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Unfortunately, we live in a world where not everyone is as truthful as we would like them to be, especially when there is money involved. But it's a simple matter to look over a used, older motorcycle (or any other vehicle) and determine what kind of life it has had, regardless of what the owner is saying.
First of all, if you aren't already well-versed on the finer details of a particular machine, it's a good idea to learn as much as you can about whatever flaws they have or which parts tend to wear out most often, especially if they are expensive or difficult to replace. There are websites and message boards devoted to just about every make and model out there, where it is easy to get the information you need beforehand. And then, if an owner brags about recently doing a tuneup which involves carburetor, timing and valve adjustment on an engine which actually allows for no such adjustments, you will know what kind of person you are dealing with!
If you get to the point of examining the bike with your own eyes, don't be afraid to get down on your knees and take a close look, and feel free to engage the owner in friendly conversation while you give it the once-over. Do you see all kinds of nuts and bolts with the corners rounded, or screws with the heads chewed up? They are a sure sign of a wanna-be mechanic, practicing on things where he had little business being in the first place. And a hint of where you will probably need to be doing some work in the future, since there is no telling what he overtightened or messed up while he had his Taiwan toolkit open. Do you see fresh, thick silicone sealer oozing out from a gasket surface? Ask the seller if the engine has had any recent work done inside it. If he says "No", that is definitely cause for concern, especially if whoever was last in there is the sort of "mechanic" who felt a need to slop gasket glue all over everything. Messy work like that may well require a second trip inside to rectify whatever other screwups they left behind!
Ask what kind of maintenance it has had; if the the oil was changed regularly and such. After you get a reply, casually remove the dipstick from the crankcase or oil tank and see for yourself if the oil is clean enough to see through, or if it's filthy and black. I've had many a salesman brag about doing frequent oil changes and then found the actual truth right there on the dipstick!
Check out the overall condition of the "wear" parts; how are the tires, the chain and sprockets, the thickness of brake pads or the wear indicator for brake shoes. A conscientious owner- someone who appreciates and takes good care of his machine- doesn't ride around on bald tires, or let the brakes wear down until they are paper thin. Unless the motorcycle is being offered for something near a salvage price, you may just want to walk away, because one in that shape has obviously suffered more neglect than it has had tender loving care, and you can only guess what else is on the verge of wearing out!
Also take a minute to look at the battery and wiring harness- do you see corroded terminals, pieces of extension cord and wads of duct tape everywhere? If you don't want a crash course in re-wiring a motorcycle, this may be a machine to avoid.
Of course, if you stumble across that rare, one-owner classic which has always been kept indoors, covered with a soft quilt, and comes with receipts for every battery, dealer tuneup, new tire and oil change it ever had, jump on it before somebody else does!!!
All of this applies to vehicles for sale on eBay, as well- and if you're seeing one small, blurry photo with no more than "good shape for it's age" or "THIS IS AN AS IS SALE" for a description, you are just asking for a big letdown. Few sellers offer large, clear photos and a thorough description, but that's what you are looking for, somebody who has nothing to hide and won't blame you for making the mistake of buying it. Go ahead and ask lots of questions, and if the owner seems to be reluctant to give straight answers, move on to the next one in line and do yourself a big favor!
First of all, if you aren't already well-versed on the finer details of a particular machine, it's a good idea to learn as much as you can about whatever flaws they have or which parts tend to wear out most often, especially if they are expensive or difficult to replace. There are websites and message boards devoted to just about every make and model out there, where it is easy to get the information you need beforehand. And then, if an owner brags about recently doing a tuneup which involves carburetor, timing and valve adjustment on an engine which actually allows for no such adjustments, you will know what kind of person you are dealing with!
If you get to the point of examining the bike with your own eyes, don't be afraid to get down on your knees and take a close look, and feel free to engage the owner in friendly conversation while you give it the once-over. Do you see all kinds of nuts and bolts with the corners rounded, or screws with the heads chewed up? They are a sure sign of a wanna-be mechanic, practicing on things where he had little business being in the first place. And a hint of where you will probably need to be doing some work in the future, since there is no telling what he overtightened or messed up while he had his Taiwan toolkit open. Do you see fresh, thick silicone sealer oozing out from a gasket surface? Ask the seller if the engine has had any recent work done inside it. If he says "No", that is definitely cause for concern, especially if whoever was last in there is the sort of "mechanic" who felt a need to slop gasket glue all over everything. Messy work like that may well require a second trip inside to rectify whatever other screwups they left behind!
Ask what kind of maintenance it has had; if the the oil was changed regularly and such. After you get a reply, casually remove the dipstick from the crankcase or oil tank and see for yourself if the oil is clean enough to see through, or if it's filthy and black. I've had many a salesman brag about doing frequent oil changes and then found the actual truth right there on the dipstick!
Check out the overall condition of the "wear" parts; how are the tires, the chain and sprockets, the thickness of brake pads or the wear indicator for brake shoes. A conscientious owner- someone who appreciates and takes good care of his machine- doesn't ride around on bald tires, or let the brakes wear down until they are paper thin. Unless the motorcycle is being offered for something near a salvage price, you may just want to walk away, because one in that shape has obviously suffered more neglect than it has had tender loving care, and you can only guess what else is on the verge of wearing out!
Also take a minute to look at the battery and wiring harness- do you see corroded terminals, pieces of extension cord and wads of duct tape everywhere? If you don't want a crash course in re-wiring a motorcycle, this may be a machine to avoid.
Of course, if you stumble across that rare, one-owner classic which has always been kept indoors, covered with a soft quilt, and comes with receipts for every battery, dealer tuneup, new tire and oil change it ever had, jump on it before somebody else does!!!
All of this applies to vehicles for sale on eBay, as well- and if you're seeing one small, blurry photo with no more than "good shape for it's age" or "THIS IS AN AS IS SALE" for a description, you are just asking for a big letdown. Few sellers offer large, clear photos and a thorough description, but that's what you are looking for, somebody who has nothing to hide and won't blame you for making the mistake of buying it. Go ahead and ask lots of questions, and if the owner seems to be reluctant to give straight answers, move on to the next one in line and do yourself a big favor!
Guide created: 05/08/09 (updated 06/18/09)
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