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How to Buy A Used Motorcycle – Checklist

Published

4 years ago

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The MENA region has seen a rise in motorcycles on its road in the last few years. The Japanese giant, Honda Motors is known for producing reliable and safe vehicles across the globe and so, it is no surprise that some of the best Honda Motorcycles have taken the more popular spots than the others. 

However, with prices ranging high – Honda Shine’s average price is around $950 while Honda Unicorn is $1,300, maybe opting for a used bike would be a better option, until you gain some confidence and a better handle on the vehicle.

  1. Visual Inspection

To make sure you are not being duped and are actually getting a fair price on the motorcycle it is important you conduct a visual examination first. Before you even start the motorbike or haggle on the price, just look at the vehicle and see if it meets the criteria you already have set out.

  • Cleanliness

Make sure the bike is thoroughly cleaned. Regardless of how old the bike is, if it is well kept and cleaned properly and shines like it would if it was in a showroom, you know the bike was taken care of fairly well and would be up to the standard.

  • Exhaust Pipe

Second, look at the exhaust pipe. Make sure that it is properly mounted on the bike and is not corroded. Ask the seller to start up the bike in front of you and look for abnormal sounds. If they exist, the motorcycle is probably not up to the standard. 

  • VIN

Thirdly, and most importantly, look at the VIN (Vehicle Identifier Number). These usually consist of 17 characters. The following is how they are divided:

  • Characters 1 – 3 are known as World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). They show where the motorbike was manufactured.
  • Characters 4 – 9 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section. These convey attributes of the vehicle.
  • Characters 10 – 17 are the Vehicle Identifier Section. These give specific information about the vehicle such as the engine, model year, transmission, and plant code.

Make sure you touch the VIN and see that it is engraved and part of the motorcycle and not just panted over or stuck on. This could really help in identifying if the motorcycle is genuine or not. If you are unsure of what the VIN should look like in the particular brand of motorcycle, look them up online and take a screenshot with you. It is better to be safe than sorry. 

  • Wear and Tear

Lastly, while conducting the physical examination, look for the areas where there is usual wear and tear such as the handlebars and foot pegs and even the levers. If certain parts seem odd, example they do not match the rest of the bike or seemed to be dented or bend in another direction, then it is likely that the seller had them replaced which is usually an indication of a prior crash or accident in which the motorcycle had undergone distress. If the seller had said otherwise, then it’s likely that he is not being fully honest with you which begs the question of what else has he not been truthful about regarding the vehicle.

  • Under the Seat

This is quite crucial. Open the seat and have a look inside. If the wires are unicolored, it means the seller was too cheap to buy the proper equipment to fix it. Also, look for pieces of tape holding wires together or mix match connectors. This is not okay, and the safety standard of the motorcycle just went down significantly. So, beware.

  • Test Drive

After conducting the visual examination, take the motorcycle for a spin. Remember, this is very important. Make sure the bike was cold when you started it up, and pay attention to the sound the engine makes, as discussed above. Then take it for a test drive through the route most similar to the one you are likely to take on an everyday basis. 

There is no harm in buying a secondhand motorcycle. It is just important the vehicle you buy is of proper standard and that you are not being duped and get a fair trade. 

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