Look at a bunch and do your research. Some people will say not to
buy the first one you see, but I missed a really good deal by
following this rule of thumb. So I say do your research, then go
with what feels right.
Get it looked at by a mechanic, or do it yourself if you are
competent.
Get it serviced immediately after buying. My first motorcycle
didn't have any rear brake pads. Since it was my first time riding,
I had no idea what rear brakes were meant to feel like and the guy I
bought it from promised me the motorcycle had just been serviced.
Needless to say, I ended up locking up the rear wheel a few weeks
into owning the bike- causing about $500 worth of damage and some seriously
embarrassing road rash.
How to save money on your bike. Just a few things I see
people get themselves into because the paint job was pretty:
Mechanical checks:
gears: does it shift smoothly between 1st and 2nd and does
it pop out of gear under load under second? Bent shift forks
and worn gear dogs: big money!
brakes: are the front rotors warped?
oil: is it clean? Is it a milky slurry with water in it?
Does it smell like burned stator? Is some of that oil behind
the exhaust pipe?
battery: does the engine crank over fast and start within a
second?
engine: any noticeable lean spots? Does it have problems
with an even idle? Why is one cylinder missing?
forks: any trace of oil on the forks? do you REALLY want to
replace those seals or move on to the next bike?
rigging? what's with the random assortment of non-factory
looking bolts and what are drywall screws doing in the
fairings?
electrical: why are the wires tangled up and spliced
together? and why are animals living in there?
The three cheif things to remember:
1. The bike should be clean.
2. The bike should be clean.
3. The bike should be clean.
If the owner didn't take care of it to sell, do you think he or
she did to ride?
