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