sally h
I am looking for my first bike and I am going to look at a 1981 Honda 400 Special with 16,000 miles on it. It looks like it's in great condition from the pics. Anyone know how these bikes are? And what to look for when I test drive it?
I will be taking it for a ride tonight and he's selling it for $700.00
Answer
First, actually inspect the bike with your own eyes. It is not a good idea to buy a used motorcycle over the Internet sight unseen.
Bring a friend. If you do not have your motorcycle license yet, bring a friend with a motorcycle license. Bring two helmets.
First, check some of the obvious items. It will give you an idea of how the bike was maintained.
Look at the chain. Is it rusty? Is it adjusted to near its limit?
If it has adjustable brakes, are they adjusted to their limit? If it has disk brakes, are the disks rusty, pitted or grooved?
If the bike has a center stand, put it on the center stand. Have your friend hold the bike steady. Pull on the rear wheel from side to side. Is there any play in the swing arm?
Look at the tires. Is there good tread? Is there any weather checking?
Look at the oil. Does it look black and neglected or does it look like it had a recent change?
Look at the overall appearance. Is there lots of rust? Are pieces missing or broken? Are there any bad scratches or dents that you are unwilling to accept? Is the seat ripped?
Does the bike have excessive miles? Bikes from the south will tend to have more miles than bikes in the north because of the shorter riding season in the north. This is a judgment call depending where you live.
Start the engine. Did the owner warm it up before you got there or was the engine cold? Was it easy to start? Did it turn over well or did the battery sound weak? Did it smoke when it started? Any unusual sounds? Is there excessive valve clatter?
Take it for a ride. How does the engine run? Does it smoke? Does the transmission shift smoothly? Does the clutch slip? Are the brakes firm? Do the brakes squeal? Are there any unusual rattles? Does the suspension work well or easily bottom out?
Any defects you find are something that you may need to deal with in the future. Some items can be inexpensive to repair. However, some motorcycle parts can be surprisingly expensive. If it is an older bike, spare parts may not be readily available. Once you buy it, any repairs required to keep it on the road will be your responsibility.
It helps to know at what price bikes of similar size and age sell for in your local area. This will help you judge if the bike is priced correctly. Watch the classifieds.
If you decide to buy it, get yourself a maintenance manual. I got a Clymer manual for my bike on eBay for about $25. It will pay for itself the first time you use it. Even if you do not make your own repairs, you will understand your bike better and know what it needs when you bring it to the repair shop.
First, actually inspect the bike with your own eyes. It is not a good idea to buy a used motorcycle over the Internet sight unseen.
Bring a friend. If you do not have your motorcycle license yet, bring a friend with a motorcycle license. Bring two helmets.
First, check some of the obvious items. It will give you an idea of how the bike was maintained.
Look at the chain. Is it rusty? Is it adjusted to near its limit?
If it has adjustable brakes, are they adjusted to their limit? If it has disk brakes, are the disks rusty, pitted or grooved?
If the bike has a center stand, put it on the center stand. Have your friend hold the bike steady. Pull on the rear wheel from side to side. Is there any play in the swing arm?
Look at the tires. Is there good tread? Is there any weather checking?
Look at the oil. Does it look black and neglected or does it look like it had a recent change?
Look at the overall appearance. Is there lots of rust? Are pieces missing or broken? Are there any bad scratches or dents that you are unwilling to accept? Is the seat ripped?
Does the bike have excessive miles? Bikes from the south will tend to have more miles than bikes in the north because of the shorter riding season in the north. This is a judgment call depending where you live.
Start the engine. Did the owner warm it up before you got there or was the engine cold? Was it easy to start? Did it turn over well or did the battery sound weak? Did it smoke when it started? Any unusual sounds? Is there excessive valve clatter?
Take it for a ride. How does the engine run? Does it smoke? Does the transmission shift smoothly? Does the clutch slip? Are the brakes firm? Do the brakes squeal? Are there any unusual rattles? Does the suspension work well or easily bottom out?
Any defects you find are something that you may need to deal with in the future. Some items can be inexpensive to repair. However, some motorcycle parts can be surprisingly expensive. If it is an older bike, spare parts may not be readily available. Once you buy it, any repairs required to keep it on the road will be your responsibility.
It helps to know at what price bikes of similar size and age sell for in your local area. This will help you judge if the bike is priced correctly. Watch the classifieds.
If you decide to buy it, get yourself a maintenance manual. I got a Clymer manual for my bike on eBay for about $25. It will pay for itself the first time you use it. Even if you do not make your own repairs, you will understand your bike better and know what it needs when you bring it to the repair shop.
Can anybody recommend a very safe and very light crash helmet?
Denzilla
I spend a lot of time on the bike but my heavy crash helmet is giving me neck ache! Safety is my priority but a light weight helmet would be great
Answer
Here's a comprehensive list of weights, done by an online review site:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmet-weights.htm
Tells you internal shape too. Have you considered that your neck is sore because of wind buffeting? Bikes with windscreens cause it like no ones business, I hate em for it. Might also just simply be conditioning, not being used to riding after a period of time off the bike, or just being new in general.
Here's a comprehensive list of weights, done by an online review site:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmet-weights.htm
Tells you internal shape too. Have you considered that your neck is sore because of wind buffeting? Bikes with windscreens cause it like no ones business, I hate em for it. Might also just simply be conditioning, not being used to riding after a period of time off the bike, or just being new in general.
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Title Post: 1981 Honda 400 Special reviews?
Rating: 100% based on 9998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
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Rating: 100% based on 9998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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