| If you're still looking at buying a used motorcycle, | | | | These should be changed every 15-20k miles. The |
| there are a few things that you need to keep in | | | | chromed fork legs should be smooth with absolutely |
| mind when you're actually looking at a model. | | | | no scratches, nicks or roughness as well as no traces |
| Remember, if you are opting to buy your bike from | | | | of oil on it. The suspension should move up and down |
| a private seller, if you feel comfortable meeting the | | | | almost silently if you sit on it and bounce. If you hear |
| person at their place of residence, try to bring a | | | | any clunking or squeaking noises, just walk away; the |
| friend with you both for safety reasons as well as to | | | | bike is no good. When checking the engine for |
| have a second opinion and witness to anything that is | | | | problems, some owners will actually warm up the |
| said or done. Make sure that the bike in question is | | | | bike before you arrive to mask any cold-starting |
| brought outside or is in a place where there is a lot | | | | problems. If you suspect that this is the case, check |
| of light. When you check the brakes on the bike, | | | | all of the other things on the bike, giving the engine a |
| make sure that you are checking for a smooth | | | | chance to cool down. The engine should start and |
| operation with no pulsing or pad material remaining. | | | | sound good. If you hear any weird sounds such as |
| Check the lever effort of the clutch. It should release | | | | the sound of a coffee can full of marbles, the bike is |
| easy. With regards to the gas tank, make sure that | | | | probably no good. |
| you look for rust or a milky paint-like coating on the | | | | A real great way to test out the engine is to take it |
| inside. Dark gas (tea colored) is an indication of old | | | | for a test drive to see how it reacts on the road. |
| gas that needs changing. Perhaps the most important | | | | Feel free to ask the seller when the last oil change |
| part of the bike is the tires. Make sure that you | | | | was as well as the general maintenance history of |
| check the tire tread depth and make sure that you | | | | the bike. Also, a lot of bike owners like to alter the |
| check for any other defects that might come to | | | | bike by adding stuff to it. Make sure you ask what |
| your attention. When it comes down to electrical | | | | kinds of modifications were made to the bike if any. |
| stuff, make sure that you test all of the lights and | | | | It is always a good idea to ask the seller why they |
| switches to make sure that they are working | | | | are selling their bike. Was their anything wrong with |
| properly. When you turn on the bike, listen to the | | | | it? Are they getting a new bike? A car? Is there any |
| sound that the starter cranking makes, as this is a | | | | reason why you shouldn't be buying the bike. |
| decent measure of the battery's condition. When you | | | | Sometimes, asking questions like these can elicit a |
| are checking the suspension, ask the owner how long | | | | more honest answer. |
| it's been since the "fork seals" have been changed. | | | | |