Opinions , thoughts, etc. Which do you guys use (strictly for bikes) and why? I know there can be a pretty big difference. Thanks and Happy Memorial Day guys!

 

i think bikes are hypersensitive to the condition they're kept in, so i think both don't really work.


i've seen bikes that almost look show-room at 10k miles, but the motor barely runs and then you have guys like thirdgen who turn 200k miles - and then do trackdays and have a great running bike... there's no way nada or kelley could compensate for that.

 

So, how would u buy a used bike? What factors are involved? Do you just compare what they are going for in your area? What if the model you want isn't currently for sale? What else can you do? Is this too many questions? I thought this was kind of funny after re-reading it fast. Reminds me of a girlfriend I once had who never shut up!

 

I've never used either for a bike. When I go to look at one for sale my biggest question is how well was she cared for. Things that detract from the price : chain, sprockets and tires. Damage to the fairings or hard metal that kissed the ground. Any serious engine work like a needed valve adjustment. What mods have been done and were they clean and professionally done..and does the wire harness look like the three stooges were there? Like said above I too have seen my share of low mileage trashed bikes that just were not taken care of and high mile bikes that are showroom condition and run like new.

 

the forum has a lot of helpful information - and if it's not a CBR, other forums have good advice too. then i just look at the bike thoroughly and check it for all the common signs that tell me what kind of condition it's in.

-is the oil at the appropriate level (tell tale sign of how the bike is kept)
-tire pressure (you wouldn't believe how many people don't check their tires - once again, it tells you how the guy has maintained it)
-i check the chain and sprockets (is it clean, is it properly adjusted, i roll the bike about 3-5 ft and check the slack again to see if the chain has stretched spots)
-i watch the bike go through the whole heat cycle from cold start up
-i bring a little infrared gun and check each cylinder's temp
-i bring a stethoscope to hear any noises inside the motor if something starts to sound strange
-i check around common tabs, brackets, etc that can indicate whether the bike has been in a fall


and i bring cash to test ride the bike, plus i talk to the guy to really get a feel for how he a)rode the bike and b)took care of it

 

One of the things I do is look at the condition of the screws. It can tell you if a part has been replaced,worked on,etc . Not necessarily a bad thing. Just for info.

Is this guy pretty accurate in his statement about NADA and Kelly at the bottom of the ad? Sweet bike by the way! Yes, I am looking for a cruiser of this type. A couple grand out of my price range right now though.
Honda : VTX in Honda | eBay Motorcycles

 

hmm, i don't know. i'm not really sure, like i said i don't really use either when looking at a bike.



but, look how many page views he has, only 7hrs left, and not a single bid yet...

 

Use NADA

 

I always think it's ridiculous when people live by the NADA value and wont entertain lower offers.

 

From what I've seen and looked up, nada is always way on the high side, and kbb is usually in the ballpark. Neither should be what you should offer, but rather as a baseline to negotiate from