Look for the drop first
Almost every used bike has been down at least once. What matters is how hard. Scuffed bar ends, a scraped exhaust can and a scratched mirror are parking-lot tips. Bent forks, a cracked fairing mount, a dented tank and new paint on one side are something else.
Ask for a photograph straight down the length of the bike from the front: a fork out of alignment is obvious there and invisible in a three-quarter shot.
The consumables add up fast
Chain, sprockets, tyres and brake pads can be a thousand dollars on a sport bike, and all four are routinely worn out on a machine that is otherwise fine.
- Chain tension and rust, sprocket teeth hooked or shark-finned
- Tyre date codes and tread, plus flat spots from sitting
- Brake disc thickness and pad life, both ends
- Fork seals weeping oil down the stanchions
- Battery age, and whether it has been on a tender
Mileage matters less than storage
A bike with 20,000 miles ridden every month is usually healthier than one with 4,000 that sat in a damp garage for six years. Varnished fuel, seized calipers and perished rubber are the signature of a bike that was stored rather than ridden.
From the auction floor
See how this works on a real lot.
Every listing carries its inspection report, its full specification and its bid history. Read one before you decide what it is worth to you.