9 THINGS TO CHECK BEFORE BUYING A SECONDHAND BIKE

Follow these simple steps, do a little homework, and you’ll bag yourself a great buy!

1 What’s it worth?

Are your sure how much you should be paying for the bike you’ve chosen? You can never do too much research before handing over your cash. Read the buying guides and online reviews at motorcyclenews.com. Browse the values of as many comparable bikes as possible on mcnbikesforsale. com. Be sure to differentiate between private sales and dealer bikes, take into consideration age, mileage, condition and any accessories the bike may have. Focus on bikes that are close to the model and specification you’re looking for and don’t forget things like condition and service history.

2

Insurance costs

If there’s any chance that your insurance premium could be prohibitive, check it out early on in the process before you become financially (or emotionally) committed to the bike. You don’t want to torture yourself by putting down a deposit, only to later find out that your location, age or job is too high-risk to get an affordable insurance quote. You may also discover that certain types of bike require alarms, trackers or overnight garaging before a provider will even consider insuring them. Check your premium at mcncompare.com and then let the haggling commence!

3

Check the history

On face value a bike is a bike – but without knowing its history it could be a whole heap of trouble. Written-off machines are often repaired and put back on the road; stolen machines are fraudulently given new identities; ‘parallel’ imports have specifications that differ from genuine UK machines and the boom in finance incentives opens you up to buying a bike where money is still owed and finance companies still have a claim on the bike. You can get an HPI check from motorcyclenews.com to see if there is any outstanding finance before committing to the deal.

4

Any recalls?

Manufacturer safety recalls are usually free (for the bike’s owner) so there’s little reason for them not to have been done – but it’s important to check when buying a used machine as they sometimes get missed when bikes change hands. Manufacturers issue recalls and dealer bulletins for everything from flaky finish to frame failure. You can check for official recalls by searching for ‘VOSA recall check’. When you’re speaking to a dealer about servicing your bike, probe them on any detail tweaks or replacement parts that you need to know about, too.

5 Know its needs

Research the servicing needs of your intended purchase. A dealer or marque specialist (ideally not the one you’re buying from) is your best source of information. And keep an eye out on the mainstream motorcycling press for buyers’ guides relating to your particular model. A bike 1500 miles short of a major service needs to be priced accordingly – or if a shiny Ducati is 5000 miles past needing new belts, you want to know about it.

6 Try before you buy

Don’t buy any motorcycle before you’ve tried it and know you like it. It sounds obvious but there’s such a big choice out there today there’s no need to settle for something that’s ‘sort of’ right for your needs. It’s better to make the right choice first time, rather than go through the hassle and expense of trading it in six months later. Plus, if possible, try more than one example of the same model to give you an idea of how they should ride.

7 It it time to phone a (trusted) friend?

Get a second opinion from someone you trust – ideally a slightly cynical but knowledgeable mate. It’s all too easy to get ‘bike-struck’ when looking at a preened, polished bike for sale, and the opinion of someone without an interest in the transaction can help you spot things you might overlook as you’re too eager to own the bike. Ensure your phone-a-friend is someone who’ll tell you the truth, not just what they think you want to hear.

8 Tell-tale signs of neglect and abuse

Look at the tyres – are they in good shape, matched and a suitable fitment for the bike? How old are they? Wear patterns can tell you if the owner is a ‘thrasher’ or a ‘bimbler’. The chain and sprockets are another area where neglect is obvious. If it’s easy to look after, but hasn’t been, it’s a good indication of how the bits you can’t see have been cared for. Clean wheels and fairings but gravel rash on the frame? It was probably someone’s track bike.

9 Join the community

Name just about any bike and there will be an online forum or Facebook group for it. They’re an invaluable resource – even if you just want to talk to like-minded folk. You shouldn’t just take a stranger’s word as gospel, but careful filtering of wisdom can help you buy, maintain and improve your bike in addition to discovering owner-reviewed and trusted dealers or specialists who can help keep your bike in top condition.