Purchasing motorcycle in dead of winter

R

RedDemon

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Hey guys,

I found a bike that I would like to buy that seems to be in good shape and the seller seems to be honest. I’m going to see the bike hopefully tonight, but when I mentioned that I would like to hear the bike run, he says he can’t because of the cold and he doesn’t want to risk damaging the engine with the thick oil. This does make sense to me since it’s assumed that most motorcycle oil viscosity is meant for summer temperatures. My question though, how do you go about protecting yourself from buying a bike that may have a bad motor when it’s unsafe to start the bike?

I was thinking of drawing up a contract where I would buy the bike, trailer it to my house and put it inside the house for a couple of days to warm up. If I start the bike and it sounds bad, then I can take the bike back and refund the money.

Does anyone have opinions/ thoughts?


By the way, the bike in question is a 2007 250cc with less than 8,000km, reason for selling is he’s moving to another province.
 
Just pay him a deposit to show that you are serious and tell him you will buy the bike when you hear the bike runs fine. Nothing can't solve with some cash.
 
Lots of people start their bikes up during the winter, don't see why it would be a problem. Heck I've taken my bike out in 0 degrees, 4 degrees, etc... Just don't rev the engine when it's cold.

If he had said it was winterized, I'd believe that more but he can unwinterize it if you're a serious buyer and just want proof that the bike runs.
 
I start my street bike every weekend. He is full of ****. Probable reasons are:

- Battery is dead and he does not want to invest in one - Ask what he is doing to maintain the battery, battery tender? took the battery out?
- Bike is not starting (carb)
- Someone told him that (probably here in GTAM lol) and he believed it.

I would just say, how do you expect me to buy a bike without hearing what it sounds like? If you are serious about selling it then get it started and I will come and see it.

If he says no, walk awy

Do not give him a deposit for something you are not sure you will buy, a deposit means you are agreeing to buy.
 
I just bought mine and he started it right up with no issues. Looked at a few actually and had them all start to check them out. If it feels bad then it probably is.
 
If he wants to sell it , he needed to assume nobody would buy a bike they cannot hear running. If you cannot hear it running, confirm everything is operational then I would not buy it. Even with some contract you will be hard pressed to get anything back if there was a problem.

I've sold and bought all my bikes in winter for some reason, nobody has ever not started the bike for me, most even ride it down the street going through its paces and I do the same...unless of course its snow covered.
 
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If he really wanted to sell I would start the bike. Moreover, I would never buy a bike without hearing it run going through all the gears
 
I would never buy something I can't go through the gears on, preferably up and down the street at least. I'd also want the bike to be cold when I show up and hear it start (touch the block and sure it's actually cold). You can tell a lot about a machine hearing it start in the cold. Not in -20, but if its between 0 and -10 it's reason to expect this. The fact that this is an unexpected request tells me either 1.) they are are not serious about selling or unprepared or 2.) something is wrong. Go with your gut and bring an experienced friend along.

Don't get into the contract/refund game, it can soon become more headache than its worth. However, do expect to bring full asking for do a test ride. Also bring a witness with you.
 
Maybe the bike is winterized and doesn't want to unwinterize it. Show up with cash, if he still doesn't start the bike, walk away.

The oil/ cold is just BS. With some choke, the bike should start up.
 
A 250 ninja is not going to start in this weather. Nothing to do with the oil the carbs dont like the cold. Have him take it in a warm place and start it after a few hours.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
 
It should start . If it don't run away, either battery is dead or carb is fouled.
I was riding my 250 yesterday.
 
KarGo said:
Maybe the bike is winterized and doesn't want to unwinterize it. Show up with cash, if he still doesn't start the bike, walk away.

The oil/ cold is just BS. With some choke, the bike should start up.
Click to expand...

+++1
 
Rounding down, that bike has been rode an average of 1100 KM/yr.

As it is unlikely that it receives precisely that amount and then is put away, I predict that it has sat for years and the gas has turned into jello.

This is a fixable problem, but if this is your first bike you are supposed to buy a 40 year old bike and then come here and ask us how to fix an electrical system that stopped being used before most people here were born.
 
If battery is still in bike w/o charger then he is not overly concerned about damage or care. That would indicate to me how honest a guy he is.
 
I will go see the bike and get a feel of the seller and if he's willing to find a way to start it. If he doesn’t try than I’ll just walk away.

If he insists that the engine runs well and the only reason he doesn’t want to start it is the cold, then I’ll just wait till it warms up in a week or two by a few degrees and go see him again. I’m in no rush so I’ll just be patient and keep on looking, as much as I want this bike.
 
Is the bike stored outside? lol

If not then start the damn thing in the garage
 
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