Buying my first bike

Fifteen15 · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Apr 2011 Karma :

Passed my mod 1 and 2 yesterday and looking to buy my first ever bike. I'm looking at the SV650 K5 or K6. I'm bringing someone with me who rides however I wouldn't say he's particularly experienced hence why I'm swatting up in advance.

So far, I've got:

HPI check
Documents (V5, Mot, anything else?)
General cosmetic wear (scratches in paint etc)
Tyre wear
Make sure it starts and runs properly

Anything else? Thumbs Up

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"Pain is weakness leaving the body, and blood makes the grass grow faster...but I'll wear my gear anyway"

ajbsmirnoff · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Dec 2009 Karma :

Service history booklet, and an absence of spiders.

FerretFing · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Karma :

tell them NOT to start the engine before you get there, you want to see it start from cold.

Check chain/sprockets condition

Ask if there were any advisories on the last MOT (if bike is over 3 years old)

in fact, from the reg number & the latest MOT certificate number you can see the bike's entire (modern style certificates) MOT history here;

https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Mot/DG_10020539

useful site!

Fifteen15 · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Apr 2011 Karma :

^Ok thanks. Anything else I have missed? I am going to see a bike in the next few days so it's kind of important Laughing

Also, this is probably a stupid question, but how does a deposit work? If you put down a £100 deposit before you view a bike, but the bike isn't up to the condition you would have liked so you don't buy the bike, do you get your deposit back?
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"Pain is weakness leaving the body, and blood makes the grass grow faster...but I'll wear my gear anyway"

FerretFing · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Karma :

I'd make sure the ignition key also opens the fuel cap & seat lock - matching locks.....leaks on fork seals, oil leaks.....coolant spillage damage

I would never put a deposit on a bike I hadn't seen...BUT if it was THE bike I'd make it clear that under no circumstances would it be NON-refundable...you get loads of twats on Ebay saying non-refundable deposit.....bollocks to that!

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Forget deposits. Walk away, or ride away.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike