Used Motorcycle Inspection Checklist: 30 Things to Check Before You Buy

A good used motorcycle is one of the best-value purchases you can make. A bad one becomes a monthly repair bill, or worse, a legal problem. Use this checklist on every bike you view. Print it, or open it on your phone while you inspect. Take a friend who rides, and view the bike in daylight.

Before you visit

1. Ask for photos of the documents — registration certificate and tax token — before travelling. A seller who refuses is a seller to avoid.
2. Ask the seller not to start the bike before you arrive. A cold start reveals starting problems, smoke and noises that disappear once the engine is warm.
3. Compare the asking price with similar bikes of the same model and year on CarzLync. A price far below the market is a warning sign, not a bargain.

Documents and legal checks

This is the most important section. A mechanical fault can be repaired; a bike with bad papers cannot legally be yours.

4. Registration certificate — the name must match the seller's NID. If it does not, find out exactly why and who the registered owner is.
5. Chassis and engine numbers — find both on the bike and check they match the registration certificate exactly. Look for filed, re-stamped or painted-over numbers.
6. Tax token — check that it is current. Unpaid tax becomes your problem after transfer.
7. Insurance — note what cover is in place and when it expires.
8. Outstanding loans — if the bike was bought on instalments or a bank loan, make sure it has been fully settled and any lien released before you pay.
9. Purchase papers and service book — the original invoice, warranty card and service stamps help prove history and mileage.
10. Ownership transfer — agree in writing that the seller will cooperate with the BRTA transfer, and confirm the current document list and fee with BRTA before handing over money.

Walk-around: body and frame

11. Frame — look along the main tubes and around the steering head for cracks, bends, fresh welds or paint that doesn't match. These are signs of a serious crash.
12. Handlebar alignment — with the front wheel pointing straight, the bars should be straight too. A twist suggests a fall or bent forks.
13. Scratches on the ends of the levers, bar ends, footpegs and engine casing — these are the points that touch the ground in a drop.
14. Fairing and panels — mismatched colours, broken tabs and cable ties holding panels on all indicate repairs.
15. Rust — check the exhaust, the frame underneath the seat and the chain guard, especially on bikes kept outdoors through the monsoon.

Engine and transmission

16. Cold start — the bike should start within a few seconds on the self-starter and settle into a steady idle.
17. Exhaust smoke — a little vapour on a cold morning is normal. Blue smoke means burning oil; persistent black smoke means it is running too rich.
18. Noises — listen for knocking, rattling from the top of the engine (tappets or cam chain) or grinding. Rev gently and listen again.
19. Oil leaks — check around the cylinder head, the base of the cylinder and the engine casing.
20. Engine oil — use the dipstick or sight glass. Very dark, gritty or milky oil points to poor maintenance or coolant contamination on liquid-cooled bikes.
21. Clutch — it should engage smoothly without slipping. On the test ride, open the throttle hard in a higher gear; if the revs rise but the bike doesn't pull, the clutch is worn.
22. Gearbox — every gear should engage cleanly, and neutral should be easy to find.

Chain, wheels, brakes and suspension

23. Chain and sprockets — hooked or sharpened sprocket teeth and a chain that lifts well away from the back of the rear sprocket mean a chain kit is due soon.
24. Tyres — check tread depth, cracks in the sidewall and the manufacturing date code. Old tyres harden and lose grip, even with tread left.
25. Wheels — spin each wheel and watch the rim for wobbles, dents or broken spokes.
26. Brakes — check pad thickness and disc condition (deep grooves or a lip on the edge). Brake fluid should not be dark.
27. Front forks — look for oil on the fork tubes, a sign of leaking seals. Push down on the bars; the front should rebound once and settle.
28. Steering head bearings — with the front wheel lifted, turn the bars gently from lock to lock. Notchiness or a "centre click" means worn bearings.

Electrics

29. Every light and switch — headlamp high and low, indicators, brake light from both levers, horn and the instrument cluster.

The test ride

30. Ride for at least fifteen minutes if the seller allows it. The bike should run straight with your hands relaxed, brake without pulling to one side, and change gear smoothly. Watch the temperature and warning lights. Afterwards, check again for leaks and smells.

Always carry your driving licence on a test ride, and agree beforehand who is responsible if something happens on the road.

Odometer and "mileage" confusion

In Bangladesh, "mileage" is often used to mean fuel economy (kilometres per litre), not distance ridden. Be clear which one you are asking about. For distance, compare the odometer with the wear you can see: a bike showing very low kilometres but with worn footpeg rubbers, a polished seat, a stretched chain and a tired clutch has probably done far more.

Safe payment and handover

• Never send an advance payment to "hold" a bike you have not seen. CarzLync does not take payments for private sales, so anyone asking you to pay "through CarzLync" to reserve a bike is not us.
• Meet in a public place during the day. Complete payment only when you have the documents, the keys (ask for both) and a signed sale receipt.
• Keep all communication in the listing's message thread so there is a record of what was agreed.
• Start the BRTA ownership transfer promptly. Until it is complete, the bike is not legally yours.

Walk away if you see…

• Chassis or engine numbers that don't match, or show signs of tampering.
• A seller who can't produce the registration certificate or whose name doesn't match it without a clear explanation.
• Frame damage or a bent fork.
• Pressure to decide immediately or to pay before viewing.

Found one that passes? Use the Make offer button on the CarzLync listing to put your price in writing, and save your search to get alerted when similar bikes are listed.