2nd Hand Bike Buying
Discussion
Not knowing the 1st thing about bike mechanicals what should I be doing when looking for a safe reliable private sale 2nd hand bike.
I've not really narrowed my search down much yet, practicality says 100cc scooter, but I fancy a bandit style bike or maybe a supermoto (1st bike used mainly for commute of 5 miles)
Not spending much about £1500-£2k because I will drop it, but what should I look for when I turn up at mateys house looking to buy his bike.
Make it simple as I said, I'm a complete bike numpty, is there any good mags which will point me in the right direction, I've even got a good bike auction place around the corner but thats just scarry when you know nothing.
I've not really narrowed my search down much yet, practicality says 100cc scooter, but I fancy a bandit style bike or maybe a supermoto (1st bike used mainly for commute of 5 miles)
Not spending much about £1500-£2k because I will drop it, but what should I look for when I turn up at mateys house looking to buy his bike.
Make it simple as I said, I'm a complete bike numpty, is there any good mags which will point me in the right direction, I've even got a good bike auction place around the corner but thats just scarry when you know nothing.
Difficult one if you don't know much about bikes. I'd check the following as a 1st pass but it'd be a good plan to get someone to look at it for you...
Depending on whether the bike is oil/water/air cooled or a 2/4 stroke...
If it's water cooled... Check the coolant to see if there's any oil in it (bad) and check the oil to see if there's any coolant in it (bad).
Run the engine, it shouldn't sound clattery at the top if it's a 4 stroke. It will sound noisier than a car engine as there's less stuff around it to deaden the sound but there shouldn't be excessive noise (tappety) from the top or a rumbling from the bottom (2 or 4 stroke).
Check the general condition, is the chain rusty, do the discs look scored are the brake pads thin? Is it clean? Does it look looked after?
Check the consumables such as tyres, chain (rusty, excessive play, sprockets look worn off center), brakes... these things add up and if they need replacing knock down the price.
Make sure the service history is there. You can buy bikes quite happily without you knowing what to check I'd shy away from them.
See if there's any play in the wheels and headstock.
Difficult on your budget but I'd buy as new as possible with a lowish mileage with a service history.
Hope this helps,
Mark
Depending on whether the bike is oil/water/air cooled or a 2/4 stroke...
If it's water cooled... Check the coolant to see if there's any oil in it (bad) and check the oil to see if there's any coolant in it (bad).
Run the engine, it shouldn't sound clattery at the top if it's a 4 stroke. It will sound noisier than a car engine as there's less stuff around it to deaden the sound but there shouldn't be excessive noise (tappety) from the top or a rumbling from the bottom (2 or 4 stroke).
Check the general condition, is the chain rusty, do the discs look scored are the brake pads thin? Is it clean? Does it look looked after?
Check the consumables such as tyres, chain (rusty, excessive play, sprockets look worn off center), brakes... these things add up and if they need replacing knock down the price.
Make sure the service history is there. You can buy bikes quite happily without you knowing what to check I'd shy away from them.
See if there's any play in the wheels and headstock.
Difficult on your budget but I'd buy as new as possible with a lowish mileage with a service history.
Hope this helps,
Mark
If you want a good 1st bike get a zz-r600 its quick and not too heavy to insure i paid £213 on my 1st year , the bike is very confidance inspiring (sorry about the bad spelling), i now have a ZX6R ninja and i can still chuck the zzr around more than the zx6 as it gives me more confidance as im sat in the bike rather than on it, and it will still hit 160 mph with ease
My advice, don't buy a Yam - the clutch & g'box & electrics are a bit dodgy.
Sukuki tend to rot quickly, Honda make nice bikes, but expensive 2nd hand + expensive to insure.
Kawasaki make nice bikes, but the suspension goes off quickly.
British bikes used to leak oil & blow up. Don't know if this has really changed all that much.
Italian bikes, like Brit bikes, except with a lot more style.
Japanese best (sorry Britain), and good parts availability. EXpensive though.
No good answer chap, sorry !
Carl
Sukuki tend to rot quickly, Honda make nice bikes, but expensive 2nd hand + expensive to insure.
Kawasaki make nice bikes, but the suspension goes off quickly.
British bikes used to leak oil & blow up. Don't know if this has really changed all that much.
Italian bikes, like Brit bikes, except with a lot more style.
Japanese best (sorry Britain), and good parts availability. EXpensive though.
No good answer chap, sorry !
Carl
You're not wrong, what a load of b*llocks imo - no offence mate
hertsbiker said: My advice, don't buy a Yam - the clutch & g'box & electrics are a bit dodgy.
Sukuki tend to rot quickly, Honda make nice bikes, but expensive 2nd hand + expensive to insure.
Kawasaki make nice bikes, but the suspension goes off quickly.
British bikes used to leak oil & blow up. Don't know if this has really changed all that much.
Italian bikes, like Brit bikes, except with a lot more style.
Japanese best (sorry Britain), and good parts availability. EXpensive though.
No good answer chap, sorry !
Buy on condition not pub heresay. As for british bikes leaking oil - that was 30-40 years ago! You only have to go back 15 years and all hondas had chocolate cams. This sort of generalisation is a bunch of *rse.
Mark
No offense taken !
However *most* trumpets are thrashed by the big four.
You may own British, and I have not... however it is very easy to get misled (as you pointed out?) by reviews into thinking Jap bikes are best.
Well, I will make a point of trying a Trumpet this weekend if it's dry... and let you know an honest opinion.
I still stand by the comments about the Jap bikes though. So whst if Honda made mistakes years ago. We're here, now. Not back then. Bit like saying "well I had £20 before going to the pub" !
Anyway, try a few bikes, buy what you like best. Now that is good advice.
C
However *most* trumpets are thrashed by the big four.
You may own British, and I have not... however it is very easy to get misled (as you pointed out?) by reviews into thinking Jap bikes are best.
Well, I will make a point of trying a Trumpet this weekend if it's dry... and let you know an honest opinion.
I still stand by the comments about the Jap bikes though. So whst if Honda made mistakes years ago. We're here, now. Not back then. Bit like saying "well I had £20 before going to the pub" !
Anyway, try a few bikes, buy what you like best. Now that is good advice.
C
I'd like to try some triumphs and some bmws next time around. I've a honda fireblade at the moment and it has been rock solid I have to admit. However, my yamaha thundercat was just as reliable despite being older but my brand new zx6r broke its gearbox and its camchain tensioner in the first year before I traded it in... you never can tell.
Regards,
Mark
Regards,
Mark
I've never had a bike that let me down, ever.
I once had an alarm that let me down, but you can't blame the bike for that, and I managed to foolishly trap the fuel line on a Ducati under the tank, so I don't think you can call the bike refusing to run then to be a problem. Other than that, they've all worked perfectly.
Compared to everything else I've had, though, Hondas just seem so much better constructed. Quality of materials, and fit and finish have been classes ahead on my Hondas. If I get the 'Blade valeted (what, you expect me to clean my own bike?), it comes out looking like new. Nothing corroded, nothing dulled. My Ducati would rust if it just got a bit cloudy.
I once had an alarm that let me down, but you can't blame the bike for that, and I managed to foolishly trap the fuel line on a Ducati under the tank, so I don't think you can call the bike refusing to run then to be a problem. Other than that, they've all worked perfectly.
Compared to everything else I've had, though, Hondas just seem so much better constructed. Quality of materials, and fit and finish have been classes ahead on my Hondas. If I get the 'Blade valeted (what, you expect me to clean my own bike?), it comes out looking like new. Nothing corroded, nothing dulled. My Ducati would rust if it just got a bit cloudy.
Have to agree about the Honda build quality.Having looked at buying lots of bikes over the years Honda have been the best in comparison.Having said that i currently have a Kawasaki and that i proving excellent in every way.Ducati,hmm,i've given lifts to two individual cases of Ducati broken down at the side of the road,both electrical or ignition faults.Read into that whatever you like but i would'nt buy one.The Japs have it at the moment
Oh why don't Porsche make bikes
Oh why don't Porsche make bikes
Same here, I picked up my blade brand new over a year and a half ago. I rode through all weathers (not salty roads admitedly) and only cleaned it for the first time a month ago and it came up like new after looking very shabby indeed. All my kawasakis seemed to go crusty at the least provocation.
Compared to everything else I've had, though, Hondas just seem so much better constructed. Quality of materials, and fit and finish have been classes ahead on my Hondas. If I get the 'Blade valeted (what, you expect me to clean my own bike?), it comes out looking like new. Nothing corroded, nothing dulled.
Regards,
Mark
pawsmcgraw said: Oh why don't Porsche make bikes
They make bloody expensive pedal bikes tho!! they cost worth more than my flippin' motorbike!!
Ps if you want build quality/ Honda are almaot always number 1 in the jap market. However BMW bikes are another step up, they maybe a bit dull but they do last for ever. My neighbour had about 150,000miles on his 15yr old K100 (original engine) and it looked in better nick than my quite well maintained 5 yr old Suzuki.
Well, I suppose it's easy to make a bike reliable if you've got 250kg of metal to play with, and only 80bhp!
I don't see, mind, why they can still be considered a step above Hondas. I'd assuem the typical pan european is as unlikely to break as anything else available.
Worst bikes would appear to be Buells and Harleys. A while back Buell had had to recall every single bike they put out for a year or so.
I don't see, mind, why they can still be considered a step above Hondas. I'd assuem the typical pan european is as unlikely to break as anything else available.
Worst bikes would appear to be Buells and Harleys. A while back Buell had had to recall every single bike they put out for a year or so.
Yip agree ref the Pan euro the cops seem to love 'em anyway. Dont get me wrong I'm no BMW lover but the new R1100S the one with the duke style under seat pipes does appeal- perhaps im getting old 
its got same power as new VFR800 but 20 kg heavier, so not really a slouch but hardly a cutting edge sports bike. It would however stand up to winters probabally even better than the VFR. But how culd I admit i ride a BMW surely im 30 yrs to young...........
its got same power as new VFR800 but 20 kg heavier, so not really a slouch but hardly a cutting edge sports bike. It would however stand up to winters probabally even better than the VFR. But how culd I admit i ride a BMW surely im 30 yrs to young........... Bought a Triumph Sprint ST after testing it against a VFR800.
Brilliant bike.
When my marra was looking at bikes a few years ago he came up with Honda-best built, Suzuki/Yam poorer quality: build/welding/rust resistance, Kwaker best half way house and after trying a ZX6R Ninja, bought it straight away.
Brilliant bike.
When my marra was looking at bikes a few years ago he came up with Honda-best built, Suzuki/Yam poorer quality: build/welding/rust resistance, Kwaker best half way house and after trying a ZX6R Ninja, bought it straight away.
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