Buying a Used Dirt Bike

When buying a used dirt bike there are many things which you must look out for. Firstly, find out where the bike is coming from. Many competition bikes are never registered so therefore proving somebody is the owner can often be difficult. Ideally the current owner will have receipts for the bike but this is unlikely if you are purchasing an older bike.

Ask questions about the bike, see if the person selling it to you knows anything about it or whether he is just trying to shift a stolen bike. If you are sure that the bike you are buying is not stolen then give the bike a good check over.

Off road bikes obviously have to withstand a lot of hard use, whether they've been taken off huge jumps or ridden aggressively off road they are bound to have some wear and tear. There are many checks you can do to the bike in order to make sure you are buying a dream bike rather than a costly trip to the garage.

Obviously check the overall condition of the bike. What are the panels like? If they are cracked or marked badly then this could show signs of misuse. Check what oil the bike has been run on, if it is the cheaper oil then it is likely that the person you are buying the bike off doesn't care about the bike, or doesn't have a clue about them. Try to get as much information as you can about the current owner as this could give you a great insight as to how the bike has been treated and whether it is likely to continue running.

There are also a few other checks to perform before you jump into buying a used dirt bike. Check the main wear and tear spots. These are:

Forks - Check the movement of the front forks. Push them up and down to see if they move smoothly and do not jerk. Check for leaks on the forks, these could be indicators that the forks are on their way out which means money will need to be spent on them.

Head bearings - check the handlebars move smoothly and the wheel has no play when off the floor. These are indicators that head bearings could have had it.

Rear swing arm - Check for movement in the back wheel, if it can be moved around and is loose, then this is an indicator that it may need new bearings or a problem with the swing arm.

Rear shocks - push down on the back of the bike, if it does not come back up in a smooth and controlled manner then the bike has lost its dampening properties. Also check the condition of the shocks, you can tell if they look healthy or not by taking a good look. If they are not looking too good then you may have to shell out on new shocks, which can cost between £200-£400 depending on the type of shock you have. (Twin shocks are usually cheaper and you may find one at around £80.

Engine - Obviously the engine must be checked, make sure you test ride the bike to see if you think it is running well. Also make sure you get to try to start the bike, often signs of a tired bike are shown when starting. Also go through the gears and make sure the bike has a maintained engine rev to ensure the clutch is not slipping.

Exhaust - These are important, especially for two stroke bikes, check there are no dents or holes in them as this will greatly affect the bikes ride and performance.

Any other stuff such as paperwork if the bike is registered. In the UK if the bike is registered then you will need a V5 (registration document), and also an MOT certificate if the bike is to be ridden on the road.