WTB used bike, need help

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obfuscate · #1 Unread post by **obfuscate** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:10 pm

I'm relatively new to motorcycling and am looking to buy a used Seca II (it's in my price range, I can afford the insurance, not too powerful, and it fits me).

I've done the standard stuff: MSF course, Driver's License, protective gear,read up on the bike I want, etc....but I took the MSF several months ago and am not comfortable riding on streets yet to test drive a bike. Can't imagine someone wants me to remember shifting on their bike and I'm not sure I could tell if the clutch was bad, or if I was the problem.

So once I've sifted out the "ignore the parallel scratches, I dropped it at a stop sign" ads, how do I go about making sure the bike will drive well? Is just checking the chain, suspension, looking at the tires and brakes enough? I use this website as my guide: www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html

Also, I'm thinking of getting a bike that's been sitting for ~2-3 years, but runs. The carbs on Seca II's are notorious for getting clogged after sitting for more than a few months so I figure I'm on the hook for that with most of the bikes I've seen advertised/taken a look at. What other parts should I be concerned about having to replace?

obfuscate · Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:04 pm

#3 Unread post by **Wrider** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:23 pm

Well yeah, that seems to be a pretty good list! To be honest though, that's more than some safety inspections will cover.

My advice is to look the bike over. Stand back and look at it, if it looks like it's been treated roughly, it probably has. Then look up close.

Look at the bottoms of the pipes, the bottoms of the handlebars, levers, etc to look for scratches. That's the best indicator of whether or not it's been dropped.

Then make sure to check for suspension... Check to make sure the suspension has resistance, but will still soak up bumps. Press the forks down and let them come back up a few times. If you can see fluid on the forks, it means the seals need to be replaced.

After that listen to the motor. Make sure the motor is cold when you get there, as in it hasn't been warmed up, it's cold. Start it up. Listen for noises coming out of it. You'll want to hear a SLIGHT tapping, that's your valves working, other than that, if you hear something else, there's something up with it. Rev it up, chop the throttle. If you hear clattering/banging/knocking/something unusual, there's something up.

Check the brakes... You'll be able to see down into disc brakes to see if they have much wear left on them. You'll see grooves through the middle of the brakes, usually dividing it into two or three sections. Make sure they're still easily visible. Brake fluid should be clear with a yellowish tint to it. If it's brown or anything like that it needs to be replaced asap.

Check your tires... Are they hard? Dry rotted? Worn down? All very important parts of a tire.

Check the final drive, as in the chain, or the gear drive. Does it have an appropriate amount of freeplay? It needs to have some, but if it's easily hitting the swingarm it's too much, if it's too tight to move it's not enough Check the sprockets, they should have a nice U shape to them, with a flat or rounded top. If they're as sharp as your pocket knife, it's not a good thing.

Lastly check the visible warning labels and caps. If it's been professionally worked on, it should have ALL of the warnings readable from the rider's position on the bike. Legally a mechanic can be sued if it's not right side up from the rider's seating position.

If those check out, and you like the bike, it feels good under you, the ultimate test is a test ride. Have a friend do it if you haven't ridden before. Shift through all the gears. Gun it, rev up softy, slowly go to overrun, chop the throttle. Test the bike out.

Then if all is good buy it!
Wrider

EDIT: Also check the visible nuts and bolts! If they have a hole drilled in them, it's been to at least one track day. If the owner denies it, pass the bike up... Also check to make sure everything is tightened down. If you can move ANYTHING except for the cable adjusters by hand it's too loose...

oxbow1 · #4 Unread post by **oxbow1** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:12 am

get a buddy that knows bikes to look at it for you, thats what I did

obfuscate · #5 Unread post by **obfuscate** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:30 am

What if you don't have a friend who will look at them with you, what then?

oxbow1 · #6 Unread post by **oxbow1** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:39 am

do what wrider said, also I think there is a section here about buying a used motorcycle.
buying anything used is a crap shoot at best.
I bought my bike from a local guy that only deals in used bikes and has a good reputation.
when you go to get gear ask them if they know a reputable local guy that deals in used bikes.
ask questions and read around this sight getting an education on this stuff is very valuable.
I read up on this stuff for a year before I even got on a bike at my BRC
when you are out and you see a person with there bike introduce your self and ask about it, I found most riders are very willing to talk about it and the more people you talk to will help you weed out what is true and what is BS

obfuscate · #7 Unread post by **obfuscate** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:56 pm

Oxbow and Wrider... thanks for the opinion. I've been looking at getting a bike since last September so I'm thinking at this point I'm going to just take a gamble. I'll try to do all the things Wrider suggested, minus the test ride and just take a shot at it. Let you know how it turns out

Pittance · #8 Unread post by **Pittance** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:37 am

Hey Ob. Read this article: http://www.clarity.net/adam/buying-bike.html

It is a complete guide to inspecting a used bike for yourself and it is written in a way that most anyone can understand it. Good pictures too. I made a checklist from it on what to check for when going to see used bikes. But just reading it over once will job your memory if you see something wrong a bike. Goodluck.

obfuscate · #9 Unread post by **obfuscate** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:40 am

Pittance wrote:Hey Ob. Read this article: http://www.clarity.net/adam/buying-bike.html

Thanks I found it several months ago, good resource, made my checklist from it

obfuscate · Mon May 05, 2008 6:51 pm

Figured I'd follow up. Ended up looking at a few bikes on my own, but my friend took pity and looked at a few more with me

I am now the proud owner of a Seca II. Well I'll be proud once I find a repair manual and the right gear (edit: shifting not clothes)

. I look like a complete noob out there, but I've finally got the bike to practice on. Gotta replace signals, pegs and levers, but not too soon (bound to make a silly mistake some time). Still getting a feel for the bike and what's wrong with it vs. my ridding. Oxbowl was right, even with a friend coming along you're still buying a used bike.

I noticed there was a thread a few weeks ago about newbies on 600cc's not following up. I'll do that if anyone is actually interested. I mean it's not a CBR, but it's not a Ninja 250 either.