All posts tagged buying used motorcycle

While used motorcycles are hugely popular in most countries (for obvious reasons – new ones are expensive!), care needs to be taken when thinking about buying one. Motorcycles are much more dangerous than even cars are, so you must ensure that any second-hand bike you buy is still roadworthy.

Choose a reputable dealership

This is possibly the most important thing to do when considering second-hand bikes, for a variety of reasons.  The main reason is that, unfortunately, second-hand motorcycles are quite often stolen rather than legitimately obtained.

In order to ensure that the bike you are currently looking at hasn’t been stolen, go through the following steps:

• Ask the seller for the registration number, make and model of the bike, tax details and details of the last MOT it had,
• If you have access to the registration certificate, hold it up to the light and check for the DVL watermark – if you think it has been forged, or that the serial number has been alter, do not buy the bike!
• Check for the vehicle identification number – if it has been tampered with or is missing, do not buy the bike.

Another reason for going to a dealership is that, while you may be paying more money, there is generally some form of plan in place for you to get your money back if the bike breaks down within a certain time of buying it.  If you do go to a private seller, try and take your bike to a dealership to be inspected – it might save you down the line!

Check the bike out for yourself

If you’ve passed the test to own a motorcycle license, chances are you will have sat a knowledge test (learn more about BC motorcycle test) which covers more basic knowledge such as how to conduct an oil check, basic maintenance, and other things of that nature.  Using some simple tools (including a multimeter and a flashlight), check:

• The drive chain and sprocket.  It shouldn’t have much movement, and the sprocket shouldn’t have any visible signs of wear,
• The tires – they should still have good treads with a firm grip,
• Sitting on the bike, check the levers for brakes and clutch, the instrument cluster and the bar-end weights,
• The handbrake.  When you hold it and bounce up and down on the front suspension, the movement should be smooth and steady,
• The visible frame – if possible remove the seat to see as much as possible, and check for nicks and bumps.
• While the seat is off, pass the multimeter over the battery.  It should read under 12 volts when off, and under 14 when running.  If it goes over fourteen, there could be a vault in the voltage which could cause your battery to fail.

Consider Your Driving Habits

Before buying a bike, consider the type of driving you do.  If you mainly drive on roads, that will be one particular type of bike.  If you are mainly going to be using the bike off-road, that will require a different type of bike.