what to know before you buy a bike reddit
When buying a used dirt bike, or any vehicle for that matter, you never truly know what you are getting. Only because the seller says it was rebuilt, doesn't mean it won't grenade on you an 60 minutes after you get home. You don't know what exactly has been washed to information technology, and they may not have rebuilt it correctly.
Not everyone lies about what they have or what's been worked on, but some people just don't know. That's why it'south YOUR task as a buyer to do equally much research and scrutinizing of the bike every bit possible. The more you lot know nearly the model of bike you're looking at, likewise as the bike itself, the better y'all can gauge its value.
Bring A Friend That Is More Experienced
If yous've never gone to look at a used bike earlier, request a friend to come along that is very experienced with wrenching on bikes is highly recommended because they generally know what to await for. However, you can utilize this list of things to look for to give yourself a jump-start on dirt bicycle mechanics 101.
These guidelines chronicle to motocross bikes, trail bikes, two-strokes, 4-strokes, air-cooled and liquid-cooled bikes for every make.
1: Merely Look At It
Upon inflow, y'all can sometimes tell if a dirt bike is a cherry, or if it is a consummate junkbox on wheels. Wait at the plastic, frame, and over-all cleanliness of it. If it was put away wet oftentimes, at that place will be a lot of stains and dirt caked on the bottom of the engine/chassis.
2: Look At Surroundings
This doesn't pertain to the bike specifically, but while looking at information technology, take a look around. Where and how is the bike sitting? Is the garage/place make clean? How does the seller's other vehicles expect? If everything is clean and looks well taken care of, there's a proficient gamble the bike was, likewise. This alone shouldn't be the determining factor though.
three: Frame Damage/Straightness
If the dirt bike has been in a major or numerous crashes, the frame or subframe usually shows information technology. Check for unusual bends/cracks at the welds or where ii sections encounter. If the subframe is aptitude, it'southward usually easy to encounter by looking at the bike from the rear. The fender volition usually lean more to ane side. If it's too far to bend back, a used subframe is anywhere from 50-200 bucks depending on the bike.
4: Wheels
Take a close await at both wheels for bends or cracks, also as missing spokes. If anything is damaged or missing so the bike was ridden hard or rode on crude terrain. Spin the wheels to see if they wobble at all. Used wheels in good shape tin exist expensive.
5: Tires
Are the tires worn out or cracked from quondam age? If they don't accept any sharp edges and then you'll want some fresh rubber for a large increase in traction, which is not only safer, merely it will put more power to the footing. A pair of tires can toll close to 200 bucks or more, depending on what kind of functioning you're looking to get.
6: Suspension
You may need to get it re-valved for your weight, or it may just need to be serviced if the seller hasn't done it in a while (or always). This could be as fiddling as new oil and a accuse of nitrogen (rear shock).
7: Bearings
There'due south quite a few bearings on a dirt bike, and nearly of the time you tin wait them to be needing new grease at the minimum. Move the wheels side-to-side to check their bearings. If at that place's any slop they need to be replaced.
The steering stalk has bearings that are commonly under-greased from the factory. If it'southward hard to plough the handlebars, they may need to be replaced.
8: Swing-arm/Linkage
With the bike on a center stand, movement the swing-arm up and downwardly, as well as side-to-side. It should move freely without bounden. If it'southward rough or wobbles, it volition need to be serviced and may demand a new bushing kit.
9: Air Filter
If the seller won't permit you lot take the seat/panel off to wait at the filter, he/she is probably trying to hide something. If y'all're looking for a adept running and reliable bike, information technology's probably best to walk abroad if they say "No". Take a look at how clean the filter itself is, as well as the rest of the airbox. Someone who takes skilful care of their wheel will continue these both clean.
10: Engine/Manual Oil
This is only as important as the air filter, if non more and then! Most bikes will either take a dipstick or a sight drinking glass so you can hands bank check the oil level. Yous should be able to encounter some oil at to the lowest degree at the minimum level. If you can't see oil, there's not plenty to properly lubricate. If it hasn't already, it will cause damage, and is one of the leading causes of diddled engines.
Many air-cooled trail bikes, such as the Honda XR lineup, are so reliable that some owners never modify the oil. Somewhen it will run depression and volition first smoking or seize. Still, some dirt bikes crave yous to outset and idle them for a infinitesimal in order to bank check the oil. Make sure you know how to check information technology before you go.
eleven: Concatenation
Chains can last a long time if they are taken care of. On the flip side, if the chain is never or rarely cleaned and lubed, information technology can wear out faster than the peak-end on a motocross bike.
Check for kinks, besides as how far it is on the adjuster. If there'due south no room left for adjustment, it's considering the chain is stretched out and is in demand of replacement. If the chain has a lot of corrosion or skips at all, it's toast.
12: Sprockets
Sprockets commonly wear with the chain. You can oftentimes get one rear sprocket, and two forepart sprockets out of the life of a chain if properly maintained. Look at the teeth for any chunks missing or odd shaped teeth from wear.
thirteen: Brakes
Look at the brake pads for wear. If they're close to the limit marks or metal, they need to exist replaced. Also take notice of the brake fluid in the chief cylinder(s). If it'southward low or dirty, information technology may need to be flushed out. Most of this is just maintenance, though, and isn't too plush.
14: Coolant
Pop the radiator cap off and check the coolant level. It should be at or most the top. If it'due south low then the engine may have overheated and spit some coolant out the overflow tube.
fifteen: Radiators
After you expect at the coolant, take a closer look at the radiators. Are they smashed or bent? How do the fins look? If information technology looks like it'due south been poorly repaired or patched up, you lot can count on needing a new 1, which tin be expensive, depending on what yous get (new/used/aftermarket).
16: Handlebars
They can get bent easily if the bike was flipped or wrecked. You tin usually tell just by looking at it, but past a simple examination ride you should be able to experience if they are bent or non.
Aftermarket handlebars sometimes means that the stock ones got bent, along with the possibility of other parts in the process, then pay close attention if so.
17: Levers
Brake and clutch levers are very easy to bend/interruption. They are fairly inexpensive, but if more than 1 needs replacing, the repair nib apace adds upwardly.
The shift lever and rear brake pedal tin get bent besides. Make certain the shifter is on tight. If it's sloppy, the splines could be worn and it'll demand a new one.
eighteen: Seat
Does information technology have any rips? If the cover was replaced, was it put on correctly? This has picayune to no mechanical role, just some of usa like our dirt bikes looking dainty.
19: Fork Seals
Fork seals are inexpensive and adequately easy to supercede with the right tools. Yet, information technology can be time consuming, and is quite expensive to take a shop replace them. If they are barely seeping, you lot might be able to become abroad with just cleaning them.
20: Engine Noises
Start and permit the engine idle for at least a minute. Listen for whatsoever rattling or ticking. If it'southward a 4-stroke and information technology ticks with the RPM of the engine, it's probably a worn timing chain or tensioner. Fairly elementary fix on most bikes. If there's a rattle that gets noticeably quieter when the engine is fully warmed up, information technology may be piston rattle, which volition require a rebuild.
21: Manual
The best way to test the transmission is by riding the bike and shifting through all the gears. It should shift easily up and downwards through all the gears, with or without the clutch. If you lot hit a 'faux neutral' in between gears, it may have a bent shift fork, which requires the cases to exist split (a lot of labor).
22: Clutch
You tin can test the clutch while you're riding also. How large is the 'friction zone' or how much movement does the clutch lever take from disengaged to engaged? Or does it even fully appoint? A slipping clutch will rev out and the engine may feel really depression on ability. You can try dumping the clutch while in gear to run across if information technology slips or engages and stalls. If it stalls or quickly goes to the correct RPM then it probably won't need to exist replaced.
23: Exhaust
Expect at the head pipe for dents or bends. If there's any major damage, yous'll want to get information technology repaired or replaced. A crushed pipe volition be lacking power.
As well listen to the exhaust note. You can normally tell when there is little to no muffler packing because information technology's loud and raspy. A freshly packed silencer is relatively quiet (depending on the specific silencer), and volition audio overnice and crisp. Packing is pretty cheap, only it'due south non very fun to supervene upon.
24: Carburetor
You're probably not going to be able to internally inspect the carb, but yous can get a good thought on how muddied it may exist when trying to offset it and riding it. If the bike is hard to beginning and/or has a bog when accelerating, there'southward a expert chance information technology will need to be cleaned. This is oftentimes the case if the dirt bike has saturday for a number of months (or even weeks).
25: Recalls
If you're going to spend a lot of coin on a dirt wheel, you might too get to know your stablemate beforehand. Fortunately, it's easier than ever these days with the cyberspace. Practise some research on the specific make, model, and year of the clay bike you lot are looking to purchase.
Every bike will accept mutual bug after years of utilise, and while some may cost more than to fix than others, you tin save money in the long run past planning ahead if y'all know that your item bicycle may demand a special part or 'ready' in the time to come.
Bottom Line
I know all of this may seem like a lot to take in right abroad if yous've never looked at a inexpensive used dirt cycle, but information technology gets a lot easier the more you do information technology. Like I mentioned to a higher place, it's a great idea to accept a knowledgeable person with yous to help.
Too, do not be afraid to walk abroad from a bike. Everyone may say that they take the nicest and fastest bicycle, merely if you lot desire a make clean and reliable dirt bike, it's better to wait than wasting your hard earned cash dollars on a pile of junk that'southward going to sit in the corner of the garage afterward bravado up on your first ride.
Learn to ride your new wheel the right manner
Once you lot get a keen deal on a nice used dirt bike, information technology'due south fourth dimension to acquire how to properly ride it and so that you don't crash and get injure right abroad.
At that place's a lot of little techniques that need to be learned to give you lot the conviction and control needed to ride safely with speed.
Desire to learn more? Click hither to go started for trail riding techniques.
Source: https://motocrosshideout.com/25-things-you-must-look-for-when-buying-a-used-dirt-bike/