Posted by Hogryder on July 12, 2000 at 03:08:53:
In Reply to: VERY USED BIKE posted by Olpoky on July 12, 2000 at 00:43:00:
Try to meet with the owner and check him/her out. Might be able to get an idea what kind of care the Savage was given by looking at his/her other vehicles. The "forgotten" key is a bad sign. No one serious about selling a decent bike would forget to leave the key. Price is about right if the bike is in good to excellent shape, not for something that's been rode hard and put away wet. Bent brake petal is a bad sign, means it's been dumped at least once.
Check the color of the exhaust pipe, see if the fork is a little out of alignment (means it has been tweaked and straightened by eye), check to see if some of the spokes are loose (indicates it has been over some hard bumps - potholes, rocks, etc). If the dealer/owner will allow it, stick a screwdriver down into the oil and rub the oil between your fingers. If it's gritty or watery the oil has been run way too long - not good maintenance. If the oil is very thick, they've dumped in some high viscosity oil to quiet an engine noise and improve compression. Listen to the engine very carefully before you think about buying it. If anything about the bike indicates they are trying to disguise a problem, run (do not walk) out of the dealership and tell everyone you know to watch out for them.
Just use your best judgement and good luck.