SV650.org - SV650 & Gladius 650 Forum - View Single Post - What to look out for when buying 2nd hand SV's...

12-05-08, 07:29 PM

Handlebars These are easy to bend and can be costly to replace. Are both bars even and straight? Bent Forks & Fork Play Look down the length of the forks a check for any bends which may have been caused by a collision. Hold the front wheel between your knees and twist the bars - Is there any play? Levers and pedals Check all the levers and pedals to ensure that they are all firmly attached. Look for excessive wear which may indicate high mileage (compare with recorded mileage). Headrace Lift the front wheel by getting someone to push down on the seat (on centre stand) gently turn the bars from the left to right and back. If it feels notchy when it passes centre, then the headrace needs replacing. If it's stiff it may just need adjusting. Exhaust & Mountings In a crash the exhaust can sometime get pushed into the frame. Is the exhaust or frame bent? Also check the joins by placing your hand near them while the engine is running . Is gas escaping? A new exhaust could easily cost £500. Wheels & Brakes Lift the front wheel and make sure it spins freely. Apply the front brake, release and re-check the brakes (a few times). Do the same to the rear. Do the wheels bind? If so you could be looking at replacement pads, bearing or callipers. If available lay a straight edge along the sides of the front and rear wheel and check that they are aligned. Also Look for dents in the rim which may have been caused from curbing at speed. Wheel dents can be corrected (see links), but a new wheel may cost over £300. Raced and abused Check the wheel rims, shocks and forks for excessive wear. thrashing or racing a bike will eat tyres and suspension very quickly, so if the wear looks out of place with the immaculate paint work, then the bike may have had a hard life. Electrics & Unusual wiring Check all the lights and switches work properly, don't forget to give them a tap with your hand to check there are no lose wires. Extra switches or fans, can sometime point to electrical or cooling problems. As a minimum check the reason behind any unusual switches or wiring. Frame & Alignment There are a number of ways to check the frame and wheel alignment, but most require a long plank or similar. However for bikes fitted with front and rear disc brakes a simple right angled spirit level is all you need. Position the bike so that the rear disc is level, then position the front disc to be the same. Now check handle bars, if they are not aligned, there can be several reasons: the front and rear wheels are miss aligned, the frame or forks are damaged, the front or rear discs are warped, the swing arm is damaged. Rust If the bike's been out in the wet, then rust is a possibility, you need to check for rust that's just surface and can be cleaned off or more serious structural rust. If it can be rubbed off with a wet finger then a good cleaner should remove most of it. If it crumbles when you poke it - walk away. Wear Motorcycle parts are fairly expensive and can be fiddly to replace, particularly on faired bikes. A recent Bike magazine calaculated that a bike costing £6000 new, would run to £25,000 if it was build from parts. The costs can really pile up if you need to replace mechanical items. Motorcycles must have a minimum or 1 mm tread across 3/4 of the width of the tyre and usually cost over £100 per pair Are the tyres in poor condition? Also check If the chain is stretched or has tight spots, If the brakes are worn or discs scored. Each item could cost a £100+ to fix. Check the suspension Although Tax is just a maximum of £65 on motorcycles, its worth checking how much is left.

12-05-08, 07:29 PM	#2
Aiki Guest Posts: n/a	Re: What to look out for when buying 2nd hand SV's... Handlebars These are easy to bend and can be costly to replace. Are both bars even and straight? Bent Forks & Fork Play Look down the length of the forks a check for any bends which may have been caused by a collision. Hold the front wheel between your knees and twist the bars - Is there any play? Levers and pedals Check all the levers and pedals to ensure that they are all firmly attached. Look for excessive wear which may indicate high mileage (compare with recorded mileage). Headrace Lift the front wheel by getting someone to push down on the seat (on centre stand) gently turn the bars from the left to right and back. If it feels notchy when it passes centre, then the headrace needs replacing. If it's stiff it may just need adjusting. Exhaust & Mountings In a crash the exhaust can sometime get pushed into the frame. Is the exhaust or frame bent? Also check the joins by placing your hand near them while the engine is running . Is gas escaping? A new exhaust could easily cost £500. Wheels & Brakes Lift the front wheel and make sure it spins freely. Apply the front brake, release and re-check the brakes (a few times). Do the same to the rear. Do the wheels bind? If so you could be looking at replacement pads, bearing or callipers. If available lay a straight edge along the sides of the front and rear wheel and check that they are aligned. Also Look for dents in the rim which may have been caused from curbing at speed. Wheel dents can be corrected (see links), but a new wheel may cost over £300. Raced and abused Check the wheel rims, shocks and forks for excessive wear. thrashing or racing a bike will eat tyres and suspension very quickly, so if the wear looks out of place with the immaculate paint work, then the bike may have had a hard life. Electrics & Unusual wiring Check all the lights and switches work properly, don't forget to give them a tap with your hand to check there are no lose wires. Extra switches or fans, can sometime point to electrical or cooling problems. As a minimum check the reason behind any unusual switches or wiring. Frame & Alignment There are a number of ways to check the frame and wheel alignment, but most require a long plank or similar. However for bikes fitted with front and rear disc brakes a simple right angled spirit level is all you need. Position the bike so that the rear disc is level, then position the front disc to be the same. Now check handle bars, if they are not aligned, there can be several reasons: the front and rear wheels are miss aligned, the frame or forks are damaged, the front or rear discs are warped, the swing arm is damaged. Rust If the bike's been out in the wet, then rust is a possibility, you need to check for rust that's just surface and can be cleaned off or more serious structural rust. If it can be rubbed off with a wet finger then a good cleaner should remove most of it. If it crumbles when you poke it - walk away. Wear Motorcycle parts are fairly expensive and can be fiddly to replace, particularly on faired bikes. A recent Bike magazine calaculated that a bike costing £6000 new, would run to £25,000 if it was build from parts. The costs can really pile up if you need to replace mechanical items. Motorcycles must have a minimum or 1 mm tread across 3/4 of the width of the tyre and usually cost over £100 per pair Are the tyres in poor condition? Also check If the chain is stretched or has tight spots, If the brakes are worn or discs scored. Each item could cost a £100+ to fix. Check the suspension Although Tax is just a maximum of £65 on motorcycles, its worth checking how much is left.