BBG�s Buying a used bike

With a recent influx of e-mails into BBG Hq seeking advice and tips on what to look out for when viewing a used bike, we took the requests and thought we�d not only answer them, but make a new section! We�ve now incorporated an independent page with enough tips and tricks to the trade to make even a Jeremy Burgess bike look sloppy, enjoy� In Ireland today there are five different ways in which you can look up and purchase a used bike, these being

Web Classifieds: www.bikebuyersguide.ie
Print Classifieds: Bike Buyers Guide Magazine, Buy and Sell
Dealerships: Bikeworld, Motomax etc etc
Word on the street: A mate�s mouth
Auctions: Although there aren�t too many off them around�

Go source yourself a nice set of wheels, ring up the seller and organise a viewing time. Take no guff, its haggling time�

�You�ve arrived at the scene, at which the owner has parked their bike against an idyllic backdrop of flowers and green green grass, probably polished 30 seconds prior to your arrival.�

Going out to view a bike, you are going to have to see the bigger picture. You�ve arrived at the scene, at which the owner has parked their bike against an idyllic backdrop of flowers and green green grass, probably polished 30 seconds prior to your arrival. A lot of buyers will be tempted into buying, having already made their mind up on first glance; take a look around, on the inside as well as out. If it has just been washed and is still wet, you�re most likely going to miss scratches and scrapes that�ll otherwise be very visible in dry conditions. Here�s a diluted list of what you�ll now need to know and look out for, good look!

Possible bent forks

WATCH OUT FOR!	WHAT THEY MEAN?
Engine casings / belly pan marks.	Tell tale signs of a fall
Rusty chain/Square Tyres	Signs of neglected maintenance
Clogged exhaust note	Engine has seen better days
Indicators/Lights not working	Faulty ECU
Throttle hesitant to turn	Faulty throttle cables/ bent handlebar
Re-sprayed/race scheme fairings	Possibly been down the road
Oil on fork legs	Fork seals may need replacing
Dark coloured fuel in tank	Been lying around for yonks
White streaks in engine oil (look through sight glass/dipstick)	Water/condensation leaking in
Engine being warm when you get there ( place hand on engine cases)	Might prove tricky to start otherwise, and seller has a few mins earlier warmed it up
Torn Saddle	More mileage than clock may suggest
Shallow fairing scratches	Bike may have fallen of its stand
Deep scrapes/cracks	Bike most likely fell at speed
From back the bike isn’t in line	Possible bent frame
Handlebars/forks slightly of line
VIN numbers dont match Usually near steering head/frame spars	The bike has been stolen!
Lockwired bolts/brakes or holes	Its been raced or trackdayed heavily
(If two exhausts), Both dont exert same pressure	Indicate motor and cylinders firing incorrectly
If the owner offers a helmet too	Do not use it! Used helmets are useless, extremely dangerous. Purchase a new lid.
Read owners reports of that bike	Will inform you of any design flaws and tell you what to look out for

If youre in any doubht of the bikes condition, but still feel that it�s a pretty good deal, get a qualified mechanic to check it out, or bring them along with you when looking at it. They�ll give you a concrete assessment.
Now that you�ve given the bike a good looking over its time to take it for a test ride, that�s if the owner lets you do so. If they don�t trust you leave a car or a friend with them as a binding deposit. Don�t take the test ride before looking over the bike, as you�ll be able to see if there are oil leaks or engine problems when you come back in after the engine has been run, things that the owner might have cleaned up before you got there in the first place.

YOU SHOULD...	IT SHOULD...
Push the front forks up and down	Do so freely without clunking!
Check all electrics, from the horn right down to the indicators	Actually work!
Pull clutch in, engage first gear and roll forward without releasing.	Feel like its in neutral
Open tank and take a peak in	Have no rust inside!
Try and test it on a smooth road	Handle accordingly, check tyre pressures too
Roll bike, pull brakes and release	Bike should roll freely after
Check for toolkit	Be there!
Put bike on centre stand and spin wheels	Do so freely, and if they don’t they’re bent

If you�re happy with the bike, then happy days! If you are a first time biker its also important to try out a few bikes first before making a purchase. Go into a dealership, sit on different styles of bike and then see which category you feel most happy with�

Table Quiz; Questions to ask the Owner!

How many previous owners?

Why are you selling it?

Has it ever been down the road?

Have you trackdayed/raced it?

(Don’t hesitate to ask this) Are there any problems with it?

Is it driven through countryside or town streets?

Service history?

As it had any new parts recently? (Clutch, brakes etc)

Has it been garaged/left in the open?

(If there are aftermarket accessories) why have they been fitted?

(If it’s dark), have you got a light?