How to buy a used bike

If you are thinking of buying a Moto used, be sure to check these tips to make a good deal!

  1. Have a good look at the chassis. Ask someone you trust to go with you (a mechanic is even better if you do not understand the scratched). Get away from about 5 feet to the front of the bike. Her upright and facing forward guiding note the vertical centerline of the front wheel coincides with the vertical axis of the rear wheel. It is difficult to assess this, so a distance of 10 meters is a little better than 5 meters. Do this by looking ahead and behind the bike. But stare for several seconds. รจ important to have a medium-sized person to heavy sitting on the bike during this check.
  2. Another check is to put the bike on the center stand. Check the rear wheel tread. She should be free and without oscillations (in neutral gear box, of course), in constantly regressive rhythm (will gradually stopping regularly) and without deformation of axial or radial warping). The same should be done with the front wheel.
  3. Also note the slack in the drive chain. If the setting it is near the middle or more forward and the chain has a gap of more than 3 cm (30mm) clearance must be regulated so that the truth of wear this relationship to surface. There are people who try to cheat the possible buyer placing the tarsier wheel axle further and claims that still has much “space” to play as if the relationship still had a lot of life ahead.
  4. Note tire wear. If the wear is not exactly the most central part of the tread (if more than one side than the other), i.e. frame signal or bent suspension. If the bike is old and is in brand new tires, be wary, it may be that the owner changed the tires just to hide this uneven wear and say you’re giving him a bike with new tires as advantage. The wear should be uniform both in the central and front wheel as the rear.
  5. Sit on the bike. Turn the handlebars of a stop each other and try to feel if it turns freely and smoothly (no “callus”, rebounds and creaking). Also force a little the direction back and forth to check excessive play in the steering box. Do the same up and down and sideways without turning the handlebars.
  6. Look at the handle side, levers, mirrors, exhaust, pedals, engine covers, bumpers, etc. Look for scratches signals. This usually indicates fall.
  7. Ask the bank to remove the bike and check the lash state. If you have many amendments or “holes” stay tuned.
  8. Look at the bike frame for signs of recent welds that are not the factory. If the bike is relatively old and chalkboard paint is still young, wary.
  9. If the bike has custom paint, be suspicious. If the state of the painting (very young) is incompatible with the bike of age (older), be wary.
  10. Ask to turn the bike. Pay attention to noises in the engine idling as much on average turns. In general, larger motors defects appear in these engine speeds. Enjoy and see if the engine is not smoking (burning oil, releasing a bluish white smoke with a strong odor by exhaust). Black smoke can be rich mixture only (easy to hit something).
  11. Check operation of headlights, taillights (arrows), brake lights and horn.
  12. See the bank of the conservation status and the overall look of the bike. This can reveal both the real age of the bike (km) and the care that the owner waiver to it.
  13. Check the condition of spooked wheels or rim (alloy wheel). If you have dents, punches, warp, rust or are with the very recent painting, be suspicious.

But in the end, the most important is to check if the bike frame is integrate aligned without warping. If this is good, any other piece is replaceable and you come back to have a safe and reliable bike. If the frame is not aligned and integrate, you can exchange any item you will never have a good bike.