Buying advice
How to check a used motorbike before you buy
The paperwork, the walk-round and the test ride — plus the three things a physical inspection can never tell you about a used bike.
Published
A used motorbike can look immaculate and still carry outstanding finance, a recorded insurance write-off or a mileage that has been wound back. None of that shows up in a walk-round. Work through the checks below before you agree a price.
Start with the paperwork
Ask to see the V5C registration document and check it against the bike in front of you. The registered keeper details should match the person selling it, and the address should match where you are standing.
- The VIN stamped on the frame matches the V5C
- The engine number matches the V5C
- The seller can show ID in the same name as the registered keeper
- MOT certificates and service records line up with the mileage on the clocks
Check for finance and theft markers
If a bike is still on finance, the finance company owns it — not the seller. Buy it and it can be repossessed with no refund. A stolen marker is worse still: the bike goes back to its owner and you lose both bike and money. Neither is visible on the bike itself, which is exactly what a history check is for.
Inspect the bike cold and in daylight
Arrange to see the bike before it has been started. A warm engine on arrival usually means a cold-start problem the seller would rather you did not hear.
- Chain and sprockets — hooked teeth and tight spots mean neglect
- Fork seals for weeping oil, and discs for a lip at the outer edge
- Tyre dates and wear pattern, not just tread depth
- Crash damage: bar-end scuffs, lever ends, replaced fasteners and mismatched paint
- Corrosion on the frame, hangers and fixings — it tells you how it was stored
Ride it before you decide
Insure yourself for the test ride and take it far enough to reach operating temperature. Listen for noise from the top end, feel for a clutch that slips under load, and check the bike tracks straight with your hands relaxed on the bars.
Run the history check last
Once you have a bike you actually want, run a full history check before you pay a deposit. It takes about a minute and covers the things an inspection cannot: outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off categories, mileage anomalies and previous plate or colour changes.