What questions to ask when buying a bike

[SpuceLee]

Hi,

I've just passed my cbt and I'm looking at getting my first bike (which will be used). I just wondered what sort of questions to ask when I go to have a look at bikes?

Obviously I'll need to see if it runs smoothly etc but what else do i need to know?

Thanks!

[Davenaylor]

Get this months ride. It has a full section on used buying bikes for under £1500 and tells you what to look for when viewing.

[kerr]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tExM88-pF-U
As good a guide as any
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aprilia 125 Af1 Futura >> Suzuki gsxr 600 srad >> J1 zx6r >> cbr 600rr >> Speed Triple

[Ribenapigeon]

"Is it a motorcycle"

[jeddy11]

Get a chum who does know bikes to go with you then you can also blame them if you buy a lemon..
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Fuelly My Z1000SX
cbt 06/08/11 mod1 (second go) 01/08/12 mod2 21/09/12
Varadero Viking YBR125>Varadero125>ER6F>Z1000SX !!!

[Pete.]

How long have you owned it and why are you selling it are the only questions I ever ask - if I ever ask. When you're buying a used bike privately, you're better off trusting your own eyes and ears and being cynical about everything.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[lihp]

[sidewinder]

You want to see a valid mot + logbook before you go any further. ask about service history what has the bike been used for?when you ring about a bike you want it to be cold so you can hear it starting up .

[CaNsA]

-Check the discs dont have a massive ridge at the edge.
-New brake pads
-Ask about the wheel bearings, put it on the centre stand and spin the front wheel, and the same with the back. check for a grinding/knocking sound from the centre of the wheel > if so then new bearings.
-While on the centre stand, sit on the bike, lean back so the front lifts a few inches and slowly move the bars from left to right. If you feel any notches then you will need new headstock bearings, ballache of a job to do and costly on labour if you got to a garage to get it done.
-Check chain and sprockets
-Listen for a knocking sound from the engine.
-Ask him not to start the bike until you get there, you want to see how easy it starts from cold.
-Feel the engine before it starts to see if he has warmed it up. If he has, ask why. If you dont like his answer walk away.
-Look on the downpipes for any holes, and feel/listen for any blowing from the downpipes and exhausts pipe and can.
-Take the oil filler cap off and look for any white cheesy looking gunk > water in the engine not good.
-The gearbox should make a re-assuring "THUNK" when you knock it into 1st gear. The clutch may rattle/rustle a little and it should stop when you pull the clutch in.

If at any point you get a bad vibe, not to be mistaken for a scared of the "new" vibe, then walk away. there are thousands of other bikes out there.

[bren_9311]

What's your best price?
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My opinion is neither copyrighted nor trademarked. If you like, I'll trade for one of yours.
Currently bikeless.
Ps4- bren_9311

[SpuceLee]

[snomag]

How fucked is it?

[CaNsA]

what colour powerband is in it?

[SpuceLee]

[CaNsA]

[bren_9311]

____________________
My opinion is neither copyrighted nor trademarked. If you like, I'll trade for one of yours.
Currently bikeless.
Ps4- bren_9311

[SpuceLee]

[Northern Monkey]

The easiest way is to remove the old power band, and check what colour it is.

Make sure you check which way it is fitted before you remove it, so you can put it back in the same way

[FretGrinder]

[bren_9311]

[SpuceLee]

[Pete.]

[Rogerborg]

If you take along a Mate Who Knows About Bikes, make sure that he actually knows about bikes.

Don't aggressively grill the seller: you're buying the bike, and a real wrong 'un will have glib answers to hand anyway.

Being too suspicious can result in the seller suggesting that you cordially sod off and have a think about it, then selling a perfectly decent bike to the polite chap who turns up an hour later.
____________________
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

[mentalboy]

Don't act like a kid in a sweet shop when you look at it. The more you let a seller know you've got to have it the less likely they are to cut you a better deal.
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Make mine a Corona.

[stallionX]

This is what I did:

- Do an HPI check, you wouldnt believe how many owners have a 2nd hand bike and dont know it is cat c/d. I did and found out the bike is cat c. you can do HPI for £9, check fleabay.
- Ask for V5 reference number, do an MOT check online, check spacing of MOT (yearly), if there are multiple MOTs within a year, it is a sign of crash/insurance write off
- Check mileage records in MOTs and compare
- Ask for a copy of V5 and check details are genuine
- Contact prev owner if possible and ask about the bike
- Offer the seller that you take the bike to a shop for part exchange purposes. Shop will do a basic check and they should find out any big issues for free for you You will also know the value of PX when it comes for a new bike