Secondhand Motorcycle
How to Buy a Used Motorcycle: A Detailed Checklist
Motorbikes are undoubtedly some of the easiest and fastest modes of transportation, especially in a heavy-traffic city. While the popularity is ever-growing, a brand-new motorcycle isn’t always affordable for many. That’s where the large used motorcycle market comes up. An informed purchase of a second-hand motorcycle would get a great bike at a steal of a deal. Here’s a checklist to consider before buying a used motorcycle.
11 Things to Consider Before Buying a Secondhand Motorbike
Know Your Bike
If you’re in the market for a second-hand bike, you should first know what bike you’re planning to buy. There are several types of bikes ranging from sports, naked, cruiser, café racer, bobber, scrambler, commuter, and many more. The overall budget, cc limit, and rideability grossly differ from type to type. So first decide which type of bike you want to buy and do in-depth research.
The best approach would be to select the model and then study the details. If possible, check out a brand-new one first for easy comparison.
Read more: 8 Best Motorbikes Coming to Bangladesh in 2024
Mileage and Age
The second thing to consider is the mileage and age of the bike. Once you decide on a model, you will get a reference point of when the bike was released and how long it has been on the market. Check the mileage on the counter to assess how long it has been ridden.
However, it is important to note that the mileage counter can be easily tweaked so it isn’t always a reliable indicator of a bike’s condition. But there are other tell-tale signs when it comes to general wear and tear of a bike.
Damage and Repair History
Whether you are buying the bike from a person or a dealership, always check for damage reports and repair history. Typically, every servicing of the bike will have a detailed report. These reports are an effective way to understand which parts have been serviced and changed. As a rule of thumb, it is better to avoid bikes with major parts replacement or after-market installations.
Read more: Bajaj Pulsar N250: 250 CC Motorbike in Bangladesh
Tires
The tires are another great indicator of how much the bike has been ridden. We already mentioned that the mileage meter can be easily manipulated, but the wear and tear on the tire can give an estimation of the mileage.
Get a picture of a brand-new tire for your model to compare. Check the middle grooves of the tire. A bike with over 10K km on it will have reduced grooves. So if you see a bike with a 5K mileage and worn-out grooves, know that something’s not right.
Now you might ask, what if the tires are changed? Well in that case check the tire and rim joint. A changed or aftermarket tire will leave a noticeable gap to easily understand that it has been replaced.
Read more: 15 Best Motorbikes Under 2 lac taka for daily use, office commute
9 months ago