You would like to buy a first motorcycle, but you do not really know much about it and you certainly do not want to make a bad buy. Here are a few tips to minimize the chance of a bad buy. You will only get knowledge of the maintenance state of engines if you have been in the business for a while and have already driven and perhaps maintained a number of engines mopeds also count towards maintenance to increase your knowledge. You generally do not have that knowledge if you are about to buy your first motorcycle and you have never tinkered with your moped when you were 16 if you have ridden a moped at all before your motorcycle license. You can go for the moto usagée now.
For the New Engine
A new engine can be little wrong with what is wrong and will be repaired or replaced under the manufacturer’s warranty. With second-hand purchases, you do have a chance of a bad buy or an extra cost if you don’t pay close attention. It does not matter whether you buy it privately or from a dealer, although you often have a warranty from a dealer of usually between 3 to 12 months or an agreed mileage. But also at the dealers there can be an engine with misery, which at first sight does not come forward or is deliberately concealed by the trade-in.
Sometimes damaged engines are repaired and sold to dealers, or mileage is reversed and offered. A dealer does not need to be aware of this, although reversing odometer readings has been prohibited. Interested in a motorcycle? Always bring someone else, two see more than one, it is preferable to take someone with more knowledge of motorcycles. If interested, never make the decision immediately, think about it for a while, and sleep over it overnight. Together you can then check the following points to reduce your chance of a bad buy.
License plate information
View the registration papers or registration card, and check whether the frame number matches. Does this not match? Leave it immediately and look for the next engine. Is it an import engine? You can see this by looking at ‘date of first admission’.
General external condition
How has the engine been maintained, is it clean or has the seller not cleaned the engine? Cleaning is not always convenient for a buyer when selling, leaks can be brushed away. Do you see a lot of rest? Brine damage from ‘cauliflowers’ exfoliated aluminum on the block? Don’t forget to check the tank for rust. Don’t forget the bottom of the tank (bring a flashlight). This does not occur with a plastic tank, but it can discolor and become porous very old plastic tanks. You can solve that again with a tank coating. Also check whether there are (light) abrasions on mirrors, handles, footrests and flashing lights. Most 2nd hand bikes always have some scrapes, and that is not a problem, it is a utensil.
What is the condition of the paint and plastic fairing parts?
Are the fairing parts all still tight? Pay attention to the attachment points where they are attached and their condition. How is the condition of the saddle? Look for cracks and whether it has sagged. Also check the condition of the bolts and nuts and whether or not they are twisted. Also pay attention to the mileage and whether this corresponds to the condition of the engine. An engine with 3000km on the clock cannot have worn tires with some exceptions, a worn chain and sprockets and brake pads and discs in need of replacement. If this is not correct, you have a chance of a damage motor with a different odometer reading or a reversed mileage. Also ask what kind of maintenance has been carried out and whether the seller also has receipts to demonstrate this.
