What do you know to know as a motorcycle buyer?

[testiesalmon]

If I was going to list out the things a motorcyclist would want to know when buying a bike, what would they be?

Some examples:

- price (obviously)
- mileage
- condition (new/ used etc.)
- currently registered?
- crash protection?
- theft protection?
- custom paint?
- aftermarket wheels?
- aftermarket rearsets?
- aftermarket exhaust?
- custom tune?

what else?

[less_than_coop]

Originally Posted by testiesalmon

If I was going to list out the things a motorcyclist would want to know when buying a bike, what would they be?

Some examples:

- price (obviously)
- mileage
- condition (new/ used etc.)
- currently registered?
- crash protection?
- theft protection?
- custom paint?
- aftermarket wheels?
- aftermarket rearsets?
- aftermarket exhaust?
- custom tune?

what else?

Registration is moot because you need to register it immediately in your name. I take the license plate(s) off of any vehicle I sell to force the buyer's hand. Big headaches if someone is out there on/in a vehicle that still comes back to you.

Maintenance records are also good.

[Oskar_Z28]

- price
- mileage
- condition (lightly used for me - I tend not to buy new bikes)
- no modifications, or minimal, but need stock stuff too.

rest I don't care.

- would not touch a bike with custom tunes, custom paints,

[flipstyledsm22]

Mechanical condition always dictates what it is worth to me. Doesn't matter the milage or how hard it was ridden, just well kept and maintained. I can appreciate a bike that was well serviced and repaired.

[FE_rex]

Tire age
Age of gas (smell)

[SpeedTrip955i]

Bin' crashed, raced?

[Wrek77]

does it have a title

[Gixxerguy86]

tire age, wreck history, if it is modded was it done correctly and in a tasteful manner?

cost of insurance is in the back of my mind, and parts availability/price, maintenance schedule (Ducati's seem to need service more frequently than Japanese bikes)

the obvious would be the kind of bike you would be getting yourself into, and weighing up to the type of riding you do. look at dyno graphs and compare to others you are interested in, compare dimensions like seat height, weight, wheel base, etc.

[Miloman]

Read the Tires- Are there huge chicken strips or have they been through several heat cycles with zero chicken strip. Will kinda tell you how the bike was ridden before.

For sport bikes I try to look if the tach or the front fairing stay bolts looked like a wrench or Allan key has ever been on them. Do the factory paint marks/ torque seal marks on motor mounts and other bolts look in alignment still?

How does the bike act when it’s hot? Let it get warmer than just “warmed up” .
Does the “valve train noise” or “cam chain noise” change as the bike gets over 210-220 degrees? Does the fan kick on like it should? Will it start back up ok while it’s that hot?

When you first turn the key do all the “dummy” and warning lights turn on and back off like they should? Or does the oil pressure light or check engine light not come on at all / bypassed. I’m not sure if this is possible on a super new bike with a completely digital display / tach but it’s something I look for.

[flipstyledsm22]

Chicken strips can easily be scrubbed off by parking lot figure eights. You're going to want to look for obvious signs of hard abuse: solid wear straight down the middle could be from burnies. Check for burnt rubber under the tail section... Especially if belts are showing.

If you ride often and there are a LOT of good curves in your area, the tires will shred. That's normal and not from hard abuse.

I take my fairings off at least every two months to deep clean... , morg is the king of clean... He practically disassembles his bikes all the time to get them super clean.

[RustyShaklford]

Going through this nightmares myself now.

Actual price....That $14k bike is on sale for $8,900?? Oh, but I have to be a disabled native American Inuit veteran of the civil war to qualify for that discount, hmmm. Oh and there is $2k in fees...

Fuel tank size? 2.8 Gallons? Houston to Galvaston requires two fuel stops. Houston to Dallas is three or four stops. (I was literally 10 seconds from buying a new katana before I found out it has an internal peanut tank)

Max lean angle? Those cool looking pipes limit it to 31 degrees on the right side....wtf??

DYI Valve check/adjust ...? Or do you need a factory tech to take the engine apart to access and a tool that they will not sell to the public measure?

Still under warranty, awesome!! Life time warranty that's great! Life Time is over as soon as something breaks....?

Never wrecked...nice...why was the left side of the crankcase repainted?

Best advice I have heard is that everyone selling anything is trying screw you so find an expert to assist.

[Track_Graphics]

3 wheels bad
2 wheels good


My favorite quote from Animal House.

[Squidward]

Check around the engine for possible oil leaks, even minor ones such as a gasket getting old.

Primary thing for me is engine maintenance, such as oil change intervals, valve adjustments (if needed), and if was bounced off the limiter ��.

[Squidward]

Originally Posted by Track_Graphics

3 wheels bad
2 wheels good


My favorite quote from Animal House.

One wheel, best, haha