The test ride at Webbs of Lincoln

Used bikes can be great value buys. At Triumph and Yamaha dealership Webbs, that value’s backed up by a three-step quality check…

USED BIKE BUYING can be a perilous experience, but not at Webbs of Lincoln. There’s not a dirty fairing, crash-damaged frame, or patchy service history on any of their machines. Instead, Webbs check a used bike at least three times before finally handing it over to its new owner. ‘Every bike we are offered goes through a 15-point check looking at things like engine, electronics and suspension,’ says sales exec Benjamin Smith. ‘If satisfied, we’ll buy the bike and pass it onto Adam our valeter. It’s fullydetailed and tyres that are half-worn are replaced with the manufacturer’s recommendation. Only then will we put it on display.’ Of course, Webbs offer test rides on all their used stock. ‘We wouldn’t expect anyone to buy without a test ride,’ says Benjamin. ‘Call us up, book a time, and the bike will be ready for you. Walk through the doors and you might have to wait 20 minutes.’ That’s because Webbs safetycheck every machine before it’s ridden. ‘After it’s passed safety the customer can have it for anything from an hour on a low mileage machine to a whole day on a tourer.’ The third check is a thorough pre-delivery inspection. ‘When a customer buys a bike we go into serious detail setting correct torque values on the majority of bolts, testing the battery quality and oil level. If either of these isn’t right, we’ll replace, no extra charge. There are five points just for testing the brakes, and a road test to boot.’ So that’s the unique service, here’s a look at some of the bikes on offer…