What immediately throws you off when looking for a used bike?

queen of spodes 9/17/2019 1:08pm
9/17/2019 1:08pm
Black rims on bikes that didn't come with them from factory

Spoke covers

Swingarm decals (here's lookin' at you Renthal)

Wiring "hacks" (like where someone butchered factory wiring to "hook up" leds)

Retro graphics on newer bikes when all they did was a graphics kit and didn't paint frame or change rims to match OEM for that model year.

Painted (non-black) expansion chambers on 2-strokes

Duct tape anywhere

Massively scratched fenders/side plates.

Bent levers

1
8
bonseff
Profile picture for user bonseff
Posts
2111
Joined
3/29/2011
Location
Frisco, TX, USA
bonseff 9/17/2019 2:12pm
9/17/2019 2:12pm
"new clutches"

Drives me fucking crazy
3
bonseff
Profile picture for user bonseff
Posts
2111
Joined
3/29/2011
Location
Frisco, TX, USA
bonseff 9/17/2019 2:44pm
9/17/2019 2:44pm Edited Date/Time 9/17/2019 2:46pm
"Selling for a friend"

"oil changed every ride"
bonseff
Profile picture for user bonseff
Posts
2111
Joined
3/29/2011
Location
Frisco, TX, USA
bonseff 9/17/2019 2:52pm
9/17/2019 2:52pm Edited Date/Time 9/17/2019 2:53pm
"It starts 17-18 kicks every time. It smokes but that's because i jetted it rich because I have a lot of mosquitoes on my farm and i like to ride and spray. oh, did i mention it was only farm ridden?"

k - I made that one up
1

The Shop

See All »
SLOWTIME
Profile picture for user SLOWTIME
Posts
578
Joined
12/1/2014
Location
USA
SLOWTIME 9/17/2019 3:05pm
9/17/2019 3:05pm
Monster stickers.
6
ThePizzaCobra
Profile picture for user ThePizzaCobra
Posts
736
Joined
12/1/2018
Location
The Garden State, NJ, USA
ThePizzaCobra 9/17/2019 6:05pm
9/17/2019 6:05pm
Dirty bike... if you’re too lazy to wash it for an ad photo, you definitely haven’t dedicated any time toward routine maintenance
10
Caseclosed713 9/17/2019 6:39pm
9/17/2019 6:39pm
"used to run"
"my buddy worked on it"
"has bigger jets"
kdawson252
Profile picture for user kdawson252
Posts
118
Joined
7/13/2017
Location
Washougal, WA, USA
kdawson252 9/17/2019 8:14pm
9/17/2019 8:14pm
Torn up grips. If you can't spend $10-15 on a set of grips I automatically assume you don't have the funds to properly maintain a bike. Also when they say "fresh top end" but can't tell exactly what that entails or provide any proof.
2
ThePizzaCobra
Profile picture for user ThePizzaCobra
Posts
736
Joined
12/1/2018
Location
The Garden State, NJ, USA
ThePizzaCobra 11/19/2019 11:29am
11/19/2019 11:29am
Ebs wrote:
'Fresh oil change' is code for this thing never saw oil changes so I feel this is a special thing I need to talk up. 'Over...
'Fresh oil change' is code for this thing never saw oil changes so I feel this is a special thing I need to talk up.
'Over half tread left on tires' = I have no clue that these things are roached but I still see some bumps on the tires.

That listing is commonly paired with some sort of description of how fast the bike is and what bikes it has proven to be faster than in a drag race.
I was just skimming the Facebook marketplace and I saw "Fresh oil change, freshly cleaned filter" and thought of this thread. It was a clean looking bike, but I immediately clicked away because I shared your same sentiment.
MOTO1313
Profile picture for user MOTO1313
Posts
166
Joined
11/13/2019
Location
Elkhorn, WI, USA
MOTO1313 11/19/2019 11:38am
11/19/2019 11:38am Edited Date/Time 11/19/2019 11:38am
Any ad or bike that doesn't say HONDA.
4
6
loftyair
Profile picture for user loftyair
Posts
2907
Joined
7/3/2009
Location
riverside, CA, USA
loftyair 11/19/2019 11:43am
11/19/2019 11:43am
I once drove over 100 miles for an (06) yz250. Get there just to see it has 05 forks, pissed!
Brent_Apodaca 11/19/2019 12:39pm
11/19/2019 12:39pm
Ok I have a few things.
1. Just be honest with me , If it has something wrong with it ill fix it so as long as the price reflects that. Prime example is if I get there and you say its awesome barely ridden.Then I see leaky fork seals and a leaky petcock we're going to have an issue ( I had this exact thing happen).

2. If the picture is old or of you jumping the bike , I wonder exactly what it looks like now.

3. If when I get there you already have the bike running.

4. If you tell me that I need to hurry because you have other buyers coming. Effectively trying to make me rush my decision. If you wont let me fire it up ( if it runs) , look over the bike fully , or take the seat off. I wont buy it.

1
Deja New
Profile picture for user Deja New
Posts
2784
Joined
11/22/2016
Location
AU
Deja New 11/19/2019 1:39pm
11/19/2019 1:39pm
Posted this gem in the goon thread but it belongs here too....

Powder coated spokes no fork guards asking $6500 Australian..... that’s a hard pass




racerx217
Profile picture for user racerx217
Posts
1204
Joined
10/10/2008
Location
USA
racerx217 11/19/2019 1:43pm
11/19/2019 1:43pm
Max D wrote:
Don’t look for used bikes. Don’t trust em!
Same here, only thing i would consider buying used would be a street bike. For that it would have to be adult owned and in dam near perfect shape otherwise i would walk.
sam hain
Profile picture for user sam hain
Posts
1178
Joined
11/8/2011
Location
USA
sam hain 11/19/2019 1:49pm
11/19/2019 1:49pm
Last couple older bikes (2006-2010) I looked at to use for dual sports had dirty air filters and the air box was filthy. I don't get not cleaning a bike completely when trying to sell it.
cable
Profile picture for user cable
Posts
1261
Joined
6/11/2008
Location
Rockford, MI, USA
cable 11/19/2019 2:01pm
11/19/2019 2:01pm
I seen an ad for 2002 cr250 with black plastic on it, little dirty. upon further review it was a 2001. carb vent hoses were still pink, and some of the bolts sitll had that gold look on the heads. I drove almost two hours to look at it. young kid, says he cant keep it running without fouling plugs.. I get there and it looks like a brand new 2001 with crappy plastic on it. stock tires (695 rear and the 490 front!) the cyclinder nut still had the yellow paint lined up with the stud. same for the shock preload adjuster. I paid him the $1780. Holy cow i forgot how fast those bikes are. It stlll feels really stiff like a new bike. take a close look, and look beyond the plastic.
4
Crisp
Profile picture for user Crisp
Posts
91
Joined
1/15/2019
Location
AU
Crisp 11/19/2019 6:44pm
11/19/2019 6:44pm
DF313 wrote:
Only trail ridden, never raced..... [embed][/embed] Obviously taken from that other thread of the guy falling off the cliff, what a lucky dude!
Only trail ridden, never raced.....


Obviously taken from that other thread of the guy falling off the cliff, what a lucky dude!
Cleanest bike you will see. May have some minor scratches.
DFWracefan
Profile picture for user DFWracefan
Posts
464
Joined
1/4/2013
Location
Fort Worth, TX, USA
DFWracefan 11/19/2019 11:40pm
11/19/2019 11:40pm
Dripping wet in pictures.
Not being stored inside.
Home Depot/hardware store number kit.
Zip ties holding plastic on.
air filter missing, shredded or caked
Knobbies in better shape than sprocket
1

Pit Row

See All »
Nuffsaid
Profile picture for user Nuffsaid
Posts
573
Joined
3/24/2018
Location
Bakersfield, CA, USA
Nuffsaid 11/20/2019 6:34pm
11/20/2019 6:34pm
Real fast, will do 70mph and pops wheelie in every gear...bye bye
1
Phillip_Lamb
Profile picture for user Phillip_Lamb
Posts
2117
Joined
12/14/2010
Location
ORANGEVALE, CA, USA
Phillip_Lamb 11/20/2019 8:00pm
11/20/2019 8:00pm
does it start, and does it run clean.
Lastander
Profile picture for user Lastander
Posts
1238
Joined
10/9/2016
Location
SE
Lastander 11/20/2019 11:11pm
11/20/2019 11:11pm
If its for sale by a guy in Canada
2
1
FWYT
Profile picture for user FWYT
Posts
3560
Joined
5/25/2014
Location
San Diego, CA, USA
FWYT 11/20/2019 11:22pm
11/20/2019 11:22pm
Messy registration. My FIRST question is - "Is the rego current, in YOUR name, and do you have the pink?'
2
mxbonz
Profile picture for user mxbonz
Posts
17
Joined
7/13/2019
Location
USA
mxbonz 11/20/2019 11:36pm
11/20/2019 11:36pm
Hmm..Haha..Let me count the ways.

"Street tires"....
Cracked rims
Cracked cases
Cracked cases with JB weld hideously blobbed
Cracked hubs,
Wheels with spokes seized and stretched to the point of the rim/tires jangling as you pick the bike up
Triple clamp stops snapped off
Missing head stays
Chain guides and swingarms sawed through
Blown fork and shock seals
Frozen linkage
2002-2007 CR125/CR250's with stock airboxes and 1/4" of black grit inside the airboot..
....A new "restyle kit" with slight road rash.

All for $3,000...because those "old dinosaur" 2 strokes are "hot again"....
1
Sidecar
Profile picture for user Sidecar
Posts
1727
Joined
1/29/2015
Location
GB
Sidecar 11/21/2019 1:03am
11/21/2019 1:03am
I think the whole black plastic thing needs to be forgotten now, we would all look at these (not mine) for the right price... I get the MM graphics but black has always had a place in moto.





3
1
Frodad78
Profile picture for user Frodad78
Posts
2155
Joined
1/11/2012
Location
USA
Frodad78 11/21/2019 5:36am
11/21/2019 5:36am
Potato farm growing in the airbox
Steve125
Profile picture for user Steve125
Posts
1411
Joined
11/24/2010
Location
USA
Steve125 11/21/2019 6:01am
11/21/2019 6:01am
"HMU.. will trade for X Box."
1
roninho
Profile picture for user roninho
Posts
1621
Joined
7/14/2015
Location
IT
roninho 11/21/2019 6:42am
11/21/2019 6:42am
queen of spodes wrote:
Black rims on bikes that didn't come with them from factory Spoke covers Swingarm decals (here's lookin' at you Renthal) Wiring "hacks" (like where someone butchered...
Black rims on bikes that didn't come with them from factory

Spoke covers

Swingarm decals (here's lookin' at you Renthal)

Wiring "hacks" (like where someone butchered factory wiring to "hook up" leds)

Retro graphics on newer bikes when all they did was a graphics kit and didn't paint frame or change rims to match OEM for that model year.

Painted (non-black) expansion chambers on 2-strokes

Duct tape anywhere

Massively scratched fenders/side plates.

Bent levers

Why would it be an issue if a bike has black rims, swingarm decals and retro graphics?
1
Chance1216
Profile picture for user Chance1216
Posts
8854
Joined
4/1/2018
Location
Carson, CA, USA
Chance1216 11/21/2019 6:57am
11/21/2019 6:57am
At first glance, I see the front brake cable routed on the outside of the fork leg. This always makes me look a lot closer at other things. Missing chain rollers, dirty air filter, zip ties. The obvious stuff. Then if the owner says it has a new top end, I wanna see the paperwork.
Brent_Apodaca 11/21/2019 8:00am
11/21/2019 8:00am
Spotted this one in the wild just today.The posting read as follows:

2001 Suzuki RM80 with good motor and transmission, oil changes regularly and runs and works great. great for beginner riders and getting started in the moto x scene. New rear tire and rim clamp. stock exhaust with FMF Gold series fatty pipe. water cooled head. replaced all the fuel lines from carb. little spray paint to make it look like blood splatter. excellent price for the bike and I'm firm on 650 but might be willing to negotiate if its a good offer. txt or call me.

4
Looby321
Profile picture for user Looby321
Posts
543
Joined
12/23/2018
Location
USA
Looby321 11/21/2019 8:21am
11/21/2019 8:21am
When I would sell bikes, they would be as clean as a whistle. If you don’t have pride in what you own, I wouldn’t give the bike a second look.
2

Post a reply to: What immediately throws you off when looking for a used bike?