cover up. Though any scrapes can just be normal surface wear and tear, they may also be indications that there are more serious issues, such as problems with the alignment.
It is also good to know if the bike has been raced before as this can put a lot of added wear and tear on a motorcycle. Things that will give you a hint that it may have been used in racing are: use of frame sliders, stress cracks in the frame, holes drilled through the heads of bolts and tires with rough edges.
Take some time to talk to the seller about how they ride. A casual conversation about your shared passion may give you an idea of how the bike has been used. If there is anything unusual for this type of bike, such as unusually high mileage, try to get a feel for why.
Go over the motorcycle service record to be sure that all required maintenance has been done. It is a good idea to review what parts have been replaced and when.
Researching used motorcycles can be a truly exhausting process. However, if you take the time and do it right, you can be far more confident in the choice you make.
