Adopted. Funny. Still laughing.
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Dropping the bike
- Thread starter Nursingdude
- Start date
Nursingdude
Member
Appreciate all the advice and suggestions guys... Will definitely try to look up as much as I can before I go to check one out and try to bring someone along. Some people on their ads seem pretty honest about the drops or the reason certain parts have been replaced but then again, it could also be a cover to hide an even bigger issue or reason why parts were changed or bike was dropped
Mad Mike
Well-known member
You will never know the real story on a drop. Most ads declare “minor damage as previous owner dropped the bike”.
Bikes can be tipped over or dropped below crash speed without critical damage. Crashes are a different story. Look for bent forks, twists in subframe, replaced bars, fenders or engine case covers. Also check alignment and fit on all plastics, irregular gaps, missing fasteners, parts that don’t lock together are signs of a crash that is more than cosmetic.
Priller
Well-known member
I'll add two things to look for: First, bent or twisted foot controls. These are difficult to straighten without heat and a lot of patience, so folks often just bang them out enough to be usable.
Second, you can use the variety of techniques to check wheel alignment and see if they highlight problems with the chassis. Ideally, you check the rear wheel alignment first by comparing distance from the swingarm pivot to the rear axle on both sides, then assuming that's good, follow up with wrapping a long string around the back of the rear tire and pull it tight along both sides of the bike to the front. Just touching the front of the rear tire on each side will give you straight edges to see if the front wheel sits inline with the rear. If not, run away, especially if the frame is aluminum. Steel can be straightened, but aluminum likely can't.
Second, you can use the variety of techniques to check wheel alignment and see if they highlight problems with the chassis. Ideally, you check the rear wheel alignment first by comparing distance from the swingarm pivot to the rear axle on both sides, then assuming that's good, follow up with wrapping a long string around the back of the rear tire and pull it tight along both sides of the bike to the front. Just touching the front of the rear tire on each side will give you straight edges to see if the front wheel sits inline with the rear. If not, run away, especially if the frame is aluminum. Steel can be straightened, but aluminum likely can't.
sburns
Well-known member
Lots of great advice here, but as a new rider it might be hard to differentiate between what damage is cosmetic, or from a crash etc, especially if this is all new to you, and limited mechanical experience. I would just put these bikes lower on your list of options. But if you are genuniely interested in a bike like this and if you know a experienced rider bring them along with you to look at it, or take pictures and post them (or link to the ad) asking for help.
Nursingdude
Member
Yeah I will be bringing along a friend of mine who has been riding for 10 years now
Above would be the basic things to look for. Almost everyone has dropped their bike in their garage, a parking lot or a gas station and this usually results in minor scuffs, really no big deal unless you want a cosmetically perfect bike. A bike dropped at speed has deep scratches and gouges and would be more of a concern.
Question for you....... I assume this is a first bike and you have very little or no experience riding or doing mechanical work on motorcycles. Other than just a parking lot tip over, again, a very minor thing, why would you want to take a chance buying a bike that might have been in a more serious accident and have damage effectively hidden to you? Don't get sucked into trying to save a few bucks by buying something that might require expense repairs. It's your first bike, get something that you can spend time riding, not fixing someone else's damage.
Nursingdude
Member
Very sound advice... I am not looking for a machine that requires repairs immediately or in the near future but there are some bikes that have been dropped and I just wanna make sure whether it's a big deal or not if it was dropped while being stationary. Money is a factor so I am not exactly ready to drop anything over 2500 to 3k.
2500 to 3k in a normal market is the ideal budget for a 300cc starter bike, which i think most of us would recommend.
now the last year has been pretty crazy, i haven't look but i assume that price may have increased slightly.
bigpoppa
Well-known member
now that you have mentioned it, some members can keep an eye out for you if a good deal pops up
Dropping a bike (no matter how) will end up costing some money to repair/replace any damage.
That being said it is not the end of the bike. What you need to be aware of when buying a used bike is if and how the seller discloses the drop.
There is a big difference between a drop in the driveway versus skidding across the 401.
That being said it is not the end of the bike. What you need to be aware of when buying a used bike is if and how the seller discloses the drop.
There is a big difference between a drop in the driveway versus skidding across the 401.
Did this in the parking lot at work with my 250 Ninja. At shift change so of course there were people to watch. Only broke the turn signal.
Did that at a gas station and had to buy new glass for the pump.
That's not true if you own a KLR. If dropping that thing cost money I'd be broke.
That's not true. Dropped my bike once making a u-turn on an inclined pad - not a scratch. I got crashbars and soft side bags and it helps
Pride always cuts the deepest!That's not true. Dropped my bike once making a u-turn on an inclined pad - not a scratch. I got crashbars and soft side bags and it helps
I took me a lot of courage to post this. Deleted and retyped it a few times.
Nursingdude
Member
All these confessions lol
As a short guy on tall bikes pride just gets in the way.
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