ThaiBike - Select Used Bike
All you need to know to buy a Motobike
Select a Good Used Motorcycle in Thailand
Most of us buy used motorbikes, not new ones. And plenty go for a machine that's under three years old as they're still in good nick but that big initial hit of depreciation's already passed. As a serial motorbike buyer will run you through what to check when looking at bikes of this age.
To me a 'nearly new' motorbike should be as good as new. There should be no mechanical problems with secondhand bikes. Most modern bikes just don't have them or, if the odd thing has cropped up, they should have been sorted under warranty. The problems you're most likely to run into are if the bike's been stolen or did a touchdown on the tarmac. It's always worth getting the bike checked at the Department of Land Transport (especially for big bikes). Buying a so-called invoice motorbikes is not discussed here for the obvious reason that it never can guarantee that the bike will ever be legally road-worthy. It's also a good idea to ask for more information of the different motorcycle online forums, the Motorcycle Thailand Forum is a good start.
Accident damage is easy to spot if the seller doesn't try to conceal it – but plenty will do. Frames are a good place to start looking for major damage. Aluminum frames, like the on the Honda CBR150R, are easy to spot it they've been grazed. Black colored ones are harder, but if you run your hand over it and check both sides are the same shape you'll get an idea if it's been filled. Also the original black paint is hard to duplicate – it's often a sort of plastic powder coating, not real paint. You can take a portable UV-light, similar to check counterfeited-money to see if you see differences in the paint.
Because some parts prices are can be pretty expensive I've never known anyone replace everything that's been damaged during a crash, so have a good look. Check the pegs and engine casings to see if they've been down. Then follow the scratches to find more evidence on the body work. Also mirrors and handlebar ends – anything that can touch down. The bottom of a fork leg can get chamfered off in an accident so check they're both the same shape and haven't been filled.
I like to see an honest bike – if there's a bit of pitting on one of the engine cases from where it's been dropped in a parking, that won't put me off. Okay, the motorbike will be worth a few hundred Bath less than a real minter but at least it's honest.
It's worth spending the time to give any bike a good check over. Even if you don't know much about motorbikes you'll notice things that give you clues. I've bought bikes and got them home then noticed the odd chamfer here and there and kicked myself. Take the time, don't be taken in by the shiny bits and spot any damage before you hand your money over....
Most of us buy used motorbikes, not new ones. And plenty go for a machine that's under three years old as they're still in good nick but that big initial hit of depreciation's already passed. As a serial motorbike buyer will run you through what to check when looking at bikes of this age.
To me a 'nearly new' motorbike should be as good as new. There should be no mechanical problems with secondhand bikes. Most modern bikes just don't have them or, if the odd thing has cropped up, they should have been sorted under warranty. The problems you're most likely to run into are if the bike's been stolen or did a touchdown on the tarmac. It's always worth getting the bike checked at the Department of Land Transport (especially for big bikes). Buying a so-called invoice motorbikes is not discussed here for the obvious reason that it never can guarantee that the bike will ever be legally road-worthy. It's also a good idea to ask for more information of the different motorcycle online forums, the Motorcycle Thailand Forum is a good start.Accident damage is easy to spot if the seller doesn't try to conceal it – but plenty will do. Frames are a good place to start looking for major damage. Aluminum frames, like the on the Honda CBR150R, are easy to spot it they've been grazed. Black colored ones are harder, but if you run your hand over it and check both sides are the same shape you'll get an idea if it's been filled. Also the original black paint is hard to duplicate – it's often a sort of plastic powder coating, not real paint. You can take a portable UV-light, similar to check counterfeited-money to see if you see differences in the paint.
Because some parts prices are can be pretty expensive I've never known anyone replace everything that's been damaged during a crash, so have a good look. Check the pegs and engine casings to see if they've been down. Then follow the scratches to find more evidence on the body work. Also mirrors and handlebar ends – anything that can touch down. The bottom of a fork leg can get chamfered off in an accident so check they're both the same shape and haven't been filled.I like to see an honest bike – if there's a bit of pitting on one of the engine cases from where it's been dropped in a parking, that won't put me off. Okay, the motorbike will be worth a few hundred Bath less than a real minter but at least it's honest.
It's worth spending the time to give any bike a good check over. Even if you don't know much about motorbikes you'll notice things that give you clues. I've bought bikes and got them home then noticed the odd chamfer here and there and kicked myself. Take the time, don't be taken in by the shiny bits and spot any damage before you hand your money over....