You might be a bike mogul who’s interested in buying old bikes and reselling them for profit, or you might just be a normal guy who’s looking for a good way not to get scammed while buying a used bike.
Never mind what you are and what you’re interested are, you’ve stumbled upon this article because you have questions that need to be answered.
We fully understand that not every person is interested in reselling used bikes, and some of you simply want to know how to avoid buying a turd of a bike.
This is precisely why you’re here, and this article will focus on giving you the necessary knowledge to save you from ending up with a proper junker.
Checking the VIN
Any professional biker or bike mogul will tell you that the first thing you should check when buying a used bike is the VIN number. If you’ve messed this part up, chances are you could have bought a stolen bike, and no one wants that.
Checking the VIN number is quite simple. In order to make sure that you’re not buying a stolen Harley, make sure to compare the VIN number of the bike with the one on the documentation. If both numbers don’t match, then avoid buying the motorcycle at all costs and contact your local police because chances are the bike has been stolen. One way to check the VIN number is to go to a VinFreeCheck where you can check a motorcycle VIN number for free.
Examine the Bike
The VIN matches and that’s one headache out of the way, now it’s time to examine the bike itself. Most professionals strongly advise that you contact the person and let them know to leave the bike cold before you get there. This is because a lot of running problems can be well hidden if the bike is hot. During the examination part, make sure to feel the jugs and pipes to ensure that the bike is ice cold. If the seller has problems starting the bike, or if the bike makes god-awful noises like a blender full of rocks, then chances are you’re going to have problems on your hand.
Examine the Bar Ends, Levers, and Footpegs
The 2nd part of the examination process if to look for any damage on the bike. The best way to see any visible damage is to check the levers. This is because the levers usually hit the ground during an accident, and they are often left curled because of it. Furthermore, aftermarket levers and pegs are a good sign that the bike has been in a crash. If the bar ends are damaged, then that’s a good indication of an accident as well.
See How Hard the Bike has been Ridden
Riding your back hard enough is not that big of a deal, but some people really beat the snot out of their bikes. The best way to examine how hard the bike has been ridden is to examine the tires. If they are flat, then those are clear signs of burnouts. If the motorcycle in question is a sport machine, then the best thing to do is check the edges of the tires for pilling or feathering.
