by Diamond Channing

Created on: January 17, 2011   Last Updated: April 19, 2012

When deciding to purchase a used motorcycle, there are a number of things to consider to ensure you get the best one for the amount of money you have to spend. The first thing you must determine is what type of riding you will be doing with the motorcycle for such as commuting, touring, sports or a combination of activities. This is a very important consideration since purchasing a bike usually used for sporting can make a difficult commute to and from work.

Purchasing from a reputable dealer is your next consideration. Even though you might find bikes at a lower price when buying from a private party they usually do not come with any warranty or leave you with any recourse should the bike break down just a few days after purchasing it. When buying from a private party, you should request permission to take it to a reputable mechanic to have it inspected. If they are not willing to let you do this, this can be a warning sign you need to look for a bike elsewhere. Dealerships also have the ability of doing a prior ownership research to give you a run-down of the bikes history.

Inspect the motorcycle yourself when first going to see it. Look at the drive chain and sprocket. The teeth on the sprocket should not show any obvious signs of wear or damage and the chain should only have about 3/4 inch of play. Move the chain back and forth and check for any movement. On a good set there should be no to little movement of the chain. Take someone with you who can sit on the motorcycle as you check the chain to make sure it is tight and has very little movement up or down. Sprockets usually last much longer than chains do. If you find the sprocket is severely worn this could indicate a poor maintenance routine.

The tires should have no signs of being unevenly worn and should also have a good amount of tread on each. If the bike has been driven daily on the highway there will usually be more wear in the middle of the tires. You will usually notice more wear on the edge of the tires if the bike has been used primarily for track racing.

Look at the condition of the brake and clutch levers when sitting on the motorcycle. Also inspect the bar end weights and instrument cluster for evenness. If you notice these are not in good condition this might indicate the bike has been in an accident or has been dropped. Other signs of an accident or that the bike has been dropped can include a scratched engine case, exhaust pipes or foot pegs. All of these items should

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