2006-10-23 10:30:02 · 13 answers · asked by Tyler L 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
They are pretty simple machines.
Get or do a compression check.
Check the rims (Wheels) for roundness. Best done while riding, any unusual vibrations etc?
Put it up on the high stand and put it in neutral and slowly rev it to about 5000RPM then quickly release the throttle, listen for banging or clanking in the motor. Do it again and look for exhaust smoke. Black and Grey are ok but Blue smoke is not good.
Also check the chain, they stretch over time and can be a real hassle. Lights, brakes and do you feel comfortable riding it?.
2006-10-23 10:44:30 · answer #1 · answered by D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
remove the dipstick and check the color of and smell the oil. If it smells burnt, its a good indicator that no only hasn't the oil been changed regularly, but indicates that the current owner doesn't spend much time/money on maintenance! Check the clutch cable and brake cables to see if they are stretched (unless they are hydrolic!). Check the tires, especially the front tire for cupping. This will look like their have been little scoops taken out of the tread. This indicates that the tires were run with low pressure habitually. If it has a chain, check it for rust and check the rear sprocket to see if the teeth are leaning over. As chains and sprockets wear the teeth on the sprocket will lean in the direction the chain pulls (toward the front of the bike). If it needs a new chain, replace the sprockets at the same time or the new chain will wear out faster and the chain will be more prone to slip on the "leaning" teeth. Fading in the top surfaces will indicate if the bike was stored uncovered outside.
2006-10-23 11:06:14 · answer #2 · answered by viclioce 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is a street bike, look to see if the back tire is shagged out. It the owner was smoking the tires it may be one to walk away from. If it has a ton of aftermarket parts (even "goodies"), I would stay away from it. You don't want a 'Frankenstien' bike. Ask for maintenance records and ask about the driving conditions.
If it was a 'trailer queen' and never ridden, stay away from it. The worst thing that you can do for any machine is not run it. Seals dry up and crack, bearings get etched because the motor never got up to operating temp and light ends never blown out of the pan. When they say 'blow the cob webs out of her' that is good advice.
There are good used machines out there. Many real racers maintain their dirt bikes better than the hobbyist. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a race bike when you are talking dirt.
If it is a street bike and the guy likes to ride wheelies for a mile at a time then there is a good chance that the motor was starved of oil on many occasions.
2006-10-23 13:36:11 · answer #3 · answered by Todd 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course. You want to look to make sure that the bike has not been dropped. Scraches or dents on the side that will support a minor crash. Check the tires. See how worn they are, especially on the sides. You can also run your hands on the shell to see if there was any work done to it. I don't buy bikes that were dropped. It really is hard to know the extent of the damage done.
Take it out for a ride up the block to make sure the breaks are ok.And also ask the owner how he rode it. Was it parked in a covered garage or outside.
2006-10-23 10:34:43 · answer #4 · answered by sugarapple25 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of my favorite tests is to put the bike on the center stand and put weight on the rear seat so the front tire leaves the ground.
Then, move the handlebars back and forth - they should move smoothly without any "stopping point" (which usually happens right in the middle).
If you feel a "stopping point" your steering head bearings are bad and need to be replaced. It's a time consuming, all weekend, gig if you do it yourself and about $350.00 to $450.00 if the dealer does it for you.
This almost always is a symtom from the bike ramming into something...i.e. the back of a car or doing too many wheelies.
2006-10-23 11:01:46 · answer #5 · answered by Max P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Besides the mechanical problems to check for, you'll want to make sure the bike is the right one for you. Straddle it and see if it feels too heavy for you to hold upright. Put it on the sidestand (or better yet, centerstand) and put your feet on the pegs, see how long the seating position feels comfortable. And see if you can talk the owner into setting it down (on a patch of soft dirt or the like) and letting you try to pick it up. It's always a bad idea to get a bike that's too heavy for you to manage or too powerful for you to control.
2006-10-23 13:55:32 · answer #6 · answered by Mad Scientist Matt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't buy a sport bike from someone 30 or under. If you buy from a privet seller and like the bike ask if you can have a mechanic at a dealer check it over at your expensive. Or pay a little more and buy it from a dealer with a warranty.
2006-10-23 10:52:07 · answer #7 · answered by Riverfurm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Avoid any sports bikes with "custom" or "race replica" paint jobs, this almost always means they have been dropped, as getting original matching fairing costs a fortune, so people tend to just get aftermarket or plain fairing, then spray the entire bike.
2006-10-23 13:46:54 · answer #8 · answered by xkatsax 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yea ,ride it before you buy it and check the rims that they are not bent , Just because it may look good don't mean it rides good .if they wont let you ride it a few miles then forget it , Look around at other bikes too then choose which one you like
2006-10-23 10:36:47 · answer #9 · answered by Terry S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oil leaks and FILTH. You know, caked on grease on the engine and frame, and dirty rims. If you see it, walk away.
There's no excuse for this filth. It is a sign of neglect. The owner probably neglected oil changes and other service too.
If it is clean, then check the rest of it out.
2006-10-23 13:56:20 · answer #10 · answered by Trump 2020 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋