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

brocster
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Aliso Viejo, CA US
9/15/2019 5:52pm
Less than 20 hrs and the clutch cover is buffed clean from a boot or the rear black back rim has a ailver strip around it from tire roll. Shit doesn’t happen in 20 hrs

Maybe 20 hrs of their ownership but how many hours before then...
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Chance1216
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Federal Way, WA US
9/15/2019 5:55pm
Chance1216 wrote:
Lost title or bill of sale only.
mxbrian15 wrote:
Agreed. Only exception for me is older bikes (70s, 80s, and 90s bikes).
Its the first question I ask only because in Washington there is a three year waiting period after filing for a lost title. I couldn't believe it.
1
9/15/2019 6:07pm
Non stock graphics. I want a used bike as OEM correct as possible. Your green and pink neon BS is going in the trash, no one keeps that stuff.
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6

The Shop

BS12
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AU
9/15/2019 6:19pm
I'll tell you what I do look for: Red exhaust pipes.
7
RCF
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PA US
9/15/2019 6:35pm
brocster wrote:
Less than 20 hrs and the clutch cover is buffed clean from a boot or the rear black back rim has a ailver strip around it...
Less than 20 hrs and the clutch cover is buffed clean from a boot or the rear black back rim has a ailver strip around it from tire roll. Shit doesn’t happen in 20 hrs

Maybe 20 hrs of their ownership but how many hours before then...
That's not true this is a picture of a bike I sold with 5 hours on it and the cover was buff clean all it takes is one mud race
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Wells423
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Granbury, TX US
9/15/2019 6:43pm
brocster wrote:
Less than 20 hrs and the clutch cover is buffed clean from a boot or the rear black back rim has a ailver strip around it...
Less than 20 hrs and the clutch cover is buffed clean from a boot or the rear black back rim has a ailver strip around it from tire roll. Shit doesn’t happen in 20 hrs

Maybe 20 hrs of their ownership but how many hours before then...
Mine has 31 hours on it. Has had the silver ring on the black rim since 10. Faster you are the quicker things wear out.
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hbdesigns913
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Danville, IN US
9/15/2019 6:50pm
Water puddle around bike in photos. Bike is wet and still dirty
8
yeroc281
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136
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2/7/2015
Location
Columbus, OH US
9/15/2019 6:57pm Edited Date/Time 9/15/2019 7:05pm
Anyone that feels the need to write a novel for the ad. I don't need you or your bike life's story. I don't care about your family or the reason why you are selling it. Stick to basics, if I'm interested, you can tell me that crap on the phone.
2
AH387
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Bridgeville, PA US
9/15/2019 6:58pm
For me it is dirty pictures. I can't take it when guys show a pic of their 450 mid-ride leaning against a tree, covered in mud. If you can't clean it up and snap proper pics as it sits, then I can't take the ad seriously.
7
Wade221
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Yuba City, CA US
9/15/2019 7:10pm
Saw one recently that kinda confused me; Initial sentence stated: Selling because never have time to ride. Then went into the usual diatribe of low hours, oil changes, blah, blah. Bike had mismatched plastics and bad tires. But last sentence states “selling to buy new bike”... thought you didn’t have time to ride??? So immediately I’m thinking “engine is minutes from grenading, and I want a new bike”
8
omalley
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Snohomish, WA US
9/15/2019 7:23pm
BS12 wrote:
I'll tell you what I do look for: Red exhaust pipes.
LaughingLaughingLaughing
1
9/15/2019 7:35pm
Injury forces sale.....
Nothing wrong with this. I have had to sell my bikes at time I wasn't able to ride due to a work injury and their was no sense in letting them sit, as that just costs money. I wasn't able to ride for 2 1/2 years. Just because someone doesn't go into detail about the injury status, it has absolutely nothing to do with the sale of their bike 99% of the time.

You would understand if you were in that position.
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1
brocster
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Aliso Viejo, CA US
9/15/2019 7:46pm
brocster wrote:
Less than 20 hrs and the clutch cover is buffed clean from a boot or the rear black back rim has a ailver strip around it...
Less than 20 hrs and the clutch cover is buffed clean from a boot or the rear black back rim has a ailver strip around it from tire roll. Shit doesn’t happen in 20 hrs

Maybe 20 hrs of their ownership but how many hours before then...
RCF wrote:
That's not true this is a picture of a bike I sold with 5 hours on it and the cover was buff clean all it takes...
That's not true this is a picture of a bike I sold with 5 hours on it and the cover was buff clean all it takes is one mud race
Ok. I still wouldn’t have bought your bike...
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3
brocster
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Aliso Viejo, CA US
9/15/2019 7:51pm
Wells423 wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/09/15/373220/s1200_1DEE1EEA_61EA_4C83_862E_73F88D421FA5.jpg[/img]

A sharpie is your friend
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1
KHI Guy
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Cleveland, OH US
9/15/2019 8:09pm
Adds that go something like:
The good
- Mint condition, nicest you will find on Craigslist, literally like brand new.
The bad
-Doesn't run, just needs a new spark box ($5 on eBay)

and of course:
No title, but will provide a clean bill of sale (whatever that is), or
No title. I can get one buy YOU have to pay the taxes!!!!
4
r.sal923
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CA
9/15/2019 8:30pm
When it is not on a dealer floor and never been ridden
1
2
Chance1216
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Federal Way, WA US
9/15/2019 8:38pm
KHI Guy wrote:
Adds that go something like: [b]The good[/b] - Mint condition, nicest you will find on Craigslist, literally like brand new. [b]The bad[/b] -Doesn't run, just needs...
Adds that go something like:
The good
- Mint condition, nicest you will find on Craigslist, literally like brand new.
The bad
-Doesn't run, just needs a new spark box ($5 on eBay)

and of course:
No title, but will provide a clean bill of sale (whatever that is), or
No title. I can get one buy YOU have to pay the taxes!!!!
Or no title but, I will go with you to the DMV.
9/15/2019 8:43pm
Honestly the word “used” turns me off now. Ive been burned and lied to on every used bike i bought
brapgod69
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Salt Lake City, UT US
9/15/2019 8:47pm
RCF wrote:
That's not true this is a picture of a bike I sold with 5 hours on it and the cover was buff clean all it takes...
That's not true this is a picture of a bike I sold with 5 hours on it and the cover was buff clean all it takes is one mud race
Very true. Rode my new 450 in mud the second time I rode it and it looked like it had 40+ hours on it.
1
Dropbear
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Adelaide AU
9/16/2019 12:53am Edited Date/Time 9/16/2019 12:56am
Definitely “never raced” or a motocross bike advertised as a “dirt bike”.
2
fullfloater
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CA US
Fantasy
14th
9/16/2019 1:20am
omalley wrote:
-Paddle Tire -Anything repaired incorrectly (non-factory bolts, mismatched plastic, anything that looks like it was a trailside repair that never got fixed). -187, 420, 911, etc...
-Paddle Tire
-Anything repaired incorrectly (non-factory bolts, mismatched plastic, anything that looks like it was a trailside repair that never got fixed).
-187, 420, 911, etc on the number plates...
-no title/bill of sale
-anyone who won’t meet at a police station or other public place for the sale
-anyone who advertises “fresh rebuild” unless they can show receipts for a professional shop. I’d rather buy a bike with runout engine that’s never been opened up. At least I know that some booger eater hasn’t used a screwdriver as a case splitter and a Stanley 12’ tape as a feeler gauge.
Never knew about #187 until now. Thanks Vital.

On the surface, ol Richard Lyons doesn't look much like a murderer but we know.




Premixed112
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Los Angeles, CA US
9/16/2019 1:32am
Most of my bugaboos have already been said by others, but the guys that put one photo of the bike on the stand and then the rest of them riding it in place of other angles of the bike. Really just not getting clean, clear, and well lit shots of all angles of it for the ad is the most annoying thing.
1
9/16/2019 3:24am Edited Date/Time 9/16/2019 3:30am
A bunch of aftermarket parts installed on the bike. A lot of people dont know what theyre doing or have much mechanical ability. These bikes usually have missing or incorrect hardware, parts installed wrong, poor quality parts, etc.I look for bikes that are very close to stock because that tells me no one had their hands in it.
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ATKpilot99
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Lake Geneva, WI US
9/16/2019 3:28am
Needs a little love... my loss is your gain.
2
kage173
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2122
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11/27/2015
Location
TX US
9/16/2019 4:26am
It doesn't matter. It's always a crap shoot with a used bike. I bought a bike off a mechanic who had an immaculate garage and could tell me every detail of the bike. I thought it would be well taken care of. I was wrong.
1
9/16/2019 4:31am
A really tight or really loose chain
baxterj787
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32
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11/3/2009
Location
Xenia, OH US
9/16/2019 4:32am Edited Date/Time 9/16/2019 4:42am
Spary paint / spoke skins / pictures that seem to have been taken during an earthquake or the DTs.
1
Motofinne
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10670
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1/4/2014
Location
FI
9/16/2019 4:42am Edited Date/Time 9/16/2019 4:45am
foreman52 wrote:
When they promote it as “never raced”. Typically the bikes that aren’t raced are owned by individuals that have no idea what they’re doing for maintenance...
When they promote it as “never raced”. Typically the bikes that aren’t raced are owned by individuals that have no idea what they’re doing for maintenance.

Also people who post dirty photo’s of the bike for their advertisement. If the bike is also on a homemade stand i.e a milk crate, piece of wood, etc that is a big red flag.
The "never raced" is by far the biggest sign that you should continue your search for a bike. People that see it as a good thing or as an USP are often clueless.

Very few race on shitty equipment that hasn't been taken care of.
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