bike helmet quotes 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.
How much effort would it take to get a motorcycle engine and turn it into a go kart engine?
hehewhosth
I have a little bit of engine knowledge (took a small engines class last year in school). but the ultimate goal is to make a go kart out of a motorcycle or dirt bike engine. any and all input is welcome.
more info: I was thinking a 250 2 stroke but i am extremely open to change.
Answer
Not much effort at all. You can cannibalize a lot of parts from the donor motorcycle. The biggest problem is getting the final gearing right. The circumference of a go-kart tire is much smaller than a motorcycle tire.
However this could be accomplished with a jack shaft.
This has already been done so you won't need to re-invent the wheel. There is a go kart racing series that already uses motorcycle engines. Open your favorite search engine and search for "motorcycle engine go kart" without the quotes.
There is one minor issue that you may find is that a 2 stroke motorcycle engine doesn't produce much torque at low RPM. This may be an issue when starting off or if you need to go slow. But look out once you get the go kart moving. You may want to wear a full face helmet to keep the bugs out of your teeth because you will consistently have an ear to ear grin on your face.
One other issue you may encounter is that you could very easily over-power your go-kart. If you use too much motor you could easily build a little 100+ mph death trap. Make sure your go kart, your riding area, and your driving abilities match the performance capabilities of your go kart.
Another option I have seen is to use a snowmobile engine and belt drive system. I have seen both. And both were wicked fast.
Not much effort at all. You can cannibalize a lot of parts from the donor motorcycle. The biggest problem is getting the final gearing right. The circumference of a go-kart tire is much smaller than a motorcycle tire.
However this could be accomplished with a jack shaft.
This has already been done so you won't need to re-invent the wheel. There is a go kart racing series that already uses motorcycle engines. Open your favorite search engine and search for "motorcycle engine go kart" without the quotes.
There is one minor issue that you may find is that a 2 stroke motorcycle engine doesn't produce much torque at low RPM. This may be an issue when starting off or if you need to go slow. But look out once you get the go kart moving. You may want to wear a full face helmet to keep the bugs out of your teeth because you will consistently have an ear to ear grin on your face.
One other issue you may encounter is that you could very easily over-power your go-kart. If you use too much motor you could easily build a little 100+ mph death trap. Make sure your go kart, your riding area, and your driving abilities match the performance capabilities of your go kart.
Another option I have seen is to use a snowmobile engine and belt drive system. I have seen both. And both were wicked fast.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Title Post: What do i need to look for when buying a used motorcycle.?
Rating: 100% based on 9998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
Rating: 100% based on 9998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar