Advice on buying second hand bikes.

[Jetblast]

Is there a sticky on the above? I can't find it.

Pls pm me the link?

 

Any additional advice to a rookie is appreciated.

[ticks]

Just saw this topic bro. SO ill try to give my opinion cos i just got one.

 

Depends on who u are buying from lo. I bot from shop so ill tell u wat i learned. Some things are actually common sense really. Check all the normal wear and tear stuff, Fork seal , bump stop, tires, chain, sprocket, overall paint work bla bla bla...

 

One shop i went to was showing a lousy drz. Shop say if paint job not good means that the previous owner didn't do anything to cover up any accident marks. However, this works both ways. Although the bike was fully stock, everything was crap on it. Shop boss let me do a test ride, found out that the handle bar oso bent, ride also one kind of feeling. Oh yea, the steering cone oso felt like crap, cant even turn the handlebar.

 

So went to the second shop, saw a much much nicer model. partial mod (which i dont mind), but battery flat. Well after comparing that to the first bike already much more happy liao so only did quick check. Seals all ok all look much nicer already win hands down. So very happy say want that bike. Well u could've spotted my stupid mistake which i will gladly own up to. Never check mileage, advertised was 30k ,the day i took my bike it was 60k!! but i had other issues cos the bike kept stalling so quite frustrated after riding thru traffic have to turn back, while riding back oso stall dunno how many times. It was after solving this issue then rode all the way home, in heavy rain, plus need to get used to the bike, only knew that the odo was reading 60l. ****!

 

if i knew earlier i would have asked him to reduce the price further or even gimme a new set of tyres.

 

so this is just my opinion and hope it helps!

[heysugar]

Can I ask why is the mileage impt to take note of a 2nd hand bike?

[IvikaRazI]

Mileage shows how far the bike has been 'abused'. The thought is the lesser the mileage, the longer the bike can 'serve' you. In this day of age, it is very difficult to determine if the mileage shown is real. It can be tampered with. The below shows for car,

 

 

I would stay out of modded bikes as modded bikes have the tendency to be 'abused' more. Most of the time, a modded bike will costs much less than a stock bike. I am not sure if this still applies. If the previous owner is a lady, the bike should have no or less problem. Lady riders takes good care of the bike.

 

As for buying bike, bring someone experienced, MOST IMPORTANT. To me engine condition is one of the top requirement. Cosmetics can be done later.

[ticks]

Yea don't mean to go against what bro IvikaRazi has said. But sometimes its u heng suay lo like in my case the one without mod was a total piece of crap la. But the modded one is running well, that also by chance cos i did an idiotic mistake to not listening to the engine in the first place.

 

Well after that i brot my drz to Bro Raptors shop at kallang and he checked it and said that the engine was running fine. So i guessed i was fortunate in this case la but maybe not so on my next bike.

 

Yea i up the point on bringing someone more experienced.

[Alex_Burn_water]

Your experience isn't bad.. I bought my cb400 last month from "A" bike shop along bukit merah due to heavy influence from that the sales man who is my friend's buddy.. Initially when i was there even before i see the bike, i was told to put a deposit first.. the follow weeks later, i finally get to see the bike, on the surface it's ok; no oil leak, some paint work chip off and other wear and tear which was promised by the sales person that they'll work on it before i collect my bike.. weeks later, on the day of collection, nothing much was done, new tires. And the sales person just rush me off and said the bike got warranty, if anything happen, can come back.. I'm thinking what about my paint work and other stuffs promised??

 

I rode home, on my way home, bike died a few times, the disk brake keep having funny noise.. I managed to get home and i went back to that shop for warranty.. Mechanic keep on dragging the date, ask me to come back next week since got 2 weeks of warranty.. one week later, i went back, same mechanic told me to leave the bike over for a week to do a detail check..

 

after collection of the bike(end of warranty period), a few days later my bike broke down again.. this time is worse, my EO leak and bike still died, the disk noise is getting louder, no choice i have to tow my bike to my trusted bike shop to service.. and my own mechanic found out, the batt is dead, the wheel bearing damaged, steering cone damaged, disk brake and pad need to be replaced, need to do overhaul as gasket leak oil, carb rubber knot harden, lots of engine parts spoil and GLUED back and then paint with a nice layer of paint to cover. The temp guage not working, water pump spoil and filled with alot of GUM and then paint over with a coat of nice paint covering it.. the whole cooling system got to rebuild.. Wiring also messed up, my voltage can go up to 18v before i do re-wiring.. overall total damage = $2400++ to bring my bike back to life..

 

Sad thing is to go back to that LJ bike shop to pay installment for 3 years every month.. FML

[heysugar]

Heard about so many misfortune about buying used bikes from shop makes me develope a kind of phobia man... Changing into a 2A bike somemore... Damage confirm alot more than 2B bikes....

[Fried Rice]

Your experience isn't bad.. I bought my cb400 last month from "A" bike shop along bukit merah due to heavy influence from that the sales man who is my friend's buddy.. Initially when i was there even before i see the bike, i was told to put a deposit first.. the follow weeks later, i finally get to see the bike, on the surface it's ok; no oil leak, some paint work chip off and other wear and tear which was promised by the sales person that they'll work on it before i collect my bike.. weeks later, on the day of collection, nothing much was done, new tires. And the sales person just rush me off and said the bike got warranty, if anything happen, can come back.. I'm thinking what about my paint work and other stuffs promised??

 

I rode home, on my way home, bike died a few times, the disk brake keep having funny noise.. I managed to get home and i went back to that shop for warranty.. Mechanic keep on dragging the date, ask me to come back next week since got 2 weeks of warranty.. one week later, i went back, same mechanic told me to leave the bike over for a week to do a detail check..

 

after collection of the bike(end of warranty period), a few days later my bike broke down again.. this time is worse, my EO leak and bike still died, the disk noise is getting louder, no choice i have to tow my bike to my trusted bike shop to service.. and my own mechanic found out, the batt is dead, the wheel bearing damaged, steering cone damaged, disk brake and pad need to be replaced, need to do overhaul as gasket leak oil, carb rubber knot harden, lots of engine parts spoil and GLUED back and then paint with a nice layer of paint to cover. The temp guage not working, water pump spoil and filled with alot of GUM and then paint over with a coat of nice paint covering it.. the whole cooling system got to rebuild.. Wiring also messed up, my voltage can go up to 18v before i do re-wiring.. overall total damage = $2400++ to bring my bike back to life..

 

Sad thing is to go back to that LJ bike shop to pay installment for 3 years every month.. FML

 

shouldn't have placed a deposit before you get to see the bike.

[Fried Rice]

Heard about so many misfortune about buying used bikes from shop makes me develope a kind of phobia man... Changing into a 2A bike somemore... Damage confirm alot more than 2B bikes....

 

not forgetting the fact that shop usually tend to sell used bikes at a higher price than private sellers. i think shops usually just bullshit about the good condition of the used bikes they are selling, after all, they are doing a business with money making being the top priority in mind.

[Alex_Burn_water]

Didnt want to put deposit initially.. But the Boss keep assuring me that it's ok to place deposit before looking at the bike, as based on his opinion, that bike is tip-top condition, paint work damn sui!! Must put deposit first, if not i wont get to see the bike, and if got other people put deposit first, they can reserve the bike.. and i have to wait for other bike.. After telling me so much about his" imagination of that very nice bike" I was dumb to trust him and place deposit.. Plus that saleman was also there to physco me..

 

When money paid, Bike that came a week later is totally out of my imagination!! PUI!! Cannot refund also.. Felt so cheated.. My next bike i will definitely get from forum.. Businessman words can't be trusted..

[Alex_Burn_water]

not forgetting the fact that shop usually tend to sell used bikes at a higher price than private sellers. i think shops usually just bullshit about the good condition of the used bikes they are selling, after all, they are doing a business with money making being the top priority in mind.

 

Yep.. If not for the fact i dont want to pay full cash as i have got other commitments, I would have bought from forum as 2nd bike price in forum are actually more reasonable..

[biting_point]

Didnt want to put deposit initially.. But the Boss keep assuring me that it's ok to place deposit before looking at the bike, as based on his opinion, that bike is tip-top condition, paint work damn sui!! Must put deposit first, if not i wont get to see the bike, and if got other people put deposit first, they can reserve the bike.. and i have to wait for other bike.. After telling me so much about his" imagination of that very nice bike" I was dumb to trust him and place deposit.. Plus that saleman was also there to physco me..

 

When money paid, Bike that came a week later is totally out of my imagination!! PUI!! Cannot refund also.. Felt so cheated.. My next bike i will definitely get from forum.. Businessman words can't be trusted..

 

from your DRZ experience, i tot you would have learnt to stay calm and learn to hold your horses before you commit to any bikes..

let this be another lesson learn..

 

if in any case, you wanna buy anymore 2nd hand bikes.. let me know..

I had been buying bikes from ASP Changi with no problems at all..

 

not all shops are money minded..

as for ASP, they are customer orientated..

[Constructicon]

Is there a sticky on the above? I can't find it.

Pls pm me the link?

 

Any additional advice to a rookie is appreciated.

 

The only advice I got for you is to bring a friend who rides and has some knowledge about bike when you go and view bikes.

 

There is nothing more eye-catching to many bikeshops than a newbie who goes to their shop to buy a bike.

Usually the word 'welcome, feel free to take a look' is accompanied by sounds of choppers being sharpened.

 

Many of us has been burnt when buying our 1st bikes.

Find some friend who rides to go with you when shopping for bikes.

 

Don't be impulsive with your money.

Don't be tempted by 'promises' they shop give you. No black/ white? It's as good as listening to bird talking.

Don't believe all the things they say, remember they are making a living by milking money out of you. There are no friends or whatever crap. Too many 'the shop is friendly, but after purchase the face change" kind of threads around.

 

Cheers.

[wX]

Didnt want to put deposit initially.. But the Boss keep assuring me that it's ok to place deposit before looking at the bike, as based on his opinion, that bike is tip-top condition, paint work damn sui!! Must put deposit first, if not i wont get to see the bike, and if got other people put deposit first, they can reserve the bike.. and i have to wait for other bike.. After telling me so much about his" imagination of that very nice bike" I was dumb to trust him and place deposit.. Plus that saleman was also there to physco me..

 

When money paid, Bike that came a week later is totally out of my imagination!! PUI!! Cannot refund also.. Felt so cheated.. My next bike i will definitely get from forum.. Businessman words can't be trusted..

 

Sounds familiar. I believe many of us will know which one

[Fried Rice]

btw.. can someone pm me the shop name so i can take caution against the shop? no need to post here openly, later kana lawsuit or some problems. thanks!