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When it comes to used motorcycles, the buyer must really beware. As you listen to the seller give his sales pitch, try to determine if the seller really does care about the motorcycle's condition. If a used motorcycle part is bent out of shape, does the owner seem to think its no big deal or is honest about the fact it needs some repair? A good seller is somebody who maintained his bikes well and kept up with scheduled maintenance. Not somebody who just sells their bike when they've worn them out.

Questions to Ask the Seller:

· Has the used motorcycle ever been in a crash?
o If the seller claims it was never in a crash but you see evidence of crash damage, ask the seller to explain.

· Has the used motorcycle ever been raced?
o If the seller claims the bike has not been used for racing but you see safety wire, ragged edge tires, aftermarket motorcycle case guards, etc., there better be a good explanation. If the seller's main selling point is something like the bike is "super fast," it could be a sign that the bike was abused.

· When was the last time the oil was changed?
o Street bike oil must be changed at least every 5,000 miles or every six months, whichever arrives first.

o For dirt bikes, oil should be changed after several rides, or at least every couple hundred miles. For dual-sports bikes (on/off road), the oil change interval depends entirely on where the greater percentage of their use was: on the street or in the dirt.

· What is the used motorcycle's maintenance history?
o Is the used motorcycle way overdue for servicing? Perhaps it needs a valve adjustment or a carb sync. If the owner has the motorcycle manual, open it up and look at the maintenance schedule to see if it was followed properly.

· How old (in years & miles) are the used motorcycle tires? Are the tires road-worthy? It's a bad sign if the seller doesn't know! Tires are your sole connection to the road, so don't overlook their quality. They should be changed every other year or so at least The last four numbers of the "DOT" code stamped on the inner wall are the date in terms of what week it was made during the year; the last two digits representing the year. For example, "DOT824ABX3C2602" would indicate that the tires were manufactured on the 26th week of the year 2002.

· What, if any, modifications have been done on the used motorcycle?
o Heavily modified bikes are more of a liability.

· Regarding an off-road bike: how often is the air filter cleaned and replaced?

o Clean and change the air filters on a dirt bike frequently, according to how often the bike encounters off-road conditions. Every couple of rides for a dual-sport bike. Change the transmission oil similarly.

· Regarding off-road two-stroke motorcycles: when was the last time it got a fresh top end?
o Every 20-40 hours of use is appropriate.

· Boldly quiz the seller:
o Why are you selling this used motorcycle?
o Is there anything wrong with this used motorcycle?
o Is there anything wrong with the bike that you haven't pointed out yet?
o Should I be aware of any maintenance or safety issues if I buy this used motorcycle?
o What further work would you have done to the bike if you held onto it another year or so?
· To be certain the seller is telling you the truth about upgraded internal components, ask to see a sales receipt for them.

Sometimes asking questions about the used motorcycle in a straightforward manner will reveal things that otherwise would have been kept a secret until it may be too late. Your friends and family will be so relieved to know that you are taking responsibility for the quality and safety of your used motorcycle.

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