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What to Do When Buying A Used Motorcycle
The first used motorcycle you see may look good, but keep your options open. Get a firm idea of the available bikes on the market today.
· Bring along a trusted friend to help you stick to the plan. An extra hand is always a good idea when buying used motorcycles because they can help you load the bike onto a truck, or act as support. Knowledgeable friends may also notice things that you didn't. Have them read this too.
· Bring a spotlight to make inspection easier, even in daylight.
· Request to have the bike cool when you get there, to make sure that the bike will start when cold. (If the engine is pre-warmed it will start more quickly.)
· Bring along motorcycle gear in case the seller will let you test ride the bike.
· Inspect carefully the motorcycles offered through a dealership. Many of them could be used and resold with little or no repairs. Plus, used bikes at dealerships tend to be priced way over the "blue book" value. It is really dependent on you to fox out the defects and already know what the real value of the used bike is.
· As a general rule, when a used motorcycle requires repair, most dealerships will charge about $50 per hour for labor. (Cost is higher for European makes.)
· If you need some practice inspecting used motorcycles find a couple of friends with bikes that you can practice on. Inspect your friend's motorcycles as if they were being offered at the seller's house. Take notes while you do the inspections and talk with your friends about your findings.
· Once you have settled on buying a used motorcycle, get the gear related to the bike: the key and any spares that the seller has, any free or included spare parts, the owner's manual and service manual, and whatever else applies. Getting all these things right in the first visit is better than having to go back for something you forgot. The seller may be far less accommodating if you should return for something after already buying the used motorcycle.
· Ask for any service receipts to verify if repair work has been done on the motorcycle.
Once you have made a used motorcycle purchase, take the bike to get a full inspection by a professional. The extra money spent on getting the bike certified is worth it. Also make sure to have health insurance and vehicle insurance. Finally, slow down and respect your bike's power. Most accidents occur within the first five months of riding a newly purchased used motorcycle.
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