| I've bought two used bikes in the past, both from | | | | much effort into it. After a few moments it should |
| private sellers. | | | | run smoothly, idle between 1-2000 RPM. |
| The first one was an '83 Honda 750 for $700 that I | | | | Find out how long its been sitting. If it's sat for a |
| bought off of ebay. I had emailed the guy before | | | | year or so, you'll probably need to clean the carbs |
| buying it, but never saw it. over email, he told me he | | | | and do a bunch of other crap to it which could add a |
| was going to a bigger bike and wanted to get rid of | | | | bit of money to it. Bikes like to be maintained much |
| this one. when i go to pick it up, the guy is working | | | | more often than cars. |
| on the bike, says he barely knows anything about | | | | If you know how to ride, the best bet would be to |
| them; turns out he's an auctioneer who bought it for | | | | just take it out and see how she rides. If you don't |
| $400 and is reselling it. needless to say, the fucker | | | | know how to ride, take a motorcycle course before |
| lasted for four hours. i got it running again a few | | | | you buy. If you can borrow someones bike for a |
| months later and the mechanic told me to cut my | | | | while as you're learning, that would be helpful as well. |
| losses and get rid of it. | | | | You should be able to get a decent running old bike |
| The second bike i bought i found on cycle trader, | | | | for US $1000-1500. The good thing about old bikes is |
| went to see it. it was a '74 Honda CB550 for $900. | | | | that its very basic parts and you can do 90% of the |
| he had three bikes in his garage and said he was | | | | maintenance and repairs on it yourself. For $3000 you |
| getting rid of this one to put more money into the | | | | should be able to get a pretty nice bike as well. For |
| other ones. That was four years ago, and I still have | | | | your very first bike, you also want a naked-ish bike. |
| it. It's not perfect, but I ride it everyday. | | | | You will eventually drop it, and if it has plastic fairings |
| The biker community is somewhat like the skykdiving | | | | on it, it'll be expensive to replace. |
| community; they wave at each other when driving | | | | Also, a friend of mine recently bought a bike from |
| past, and shit, it's a common bond. Hence, they don't | | | | the BMW dealership for $5000. They supposedly |
| generally screw over other bikers. Getting a bike I'd | | | | don't get commission, so I would have no problem |
| look at local sellers, and make sure they actually ride | | | | buying from them. Beamers are damn good bikes, |
| themselves. When you go to look at it, tell them to | | | | but a little on the pricey side. It could be worrth it if |
| not turn it on before. You want the engine cold, to | | | | you have the cash for it. |
| see how it starts up. You shouldn't need to put too | | | | |