Buying a used bike | GTAMotorcycle.com

Buying a used bike

michael38

Member
I found a bike online that I think is a decent deal as my first bike. I haven't asked around for insurance quotes or anything yet but I want to buy the bike before it's sold to someone else. I've read the beginner post on inspecting and buying a used bike but I still have a few questions:

What are all the paperworks that I'll need and what are the paperworks I'll have to get from the seller (what do they look like)? What's the proper procedure for registering a bike (license plate, etc)? And since I don't have insurance yet, how should I transport the bike back home (50km distance) safe? Any other things I need to know about in order to get the bike home?

Thanks in advance
 
first thing u should do is get insurance quotes because depending on ur bike and age insurance will be high or low.

u should get the uvip from the seller which is basically a paper that shows the previous owners and if there is liens or debt or something on the bike. u can also get ownership and safety from the seller but sometimes the seller just gives u a UVIP
next u get the bike safety from a mechanic like ted rosey.
then u take the safety and uvip to mto fill ownership papers and pay the taxes and plates fees.

to get the bike to ur place either the seller can drive it to u with their plates or u can get a pick up or tow truck to transport it or u can go to mto with just the uvip and do ownership but the bike will be registered unfit and u can get temporary plates to drive it to ur place





I found a bike online that I think is a decent deal as my first bike. I haven't asked around for insurance quotes or anything yet but I want to buy the bike before it's sold to someone else. I've read the beginner post on inspecting and buying a used bike but I still have a few questions:

What are all the paperworks that I'll need and what are the paperworks I'll have to get from the seller (what do they look like)? What's the proper procedure for registering a bike (license plate, etc)? And since I don't have insurance yet, how should I transport the bike back home (50km distance) safe? Any other things I need to know about in order to get the bike home?

Thanks in advance
 
u should get the uvip from the seller which is basically a paper that shows the previous owners and if there is liens or debt or something on the bike. u can also get ownership and safety from the seller but sometimes the seller just gives u a UVIP
next u get the bike safety from a mechanic like ted rosey.
then u take the safety and uvip to mto fill ownership papers and pay the taxes and plates fees.

to get the bike to ur place either the seller can drive it to u with their plates or u can get a pick up or tow truck to transport it or u can go to mto with just the uvip and do ownership but the bike will be registered unfit and u can get temporary plates to drive it to ur place

What if there's liens or debt on the bike, what does that mean and what should I do? And will it be a problem if I don't get the ownership and safety papers?
 
If there is liens or debt then u will have to pay it when u transfer the bike under ur name u can do the ownership urself u just take the uvip and ur license mto with safety and insurance or just insurance. Without safety ur bike will be recorded in mto as unfit and u get temporary plates. Safety is needed for u to get plates that won't expire same season
 
many used bikes will hold agood value for later resale sometimes allowing your first bike to be a veryinexpensive riding proposition. Insurance is a factor and needs to be addressed and will vary depending on things including your age, driving record etc. If you look around the price you pay for a used bike is a price you might later be able to sell it for depending on how you also take care of it.

Aswith any used bike be certain to take into consideration the following:

  1. Condition of wear items, Chain Sprockets etc.
  2. Age and Condition of Tires. (Age is as important as condition)
  3. Brakes, cables and controls.
  4. How long has the bike been out of service (In Storage)? Can lead to needed work such as Carb. rebuilds etc.
  5. Regular maintenance? Oil changes? Fork oil? Brake Fluids? etc.
  6. Rust in the gas tank?
  7. Has the bike been dropped or crashed?
Theparts and repairs that might be needed for a used unit can add up very fast sobe sure to take the time and expense to have the bike looked over by a trainedtechnician BEFORE you make a purchase.
 
Hello Micheal38, being a new rider I found myself in a similar position just a couple of months ago. Basically Outlaws Justice has highlighted most of the important things and there are many guides out there on the internet already. But what I found during my background reading was that most articles assumed some basic mechanical automotive knowledge. If like me you are a complete newbie and don't have a gearhead friend, then I highly recommended finding a service manual for your model and giving it a thorough read before your visit (especially the service and maintainence section because it can help you in your inspection). For that's the first thing I did after purchasing my bike and it clarified a lot of things that I overlooked during my purchase. Hope that helps. Best of luck.
PS if it's a ninja250 then find the manual here http://www.kawasaki-techinfo.net/showOM.php?view_lang=EN&spec=US&book_no=99987-1422&lang_code=EN
 
I found a bike online that I think is a decent deal as my first bike. I haven't asked around for insurance quotes or anything yet but I want to buy the bike before it's sold to someone else. ...


My best advice is to not get caught up in buyer fever. There are many bikes out there. You will find a reasonable deal on a reliable bike that's good for you. Unless this is a 1954 Vincent Black Prince or something, you will find another one if this one gets sold to someone else. Be prepared to walk away.

Second is that when buying privately you are at the mercy of the seller to some degree. If they are a dishonest crap head they can sell you a bike with a bent frame that you will not be able to detect. If you feel you can trust the seller that's great. If you are a mechanic that also is great. Another option is to buy used from a dealer like GP Bikes. You are assured that the bike will not be a total piece of crap but it will cost you 10-20% more for it, I would guess.

I've recently done both, buying a used bike from a guy for my wife and also buying her a used bike from GP Bikes. Both worked out very well for me but I have some mechanical aptitude and, more importantly, I'm a good judge of character and got good vibes from the private seller.

Good luck and DON"T GET TOO CAUGHT UP IN WANTING TO BUY THAT BIKE.
 
If there is liens or debt then u will have to pay it when u transfer the bike under ur name
Wrong.

If a bike has a lien, it will say so in the UVIP.
Sometimes it will show a registered lien when it has been paid off, this just means that it hasn't been cleared in the MTO database as of yet.
Have a chat with the owner and find out if the lien has been released or not.
If it has been released then he must provide you with a lien release letter, stating that the lien holder has no further interest in this vehicle.
Followed by description of the vehicle, year, make, model and VIN.

The MTO is not the lien holder, therefore you don't pay them a penny with regards to the lien.
But, if you don't do your homework and you transfer the bike under your name with an existing lien, then you are on the hook for it.
You can go for years riding the bike with the lien still attached and nobody will bother you.
Or, you can wake up one day and find your bike missing.
At this point, it is repossessed by the lien holder and they will not release it to you until you pay the outstanding loan.

Do your homework and be well prepared so that you can make an informed decision.

P.S. enjoy motorcycling, it's ****ing awesome!!!
 

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