Ten Things to keep in mind. Review on Tips on Buying Second Hand Motorcyles

Now a days selling second-hand vehicles is also growing into a industry. If you want to buy a second hand bike & avoid the pitfalls of the used motorbike market, following things should be kept in mind-

1. Research the market place thoroughly- If you are buying from a market(second-hand vehicles) & you are interested in buying a particular make or model, you should compare prices from advertisements in different publications e.g. Bike Trader. Make sure that you can afford the running costs such as maintenance and insurance premiums before you buy your dream machine? coz you will face problems afterwards when the bike will demand you to spend.

   
   




2. Check that the seller actually owns the motorbike- When buying from a individual, you should immediately check that the owner owns it or not. If the seller does not own it you will face problems in legal formalities.

   
   




3. Find out if the motorbike is on finance- Ask the seller if the motorbike has any outstanding finance. If the finance has not been paid off, the motorbike could still be the property of a finance house, which has the right to reclaim it. You can also adjust the payment by making the finance, if you really want the bike.

   
   




4. Check out the mechanical integrity of the motorbike- Make sure you get the vehicle independently inspected to ensure it is mechanically sound. Check the tyres, break pads, exhaust pipes etc to find the position of the bike. You can also consult a mechanic, to find out if the bike?s machinery is in good state or not. It could save you from making a costly mistake.

   
   




5. Check the motorbike hasn't been'clocked'-'Clocking', is a common trick used by unscrupulous sellers to obtain a higher price by reducing the mileage of a vehicle by turning back the odometer, You can check this by, assessing whether the mileage is consistent with the age and condition of the motorbike.

   
   




6. Check the motorbike isn't stolen- When the identity of a stolen bike is changed using the documents of an identical make and model. This trick of the seller is known as?ringing?. You must check the VIN thoroughly and make sure it hasn't been tampered with.

   
   




7. Take the motorbike for a ride You cannot trust the good-looks of a bike to buy it, you should always ride it to form a opinion. So, make sure that you ride the motorbike on a range of roads for at least 10-15 miles. You will need to make sure you are properly insured before taking the bike out.

   
   




8. Look at the motorbike's history- Obtain as much information as possible from the seller & You can ask people living nearby about it, if you feel seller is hiding something, coz realise that the seller?s objective is to sell you the motorbike. Don't hand over any money until you have completed your investigation & certain of buying the bike - this will provide you with the vehicle's true history.

   
   




9. Miscellaneous facts- You should always check the bike in daylight coz during the night you can miss some important features affecting your purchase. You should also consider having a service station near your place, & do not let the seller bring the motorbike to you. Check the seller's address is the same as that recorded in the logbook

   
   




10. If in doubt - walk away- there are plenty of other motorbikes out there.

    
    

Hope these things will help you to choose a best bike for yourself. But my first choice would be buying a new bike rather than a second-hand bike. But if in need of a second-hand bike, do keep these things in mind.