AN expert has revealed the five telltale signs to look out for when buying a used motorbike.
Ryan Kluftinger from FortNine explains on YouTube the key steps to identifying problems – and how to avoid buying a “lemon”.
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Ryan said one of the first tests concerned the character of the seller. If they use inappropriate language when advertising the bike, this normally suggested they have been a bad owner, Ryan said.
The expert also said that if the owner refused to admit the bike had been dropped, this was another flag. He said all motorbikes were dropped at at some stage or another.
The second key test involved starting the bike up, Ryan said. He said: ” A bad bike will make bad sounds.”
A third key area identified by Ryan involved tyres. He said issues with the tyres often suggested other more complex area of the bike could be flawed.
The fourth test involved taking the bike on a test ride. Ryan said that the key was to try and enjoy the ride, and not look for faults.
But if the brakes slipped or the exhaust was too loud, it probably suggested the bike was faulty.
Ryan said the fifth and final process was to carry out a toolbox check on the bike in the garage.He said it was a good idea to check for fluid leaking on the floor.
The expert also advised to check for rust in hard to see places, and look out for too many battery wires.
He said: “A test puts you in a position of authority to make judgements and name a price.”
Ryan recently took to YouTube to explain the art of “hypermiling”, which allows you to get more bang for your buck at the pumps.
Ryan explained that a common error could actually see you wasting fuel and hamstringing yourself when it comes to getting better mileage out of a full tank.
According to Ryan, the idea that it is more fuel efficient to leave your motor idling at a red light rather than turning it off and on again is actually a bit of an urban legend.
Ryan also explained that the commonly held belief that you should keep your revs as low as possible to preserve your engine may actually be a bit of a myth.
The logic goes that fewer and less vigorous rotations put less stress on the engine and extend its life cycle.
But Ryan demonstrated some of the science behind why it may actually do more harm than good.
