Steve Munro over at loudbike, recently posted up a fraction of his debacle over buying a used Norton 750 Commando via one Ben Zimmerman. While the motorcycle looks fantastic now, as you can read, it took somewhere in the nature of 54 hours, and some extra money to get it to the gleaming, factory-like appearance that it is now.

It got me thinking about my own good and bad experiences buying and selling motorcycles myself.  In my short time on this earth, I’ve managed to buy twelve motorcycles, and I’ve sold eight.  I’ve also accompanied many friends on motorcycle purchases as “the voice of reason” (which is something I’d never describe myself as when it comes to two wheeled transportation).  Based on my experiences, I offer these tips to any prospective buyer or seller.

1. – Have your shit together.

If your selling a bike, make sure you have the title in your hands, and in a nice folder before you post up an ad, or worse yet have someone drive 500 miles to buy your bike.  If you don’t have it, you’d better be prepared to make some serious negotiations in favor of the buyer, unless you want to get firebombed.

2. – Know the bike your buying.

Do your research first.  If you know the common issues on the bike, or where too look for troubled areas, your chances of buying a lemon are reduced greatly.  Also, if you can speak knowledgeably about the motorcycle, the buyer might be less likely to swindle things on your about “performance blinker fluid” and “high-temp muffler bearings”.

3. – Be prepared to walk away from every sale.

As both a buyer and a seller, don’t be desperate.  Even if your so cranked up about the bike that you couldn’t sleep the night before, be completely ready to walk away if it doesn’t look right, feel right, or they’re not willing to meet your price.  I once had a deal with a chap for an even trade with a Ducati Monster 900 and his KTM 625.  As I was loading up the bike he mentioned that he wanted 500$ more for the deal to go through, as he felt his bike was worth more.

4. – Listen to adjectives.

People who use words like “mint condition”, “runs strong”, or “pulls wheelies in every gear”, are often people you DONT want to buy a bike from.  While its good to know that the bike is in mint condition, pulls wheelies with ease, and runs strong, its a little over the top.  The Webster definition of “mint” reads “unmarred as if fresh from a mint”.  Unless you bought the bike, and put it in your living room as decoration, I’m quite positive it won’t be mint.  If the motor “runs strong”, does that mean that it “runs strong” despite what its been through?  Or “runs strong” for something that I’ve never done any maintenance on?  The mind can wander.

5. – Inspect the vehicle carefully.

If its a runner, make sure it runs and starts well, even when its fully warmed up.  Make sure a couple minutes after its stopped running, that you don’t see oil leaking from mating surfaces or various parts.  If the bike isn’t spotless, look carefully for any areas that look like they’ve been cleaned recently to cover up bigger issues.  Get down on your hands hand knees, and poke, and prod at parts.  Make sure things that should have traces of lubricant, still do, and parts that hold liquids are not liberating any of them.

Obviously, sometimes you can’t do all this.  If your buying a bike and having it shipped, its not easy to get a first person view.  But usually the seller is willing to take detailed photos of the motorcycles various parts send them to you, which will greatly assist your decision.  As someone who’s bought two motorcycles from across the country, blind, its a system that’s worked well for me.