Not everyone can afford a brand new motorcycle. Well, if you love to ride and you can’t get your hand on a brand new machine, here is a few important tips that will give you a great secondhand bike that you can still enjoy and use to explore the places around you.
Questions to Ask
- Appearance: Is the bike clean and shiny?
- Touch the engine: Is it cold or warmed up?
- Are there any oil leaks at the engine or gearbox?
- Do the frame/chassis number and the engine number match the details on the paper documents?
- Are there bills for regular services available?
- How are the tires?
- How is the chain?
- Are the bearings in shape? (Check by moving the wheel sideways).
- Is the fork dry or does it have oil around the seal rings?
- Are the spokes okay? (Take a spanner and glide softly over them. If you hear very high “Ping” noises then they are okay).
- Are the brake discs okay? (If it is deeper inside than the outside then it is worn)
Helpful Tips
- From the drum brakes, you might be able to see if there is still a way to adjust the cable. If not the brake shoes might be worn.
- Check both brakes by taking a test ride
- Check all the lights, whether they are working or not, and don’t forget the horn.
- Look at the cables if there are any loose ends that are coming out (that’s a sign such a cable will snap soon).
- Start the engine and confirm if it starts with a starter or not.
Taking the Test Ride: What to Check
- Does the clutch work properly? Does it come sudden or like it should?
- Do the gears change without noise?
- Does it smoke badly or normal?
- If you feel with the finger at the end of muffler there should be no oily fingers
- Does it accelerate properly if you open the throttle?
- Does it make no noises and clutch doesn’t slip if you rev up to hard?
- Are all the Instruments working?
- If your brake is there movement in the steering
- If you are skilled enough, leave the handle for a second and look if the bike stays in line or if it starts wobbling.
Other Tips
- If there is blue smoke then it is oil, petrol more black, and with water-cooled bikes, white smoke will point at the water in the engine
- Again if the engine is cold it will smoke for a while before it´s warmed up – and that’s normal!
- If it doesn’t make any noises and clutch don’t slip if you rev up too hard it could also mean that some brackets are broken.
- Wear proper gear before doing any test or before hitting the road on your bike.
You can still find a second-hand bike in great shape. Make sure that you remain patient and shop for a while before making your final decision. And with this checklist of ours, that shouldn’t be a problem at all.