Checking Bike Mechanics?

[McfcChris94]

Hi guys,


I have heard there a plenty of guides are there, but does anybody know of one that is for a complete newbie, i know no techincal terms and it will be my first bike (if i buy off a random guy off a site for example i need to know what to look for)

Help please

Im MOST likely getting a Honda CG, in talks with a couple of people and trying to get one for as close to £800 as i can

[dungbug]

Do you mean general maintenance or 'what to look for'?

[Teflon-Mike]

Buying a bike is always going to be a risk; I'm an engineer & I managed to buy a bike with bits chopped out of the frame for Snowie umpety months ago, because it was well hidden. There is ALWAYS a 'risk', thing is to minimise it.

MOT Testers check list is your starting point; its widely published on the net, and in some Haynes Manuals. If you are sure on a CG, then a Haynes for it would be a good investment and reading it give you a fair insight of what to look at.

BUT, learner bikes live hard lives and are thrashed, crashed and neglected by 'learners', so looking second hand you will almost certainly be looking at something a little care-worn and 'used', all you can do is look for obviouse signs of major mechanical maledy, structural damage and poor repairs.

But ultimately; the 'metal' of a motorbike will always have SOME intrinsic worth, even if you are completely 'robbed' on a shitter; you can sell on as scrap or break for bits and get 'something' back for it.

But ONLY if the bike is actually 'yours'.

The most important bit is to make sure that the frame number matches the log-book, engine numbers ought to as well, but not 'so' important, engines get swapped when they brake, BUT look for the numbers and check that there IS one, and it's not been ground off or stamped over or anything daft.

Check the address on the log book; ought to be where you are looking at the bike, or filling in the 'new keeper supliment', not the bonnet of a car in some pub car-park....

Ask the seller lots of questions; are they evasive? Do they know the answers? Have they actually ridden the bike? Have they done any maintenence to it? Do THEY know where the oil goes? What the tyre pressures ought to be? That kind of thing. VET THE SELLER, as much as the bike..... MOST people are simple straight forward honest folk, and you CAN give people the benefit of the doubt quite often; they dont always have to give the 'right' answers, but its HOW they give them to you.....

Most of it is common sense, and a bit of 'gut instinct'.... if it doesn't 'feel' right, then walk away.

Ultimately, its YOUR money, you dont HAVE to give it to any-one you dont trust, for a bike you dont trust.

DONT be too eager to part with it, or bullied into a sale, EVEN though you know and seller knows that there are plenty of eager newbies with money burning a hole in thier pocket that will. You DONT have to be one of them.
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Babba]

Lots of sound advice snipped . . . but !

[Cheerfulgrin]

check out this webpage https://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike-content.html

i foudn this on this site when i was first going to buy a bike and found it very useful, lots of pictures to explain stuff too.

good luck with the 'first bike hunt'
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--Current Bike: '98 Hornet CB600F
--Previous Bikes 2012 Hyo GT250R - 2010 YBR125 - Back in '91:Suzuki 50cc moped & Honda CB125T Superdream
--CBT -Feb '11, Theory -Nov '11, Mod 1 -Jan '12, Mod 2 Feb '12