bike helmet size 8 image
victor g
I am interested in buying a used motorcycle and i have been looking at cycle trader and craigs list and other various places.
Since these are bikes from private sellers i want to avoid getting ripped off or buying a broken motorcycle that would cost more to fix that its price. What kind things should i be especially inquisitive , about the condition of the bike?
Answer
If you are not sure what to look for when inspecting a used motorcycle, I suggest you locate an independent motorcycle mechanic near the sellers home and have a pre-purchase inspection/check done. Approximate cost $50-100, future headaches avoided with your new baby: priceless.
If you are set on inspecting the bike yourself, here are a few things I would do (I learned almost all this from countless hours browsing motorcycle forums when contemplating the purchase of my 2nd motorcycle from a private party).
1. Check the status of the title. Verify that the bike has a clean title, unless you don't mind riding a salvaged title bike. This may be dangerous because salvage title usually means frame damage.....I'd be wary of riding a motorcycle with a damaged frame. I'm not sure if they have something like CarFax for bikes but if they do I would use that, if not try the DMV or perhaps an insurance company your shopping quotes with can verify.
2. The owner is just as important as the motorcycle itself. Is the owner helpful in answering all your questions? Does he/she know the history of the vehicle? Do they have maintenance records/logs? What is the overall impression you get about them selling their motorcycle? You want to buy from someone who makes you feel comfortable and will work with you, good signs that the bike has been taken care of.
3. Do an initial walk-around of the motorcycle. Any noticeable damage to the fairings, handlebar ends, levers, exhaust, pegs? Basically you are trying to see if the motorcycle has ever been laid down/crashed. Are the fairings/tank original or have they been replaced? If so, ask the seller why.
4. Is it modified? Heavy modification usually means the owner has ridden the vehicle hard, not necessarily a bad thing if it has been taken well care of, but it can be a sign that it has been abused. Does the owner have the original factory parts? Do the modifications look like they were installed properly, or just a hack job?
5. Forks/shocks. Inspect the front forks/shocks closely. Are they leaking at all? Do they look worn/extremely dirty? Do the same for the rear shock.
6. Have the owner start the bike for you, stationary. Look for any smoke coming from the exhaust. A little bit of visible white smoke is ok, dark/blue smoke or any other strange looking emissions coming from the tailpipe are a definite bad sign.
7. Listen to the bike at idle. Does the engine sound like its healthy or unhealthy? If you are looking at sport bikes, they tend to have a sort of a 'lumpy' idle, meaning it bounces around a little bit, but nothing too erratic. When the engine is warm, have the owner or yourself rev it a little bit, listen for any odd noises coming from the engine. If you hear something strange, don't be afraid to ask the owner to explain what the noise maybe. He will either fess up if there is a problem he did not disclose or try to lie, which you should be able to detect fairly easily.
8. If the seller will let you and you are comfortable take it for a test drive. I would try to engage each gear at least 2-3 times during the ride to check for problems w/ the transmission. Vary the rpm range to check for hiccups in the engine. Is it difficult to shift? Is it harder than usual to find neutral? How does the steering feel? Do the brakes do an adequate job of slowing down the motorcycle or are they squishy and slow to grab? Does all the instrumentation work?
9. Does the seller have the original paperwork/manuals/spare keys?
10. Do not let the seller negotiate his/her used gear into the deal, unless it is something you want and it is the correct size for you. A quality helmet and gear should be the first thing on your list, BEFORE the motorcycle.
11. See if the registration is current and if any registration fees are due. You will also have to pay California sales tax to the DMV when you go to transfer the title to your name, based upon the selling price of the motorcycle.
If you are not sure what to look for when inspecting a used motorcycle, I suggest you locate an independent motorcycle mechanic near the sellers home and have a pre-purchase inspection/check done. Approximate cost $50-100, future headaches avoided with your new baby: priceless.
If you are set on inspecting the bike yourself, here are a few things I would do (I learned almost all this from countless hours browsing motorcycle forums when contemplating the purchase of my 2nd motorcycle from a private party).
1. Check the status of the title. Verify that the bike has a clean title, unless you don't mind riding a salvaged title bike. This may be dangerous because salvage title usually means frame damage.....I'd be wary of riding a motorcycle with a damaged frame. I'm not sure if they have something like CarFax for bikes but if they do I would use that, if not try the DMV or perhaps an insurance company your shopping quotes with can verify.
2. The owner is just as important as the motorcycle itself. Is the owner helpful in answering all your questions? Does he/she know the history of the vehicle? Do they have maintenance records/logs? What is the overall impression you get about them selling their motorcycle? You want to buy from someone who makes you feel comfortable and will work with you, good signs that the bike has been taken care of.
3. Do an initial walk-around of the motorcycle. Any noticeable damage to the fairings, handlebar ends, levers, exhaust, pegs? Basically you are trying to see if the motorcycle has ever been laid down/crashed. Are the fairings/tank original or have they been replaced? If so, ask the seller why.
4. Is it modified? Heavy modification usually means the owner has ridden the vehicle hard, not necessarily a bad thing if it has been taken well care of, but it can be a sign that it has been abused. Does the owner have the original factory parts? Do the modifications look like they were installed properly, or just a hack job?
5. Forks/shocks. Inspect the front forks/shocks closely. Are they leaking at all? Do they look worn/extremely dirty? Do the same for the rear shock.
6. Have the owner start the bike for you, stationary. Look for any smoke coming from the exhaust. A little bit of visible white smoke is ok, dark/blue smoke or any other strange looking emissions coming from the tailpipe are a definite bad sign.
7. Listen to the bike at idle. Does the engine sound like its healthy or unhealthy? If you are looking at sport bikes, they tend to have a sort of a 'lumpy' idle, meaning it bounces around a little bit, but nothing too erratic. When the engine is warm, have the owner or yourself rev it a little bit, listen for any odd noises coming from the engine. If you hear something strange, don't be afraid to ask the owner to explain what the noise maybe. He will either fess up if there is a problem he did not disclose or try to lie, which you should be able to detect fairly easily.
8. If the seller will let you and you are comfortable take it for a test drive. I would try to engage each gear at least 2-3 times during the ride to check for problems w/ the transmission. Vary the rpm range to check for hiccups in the engine. Is it difficult to shift? Is it harder than usual to find neutral? How does the steering feel? Do the brakes do an adequate job of slowing down the motorcycle or are they squishy and slow to grab? Does all the instrumentation work?
9. Does the seller have the original paperwork/manuals/spare keys?
10. Do not let the seller negotiate his/her used gear into the deal, unless it is something you want and it is the correct size for you. A quality helmet and gear should be the first thing on your list, BEFORE the motorcycle.
11. See if the registration is current and if any registration fees are due. You will also have to pay California sales tax to the DMV when you go to transfer the title to your name, based upon the selling price of the motorcycle.
Good first street bike for expierenced dirtbike rider?
Matt
I'm 5'8 and weigh around 150lbs. I've been riding dirtbike since I was a kid to present. I currently ride a yzf250. What would you reccomend for the street.
Answer
There is a huge difference between trail riding and street riding. On the trails you don't have soccer moms pulling out in front of you or cutting you off with large SUVs. About the only thing your trail riding is going to do for you is that you will already understand the shifiting and the clutch. You also know how to balance the bike. These skills the average beginner learns in the first week of riding.
Buy something used and inexpensive for a starter bike.
Look for something old but not too old. You don't want something so old that it is a junker, but not something so new that you'll feel bad if you lay it down.
Look for something in the 500 - 800 CC engine size. This will be powerful enough so you don't get bored too soon, but not so fast that you will be afraid of it.
Look for a standard or cruiser bike for your first bike. They are more forgiving and usually have less power than a sport bike with the same size engine. Although cruisers are heavier than other bikes they have the lowest center of gravity and are easy to balance considering their weight. Stay away from the sport bikes for your first bike as they require more skill.
Going with a sport bike for your first bike is like getting a Formula 1 race car for your first car, not a good idea. Any decent sport bike can go from zero to deadly faster than you can say "Oh Sh**". Also used sport bikes tend to be more abused.
Consider the fit of the motorcycle. People come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. So do motorcycles. When selecting a motorcycle consider how well it fits your body. Ask yourself how well you can put both feet flat on the ground. Ask yourself how well the seating position feels. Do you have to reach too far to the handlebars? Riding hunched over can get uncomfortable very fast. Is the foot peg location comfortable? Does the bike feel too big or too small? An uncomfortable motorcycle won't be much fun to ride for any amount of distance. However, a bike that fits you well will be lots of fun.
In general, cruisers will have a shorter seat height than most other bikes. You may want to consider this if you are a short person.
Avoid buying over the Internet. I would never buy a motorcycle sight unseen. You could very easily end up paying too much for junk. Always do a visual inspection and test ride before buying a motorcycle. When you go to look at the bike, bring a helmet. If you do not have your motorcycle license yet, bring a friend with a motorcycle license and 2 helmets.
Watch the classified section of your local news paper. Some locations have shopper magazines with used motorcycles in your area. Reasonably priced used bikes are out there. Be patient. Don't buy too quickly, but if you find one you like, buy it right away. Unfortunately, as the price of gas rises so will the price of used motorcycles. If you find a good starter bike, don't hesitate as they can sell quickly.
Don't get hung up on any particular brand. All of the name brands are about the same. Pay more attention to the bike's condition. If any one brand were really superior to all other brands, this would be the only brand bike on the road. In addition, if any brand bike was really inferior to the other brands, nobody would buy them and the company would be out of business.
Learn on this bike. Make your mistakes on it. You will make mistakes. Nearly all new riders will lay their bike on its side at least once. Would you rather make your mistakes on an older bike or your nice shiny expensive new bike?
The most important thing you should do when getting your first bike is to take a motorcycle safety course.
After you have been riding a while and gain some experience, you can sell your starter bike and get the one you want. If maintained properly and not abused, you won't lose too much money on your starter bike. Put the money from the sale towards the bike you really want. By this time, you will have figured out what style bike best suits your riding style and needs.
If you settle on a sport bike for your next bike, avoid the used ones. Young riders think they are racers on racing bikes and tend to beat the crap out of them so they are likely to be more abused. So if considering a sport bike, consider something new.
I know I used variations of this answer before. However, I feel this is good advice.
Use your head while riding. Remember, Stupid Hurts.
Have fun - Ride safe
There is a huge difference between trail riding and street riding. On the trails you don't have soccer moms pulling out in front of you or cutting you off with large SUVs. About the only thing your trail riding is going to do for you is that you will already understand the shifiting and the clutch. You also know how to balance the bike. These skills the average beginner learns in the first week of riding.
Buy something used and inexpensive for a starter bike.
Look for something old but not too old. You don't want something so old that it is a junker, but not something so new that you'll feel bad if you lay it down.
Look for something in the 500 - 800 CC engine size. This will be powerful enough so you don't get bored too soon, but not so fast that you will be afraid of it.
Look for a standard or cruiser bike for your first bike. They are more forgiving and usually have less power than a sport bike with the same size engine. Although cruisers are heavier than other bikes they have the lowest center of gravity and are easy to balance considering their weight. Stay away from the sport bikes for your first bike as they require more skill.
Going with a sport bike for your first bike is like getting a Formula 1 race car for your first car, not a good idea. Any decent sport bike can go from zero to deadly faster than you can say "Oh Sh**". Also used sport bikes tend to be more abused.
Consider the fit of the motorcycle. People come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. So do motorcycles. When selecting a motorcycle consider how well it fits your body. Ask yourself how well you can put both feet flat on the ground. Ask yourself how well the seating position feels. Do you have to reach too far to the handlebars? Riding hunched over can get uncomfortable very fast. Is the foot peg location comfortable? Does the bike feel too big or too small? An uncomfortable motorcycle won't be much fun to ride for any amount of distance. However, a bike that fits you well will be lots of fun.
In general, cruisers will have a shorter seat height than most other bikes. You may want to consider this if you are a short person.
Avoid buying over the Internet. I would never buy a motorcycle sight unseen. You could very easily end up paying too much for junk. Always do a visual inspection and test ride before buying a motorcycle. When you go to look at the bike, bring a helmet. If you do not have your motorcycle license yet, bring a friend with a motorcycle license and 2 helmets.
Watch the classified section of your local news paper. Some locations have shopper magazines with used motorcycles in your area. Reasonably priced used bikes are out there. Be patient. Don't buy too quickly, but if you find one you like, buy it right away. Unfortunately, as the price of gas rises so will the price of used motorcycles. If you find a good starter bike, don't hesitate as they can sell quickly.
Don't get hung up on any particular brand. All of the name brands are about the same. Pay more attention to the bike's condition. If any one brand were really superior to all other brands, this would be the only brand bike on the road. In addition, if any brand bike was really inferior to the other brands, nobody would buy them and the company would be out of business.
Learn on this bike. Make your mistakes on it. You will make mistakes. Nearly all new riders will lay their bike on its side at least once. Would you rather make your mistakes on an older bike or your nice shiny expensive new bike?
The most important thing you should do when getting your first bike is to take a motorcycle safety course.
After you have been riding a while and gain some experience, you can sell your starter bike and get the one you want. If maintained properly and not abused, you won't lose too much money on your starter bike. Put the money from the sale towards the bike you really want. By this time, you will have figured out what style bike best suits your riding style and needs.
If you settle on a sport bike for your next bike, avoid the used ones. Young riders think they are racers on racing bikes and tend to beat the crap out of them so they are likely to be more abused. So if considering a sport bike, consider something new.
I know I used variations of this answer before. However, I feel this is good advice.
Use your head while riding. Remember, Stupid Hurts.
Have fun - Ride safe
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Title Post: What do i need to look for when buying a used motorcycle.?
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Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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