Defeated by Friction
so, the motorcycle is as visually striking as Katrina Kaif in a red dress or, at the least, it can be restored to former glory without you having to break the bank. now what? we move on to the objects that are most prone to friction and in order to do that, place the motorcycle on its centre-stand (on the paddock stand for the ones without it). Check if both wheels are aligned in a straight line and rotate them. if the wheels are not true and are spinning out of alignment, then they are probably damaged. inspect the rims carefully for any deformation; if the wheels have spokes, check them too. some sport motorcycles with alloy wheels are also quite prone to cracked rims and those require replacement — certainly more costly than mending dents and bends.
For chain-driven motorcycles, if the chain adjuster is at its maximum setting, that means the chain will need replacement soon. the same can be said if the chain does not fit snugly on the final drive sprocket. similarly, an excessively tight chain would have caused significant damage over time, including abnormal wear of the gearbox, rear wheel bearing, and sprockets. similar checks can be done for belt-driven motorcycles as well. For a shaft-driven example, check the oil level in the differential.
the sprocket will also need replacement if its teeth are missing or have been filed to a point. while you are at it, take a look at the tyres too. they should have a tread depth of at least two millimetres. Furthermore, if they have one too many punctures, repairs/cuts or are squared off, you need fresh rubber, so make sure you factor that into the final price. For motorcycles that have low mileage, pay close attention to the tyre surface because even though there may be enough tread left, old rubber tends to become hard and develop cracks, critically reducing their levels of grip.
Riding on our roads is an exercise in pain if the motorcycle has poor suspension. oil residue on the front fork is confirmation that the oil seals have given up and if the chrome surface of the fork legs has become worn out, that means the fork is bent. Fixing new seals is a reasonable expense while repairing/replacing the fork itself is not. similarly, compress the rear suspension and watch it rise when you let it go. if it returns to normal at a steady pace, that is a good sign, but if it bounces back up like a springboard, it indicates that the damping has been compromised; a replacement will be required.
the most common victim of wear and tear are the brake pads which can be replaced easily but worn-out disc rotors incur additional cost. if the rotor has developed a ridge on its surface, it is at the end of its life. By the way, keep an eye out for signs of wear and tear on the footpegs and brake and gear levers too. if the motorcycle has low mileage on the odometer but these items are well worn, the reading is… well, misleading.
this is probably the most neglected part of buying a used motorcycle. we are often so excited about landing a great deal that we forget the strings that often come attached with it. insurance is the easiest thing to sort out but things such as transfer of ownership on the registration certificate is more complicated. motorcycles that are more than 15 years old attract additional costs such as green tax and pollution control certificates. a no-objection certificate (noC) is required if you intend to take the motorcycle to a different state — an arduous and expensive process — which is why we warned you against it at the outset of this article. another piece of paper that is absolutely essential is the hypothecation form from the bank to prove that the motorcycle’s equated monthly instalments (emi) have been paid and loan, if any, has been repaid in full. it also helps to check if the motorcycle has any outstanding fines.
Finally, you need a lot of patience when you become the owner of a used motorcycle. Regardless of how careful you are, it may throw a few tantrums during the first couple of months of ownership but most issues can be solved easily with a systematic and meticulous approach. most importantly, wear good riding gear and ride safe.
of course, for more questions, you can always write to us or slide into our Dms. Cheers.