Useful Tips For Buying a Used Motorcycle
Your first motorcycle will likely be one of the biggest investments you make when you first decide to embark on the adventure of motorcycling. Purchase second-hand goods? Do you purchase new? It’s a difficult decision. The process only gets more difficult when you have the choice of buying from a private seller, a dealer, or someone in between.
A first-time buyer could find the process of purchasing a used bike to be intimidating. How do I search? What questions must I ask? How can I be sure I’m not purchasing a lemon? We are professionals that regularly work with buyers and sellers, and our experience in the motorcycle industry gives us an advantage over most people when it comes to knowing how to find a decent bargain on a second-hand bike. The following will discuss some of the fundamental features novice and even seasoned riders should search for in a used motorbike.
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Where to Find a Used Motorcycle
Purchasing a new motorcycle can be highly expensive, similar to buying a new automobile. Buying a used motorcycle might be a better choice if you lack the funds or have poor credit. Beginners seeking entry-level bicycles before moving up to the big leagues might also benefit from used bicycles. Similar to buying a used automobile, you may purchase a second-hand motorcycle. But before you choose, there are several things you need to understand about the sales platform, just as when purchasing a used automobile. When choosing where to purchase your machine, keep the following in mind:
Pricing: A private seller would typically give a lower price than a dealership if pricing is a concern. The private seller does not need additional resources like personnel, a facility, or other expenses related to operating a business. Although the immediate savings are alluring, there are other possible problems as well. Observe the following bullet points.
Quality: There is a good probability that you will get a dependable motorcycle if you purchase from independently owned dealerships, franchised dealers, or independent stores. They would quickly develop a negative reputation if they offered low-quality motorcycles, thus it benefits you like the new rider when they only accept trade-ins with excellent maintenance and value. In general, dealers only accept trade-ins in good condition. Expect that when you leave the showroom, the used motorcycles will be in good condition, well-maintained, and ready to ride. A dealer will frequently have a written inspection report to record all issues that may require repair in the future as well as any issues that were fixed after the motorcycle was brought in.
Service History: A private seller might not be able to provide proof of the upkeep or repairs made while the property was under their control. But it’s not always the case that you have nothing to show. Some motorbike owners are extremely diligent, and they may have all the necessary invoices and records to back up their claims. The only history that a dealership typically has is from the time they received the motorcycle.
Warranty: If a problem arises with the motorcycle within a certain time frame or the number of miles it has been driven since you purchased it, the dealer could give a limited warranty. A motorcycle is often sold by a private seller “as is,” without any included or implied warranties. In most cases, a dealer will take the motorcycle back for service if you have a problem within the first week of ownership. Rarely will a private vendor follow suit?
Ownership History: Before you buy a motorcycle, dealerships typically conduct an ownership history investigation to make sure it hasn’t been stolen or written off by an insurance company. If a private seller is aware of the motorcycle’s past, they might not be willing to discuss it. You should be able to request a written history of the motorcycle from the dealer.
Repairs: When problems with the motorcycle do develop after you buy it, the service department at the dealership is frequently equipped to handle them. You can be sure that a trained staff member did the work appropriately if any maintenance or repairs were carried out after it was traded in and you bought it. A second-hand motorbike sold privately might have undergone extensive maintenance and repair, but the seller might not have received the same training as a staff member at a dealer or repair facility.
Financing: The majority of the time, private vendors won’t provide you with a financing alternative. Most of the time, you’ll have to pay in cash or with a cashier’s check from your bank while making a purchase. A dealership may offer private financing options or manage the transaction using a lender that has been approved. If you require finance for a private purchasing experience, you will be required to put forth all the effort necessary to obtain the loan, whether it be through an online lender, your own bank, or a different friend or relative.
Title Transfers: If the motorcycle is being sold privately, they should give you the title of ownership (as long as they don’t have a lien against it). Once the motorcycle is in your possession, you’ll need to finish the title transfer with the DMV and any other post-purchase paperwork to enable you to ride it legally on the road. In order to avoid standing in line at the DMV and just waiting for your license to arrive, a dealer will frequently include all of that additional work in the purchase.
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How to Pick a Good Used Motorcycle
There are many places where you can purchase a used motorcycle. A larger search result from Google or Bing, private sellers on your preferred websites like Craigslist, Cycle Trader, and Motorcycles on Autotrader, or you can just look for your nearby motorcycle dealerships and give them a visit.
What’s best for me as a beginner rider is always a concern. We’ve gathered some ideas for you to consider as you go through the classifieds and before you choose to visit a few used motorbike dealerships.
Research the Pricing: The initial stages of hunting for a used motorcycle might be exciting or difficult. You’re eager to get out and ride, but the price will depend on what you want to buy, where you want to buy it, and how. Given the ease of access to the internet, you may browse a variety of websites for listings and estimated values of second-hand motorcycles without getting too lost or perplexed. To determine a motorcycle’s approximate fair market worth, conduct some online research using retail price guidelines or read used motorcycle listings. Since motorcycles are rarely kept in showroom condition, you’ll need to consider whether any parts have been added or removed and whether doing so increases or decreases the value. This will give you a ballpark figure to work with, and you can adjust your pricing from there.
Tips on how to contact the Seller
There are a few easy rules to follow for a seamless process when you’ve decided to look at a motorcycle in person and possibly buy it. These straightforward factors to think about include usual topics to address with the seller (whether a private party or a dealership), as well as some things you should and shouldn’t do throughout the searching and purchasing process. Make sure to read the corresponding ad in full if you first encounter the motorcycle online. Make a few notes on the motorcycle, including the model year, the mileage, the colours, any maintenance that has been done, etc. When you compare different motorcycles later on or wish to publish notes on a forum to gain feedback on the motorcycle, this will be useful. Be cordial and considerate of the seller’s time in any communications with them. Most people have one or more jobs, may have families, and have many other obligations to attend to. This may lead them to wait a while before responding. Additionally, make sure to use the advertisement to address all of your inquiries, and only inquire about details not covered by the advertisement that is crucial to the deal. Just get a sense of the motorcycle and seller from the first correspondence. Use a face-to-face meeting to gather a lot more details on the motorcycle that aren’t crucial. Avoid trying to bargain for a lower price unless you have actually seen the motorcycle in person and are confident that you understand what its fair market worth should be. Only after you’re prepared to go see the motorcycle should you set a time and place for the meeting. Be flexible with your availability as it must be at a time and location where both parties can readily meet. The lighting is considerably better to see all the intricacies when inspecting the motorcycle in the daylight. Early or late in the day, low light levels can create shadows that conceal things like scratches, oil leaks, and other items you don’t want to miss.
Check the Motorcycle
Make sure to indicate that you want to see the motorcycle cold when you schedule the in-person inspection. Before the engine has even started and warmed up, you want to see it. A hot engine can mask starting problems that may surface later.
It’s possible for a cold motorcycle to have a worn battery that makes starting it difficult. If you see the motorcycle running, you might think everything is well with the battery. Here are a few other items we’d advise you to quickly examine when you examine the motorcycle:
Engine: Look over the engine, checking for wear or damage on the outer cases, the engine block, or any fluid leaks where components connect. On the top of the engine, check for coolant leaks. At gasket seams, check for oil leaks. Check the drain plug and any oil drips underneath the motorcycle.
Frame: If the frame is made of steel rather than aluminum, check it for any missing paint or corrosion protection that can allow the frame to rust. Check each item for cracks and any missing parts, whether they have come off accidentally or were removed on purpose.
Suspension: Look for any leaks coming from shocks or struts whose seals need to be replaced or whose actual units require replacement. No protective footwear, including boots or covers, should have gaps where dirt can get in. Check any bushings connecting suspension parts for cracks and drying out.
Fluid Leaks: Keep an eye out for any signs of a fluid leak, which may leave a trail on the ground or inside the motorcycle as it descends to the ground. The engine shouldn’t be leaking any oil. Check the radiator and all rubber hose connections for coolant leakage. Leaks may also be detected by smell; for example, coolant smells sweet and oil smells strong.
Chain and Sprocket: Make sure the chain is properly oiled by looking over it. Chain grease is distinct from the majority of other lubricants used on motorcycles and will appear waxy. Its purpose is to adhere to the chain and offer protection from moisture and mud. During the chain’s rotation, it shouldn’t come off. There shouldn’t be any obvious cracks and the sprockets should be quite clean. Each sprocket needs to mesh with the chain and have pointed teeth. In contrast to a dull butter knife, the teeth should be pointed or just slightly rounded with wear.
Tires: To let drivers know when the tread depth is too shallow for safe use in slick conditions, all tires contain wear indicators between the treads. You should be able to see a depth indicator if you look in between the treads. Add tires to the list of items that “need to be purchased soon” if they exhibit wear indicators (indicating the tread is severely worn).
Additionally, tires should not have cracks from prolonged sitting (also known as dry rot). Before you ride, you can check their pressure using a basic pressure gauge to make sure they are holding air.
Take a Test Ride – Very Important task!
A test ride is a contentious topic because there is a lot of potential liability for all parties. A private vendor might not let you ride the motorcycle, and if they do, they’ll probably want something in exchange (like a car) or payment to hold the motorcycle. If you get into an accident while riding it, it’s still their motorcycle, and since you don’t have insurance on it, your policy might not pay for the damage. Although it’s still up for debate, a dealership is more likely to let you take the motorcycle for a test drive. They have the right to decline to give you a ride.
Don’t worry too much if a motorcycle doesn’t feel like it’s set up precisely for you during a test ride. It won’t be, most likely. It’s time to feel and hear how smoothly the motorcycle operates right now. Before the ride, you already performed a visual inspection of the motorcycle. Keep an ear out for strange noises like squeaks, rattles, and loose parts. Do bearings rattle when the wheels turn or when the suspension moves? Does vibration cause something to sound loose? When you stop, do the brakes feel soft? Any red flags that just don’t seem right should be heard and observed. Any issues you uncover must be discussed with the seller or dealership, and any repairs that are required could have to be tacked onto the purchase price in the future.
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