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Difference between revisions of "Used Motorcycle Evaluation"
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** Exceptions: Some late-model bikes (e.g., recent [[Triumph]]s) have plastic gas tanks. It's normal for plastic gas tanks to be milky-white on the inside. Knock on the side of the tank to see if it's metal or plastic. Exceptions to exceptions: some bikes have metal tanks but have plastic tank covers, so when you knock on them, they'll sound like plastic, but they aren't. (Example: [[Yamaha FZR400]]'s.) Your best bet is to look closely at the inside of the tank -- it should be fairly easy to tell whether or not you're looking at metal or plastic. Evaluate the tank's condition accordingly. | ** Exceptions: Some late-model bikes (e.g., recent [[Triumph]]s) have plastic gas tanks. It's normal for plastic gas tanks to be milky-white on the inside. Knock on the side of the tank to see if it's metal or plastic. Exceptions to exceptions: some bikes have metal tanks but have plastic tank covers, so when you knock on them, they'll sound like plastic, but they aren't. (Example: [[Yamaha FZR400]]'s.) Your best bet is to look closely at the inside of the tank -- it should be fairly easy to tell whether or not you're looking at metal or plastic. Evaluate the tank's condition accordingly. | ||
* Dark (coffee or tea-colored) gas has been sitting around for a long time. Not a good sign. Get it changed immediately, and anticipate needing a thorough fuel-system cleaning. (Around $5 of parts plus 2-3 hours of labor.) | * Dark (coffee or tea-colored) gas has been sitting around for a long time. Not a good sign. Get it changed immediately, and [[anticipate]] needing a thorough fuel-system cleaning. (Around $5 of parts plus 2-3 hours of labor.) | ||
* Make sure the lock in the gas cap is working. If it isn't, it'll probably cost $100-$200 to get a genuine [[OEM]] replacement cap with a lock that matches the ignition's. | * Make sure the lock in the gas cap is working. If it isn't, it'll probably cost $100-$200 to get a genuine [[OEM]] replacement cap with a lock that matches the ignition's. | ||
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* If the throttle cable twists with a lot of resistance (and then won't snap closed), there are a couple of possibilities, none of which is really good news: | * If the throttle cable twists with a lot of resistance (and then won't snap closed), there are a couple of possibilities, none of which is really good news: | ||
** The carbs may be hopelessly gunked up with gas and varnish. If the bike won't start, that definitely points to this possibility (rather than either of the next two.) A good carb cleaning will either cost around $200 of shop labor or $5 + 1-3 hours of your time, depending on whether you have a shop do the work or you do the work yourself. (Warning: not for the inexperienced or mechanically faint of heart -- there are lots of small and easily-confused parts -- but if you've done it before, it's not too bad.) | ** The carbs may be hopelessly gunked up with gas and varnish. If the bike won't start, that definitely points to this possibility (rather than either of the next two.) A good carb cleaning will either cost around $200 of shop labor or $5 + 1-3 hours of your time, depending on whether you have a shop do the work or you do the work yourself. (Warning: not for the inexperienced or mechanically faint of heart -- there are lots of small and easily-confused parts -- but if you've done it before, it's not too bad.) | ||
** The handlebar itself may be slightly bent, preventing the twistgrip's throttle tube from sliding well. Look very closely -- sometimes it's hard to tell unless you really scrutinize it (or remove the throttle tube.) Bent handlebars can cost $75 or more to fix, and are a good indication that the bike was crashed and may have other crash damage. Be on the lookout. | ** The handlebar itself may be slightly bent, preventing the [[twistgrip]]'s throttle tube from sliding well. Look very closely -- sometimes it's hard to tell unless you really scrutinize it (or remove the throttle tube.) Bent handlebars can cost $75 or more to fix, and are a good indication that the bike was crashed and may have other crash damage. Be on the lookout. | ||
** The throttle cables may partially seized, or simply routed improperly. This may mean that the carbs are fine. It's very hard to check while you're visiting a prospective acquisition, but try straightening cables or untwisting them and see if the behavior changes substantially. If straightening them or untwisting them makes them slide a little easier, they're probably routed around the frame the wrong way (hamfisted home mechanic alert!), and they can be fixed fairly easily. If not, new cables will probably run you about $20 each, plus about half an hour of labor to install. | ** The throttle cables may partially seized, or simply routed improperly. This may mean that the carbs are fine. It's very hard to check while you're visiting a prospective acquisition, but try straightening cables or untwisting them and see if the behavior changes substantially. If straightening them or untwisting them makes them slide a little easier, they're probably routed around the frame the wrong way (hamfisted home mechanic alert!), and they can be fixed fairly easily. If not, new cables will probably run you about $20 each, plus about half an hour of labor to install. | ||
* Some engines use air and oil for cooling, some are water cooled. The comments below about checking the coolant or worrying about coolant in the oil apply only to liquid-cooled models, not to air- or air/oil-cooled models. | * Some engines use air and oil for cooling, some are water cooled. The comments below about checking the coolant or worrying about coolant in the oil apply only to liquid-cooled models, not to air- or air/oil-cooled models. | ||