Buying a Second-Hand Motorcycle

 

Buying a second-hand bike can be a very attractive option in Singapore. A brand new Yamaha FZ16 ST will cost at least $12.5K onwards. (With the current Motorcycle COE of Aug 2015) However, get that exact same model second-hand and it will cost significantly less.

 

We understand that you will have several considerations and questions as to the purchase of a second-hand motorbike. Will my bike be of a lower quality? Will it need to be repaired or maintained more frequently? This article hence aims to provide you with more information as to how to purchase a quality second-hand motorcycle.

 

#1. Choose a good size for your main usage

 

Do not just look at pictures on the Internet to determine what bike to buy. What seems comfortable for someone else may not be the same for you. Therefore, be sure to test out the bike for yourself.  This also applies to the purchase of new bikes, but new bikes are only at authorised branding distributor or dealer's showroom. 

 

Buying a 1000cc bike may be very impressive, but if you are only going to use it to ride to the nearby hawker centre for dinner, then you are better off getting a smaller and less powerful bike.

#2: Check the state of the bike

 

This may seem very obvious, but it is actually the most important point in the whole checklist. There are second-hand bikes in the market that are falling apart because their previous owners did not take proper care of them. Although the selling price of such bikes will be extremely cheap, the cost of repairing and replacing the bike will eventually add up.

 

Spend more time looking for a quality second-hand bike that was well-taken care of; your effort will pay off because the bike will be able to last many more years for you.

 

Some important things to look out for when determining the state of a bike include the following:

 

Tires: 

Are they properly inflated? Can they still provide proper grip while you travel on the roads?

As shown in the image below, a good tire will have a decent tire tread depth. The wheel on the right is already bald and warn out, and hence will not be a good tire and may cause skidding. It's extremely dangerous when riding in the rain! 

 

 

 

Front fork/Fork seal

They should be properly aligned; and checking and aligning them will only take a few minutes. One quick method is to take something flat like a long ruler and place it across the forks. Both ends of the ruler should touch the forks evenly; this will determine if the forks are straight.

 

Also, fork seals that are worn out will have oil stains around the fork area.

 

 

Fuel tank:

Open the fuel tank of the bike you plan to purchase and check for signs of rust or corrosion. However, do not just rely on your naked eyes; use a bright flashlight to aid you.

 

 

Steering head:

They should not be rusty. When you try to move the steering head about, the process should feel smooth.

Watch how to check worn off steering head.

 

General:

The bike should not have any visible scratches, dents or other damages. If you are going to invest in the bike, be sure that the bike standard is decent. Things like signal lights should be working well. There should be no oil leaking at the engine or engine gaskets. 

 

 

Also, check the motorcycle’s condition in cold start. A well-maintained bike engine will still sound good and not have funny noises even if it is started in slightly colder conditions. Listen keenly to how the engine sounds; if you are not confident of your abilities to determine if the engine sounds good, take along a qualified friend or someone else in the motorbike industry.

 

Also, be sure to verify that the bike has not been illegal modified. Illegal modification is taken very seriously in Singapore, so make sure every modification on the bike is LTA compliant!

An authorized dealer using genuine parts should also have done previous servicing of the bike.

 

If you are buying from a direct bike owner and you are not convinced, you may also ask the owner for a service history. The service history will show the maintenance history of the bike, and help reassure you of the quality of the bike. If service history is not available, you may ask the owner for receipts to prove that he has done regular servicing on his bike. 

 

Do take note that test-driving of the bike is not allowed in Singapore. This is because the original owner’s insurance will only cover himself and his pillion rider. If you test-drive the bike without having valid insurance of it, your license will be revoked should the police catch you.

 

 

If you eventually decide to buy the bike, make sure to quote a reasonable price. Although Singaporeans love to haggle, quoting a price that is too low may be an insult to the previous owner. Hence, steer clear of such potential occurrences by doing your research on price ranges and quote a fair figure to the owner.

 

There is also quite a bit of paperwork to be done when purchasing a second-hand bike from direct owner. But not to worry, Be it your selling your motorcycle or buying the motorbike, this article has got you covered! 

You can click on the following links to download the relevant forms.

 

Buyer/Seller Agreement Form: http://www.sgbikemart.com.sg/uploads/forms/agreement.pdf

 

This form specifies the personal information of the buyer, seller and motorbike details. It also lists out certain terms and conditions pertaining to the sale of the bike.

 

Handling Over Form: http://www.sgbikemart.com.sg/uploads/forms/handing_over.pdf

 

This form allows the buyer to officially acknowledge receipt of the bike and to take responsibility for any future fines or summonses incurred.

 

Deposit Collection Form: http://www.sgbikemart.com.sg/uploads/forms/deposit_receipt.pdf

 

This form serves as a receipt for any payment made whatsoever.

 

LTA Transfer Form:

https://www.sgbikemart.com.sg/static/forms/M01.pdf

 

This LTA form is used to apply for transfer of ownership from the seller to the buyer (you!)

Do contact LTA on how to do a vehicle transfer. 

 

 

#3: Protect your bike

 

After you purchase your bike, make sure to send it for regular servicing so that the bike can always perform at its optimal level for you. Apart from that, regular servicing also better ensures your safety on Singapore’s roads. And obviously, safety should always be your top priority.

 

The following simple tips can also minimize the risk of your bike being stolen or damaged:

 

Park in a well-lit area and have locks on both wheels. Also, placing a plain cover over your bike will reduce its attractiveness and is a great deterrence to thieves.

 

 

Making the decision to buy

 

There are many places where you can get a second-hand bike in Singapore. SGBikeMart is the number one motorcycle classified ads portal in Singapore, and boasts over 2000 different motorcycle listings. However, if you ultimately still decide to purchase a spanking new bike, SGBikeMart also has numerous listings for brand new bikes. Hence no matter what, you will definitely be able to find something that you love over at the portal.