10 Rules
April 23, 2015
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A telephone band to the KDX possessor reveals that he truly does non know much nigh it, but he puts me inwards send on amongst the friend he purchased it from, a "certified" mechanic (two words that normally brand me run similar hell). This "certified" friend seems reasonably knowledgeable, but the deciding constituent inwards my going to await at the machine are his finally words to me, "This is non your normal, clapped out twenty twelvemonth erstwhile slice of shit." Sounds similar something I mightiness say.....
Scheduling a fourth dimension to await at the cycle proves nearly impossible due to the owner's function schedule, in addition to I almost give up. We finally concord to a like shooting fish in a barrel even out appointment, which sucks because it volition endure good after night yesteryear the fourth dimension I brand it breaking my Rule #1 (I receive got several rules when purchasing a used Craigslist bike, some of them follow below. This listing is non complete, I am non develop to surrender all my secrets, because the side yesteryear side cycle I purchase mightiness endure from you.):
1. Never await at a cycle inwards the dark. You can't encounter shit in addition to y'all volition immature lady something. Just similar women, motorcycles e'er await meliorate when the lights are depression in addition to many a defect surfaces inwards the mutual frigidity lite of day.
2. Always endure prepared to purchase a cycle on the spot in addition to accept it domicile amongst y'all that day. Leaving the machine inwards the before long to endure ex-owner's hands whatsoever longer than absolutely necessary is bespeak for trouble. Sometimes they larn nostalgic in addition to accept "one finally ride" in addition to suspension something they conveniently forget to mention, for the shadier sellers, they volition occasionally take practiced parts inwards favor of less valuable or junk items. There is nada similar taking what y'all know was a running motorbike domicile exclusively to uncovering the bastard removed the battery piece y'all went to larn your truck (true story).
3. Set your toll bound earlier seeing the trade in addition to receive got precisely that much cash amongst you, preferably locked upward inwards your vehicle amongst some other political party who volition rest there. Obviously the seller does non demand to know y'all receive got whatsoever cash on or nigh your individual at all, permit 'em intend y'all are a CL tire-kicker timewaster.
3a. Have a footling extra cash amongst y'all somewhere inwards illustration the cycle is truly cool in addition to y'all truly receive got to receive got it in addition to it exceeds your toll limit!
4. Make certain the VIN# on the championship matches the VIN# on the frame. Been caught out i time or twice on this, non fun.
5. Never permit on that y'all know to a greater extent than nigh motorcycles than the seller. Ask open-ended questions like: "What tin y'all tell me nigh the bike?" in addition to and hence permit them run their mouths. They volition tell y'all to a greater extent than than y'all ever wanted to know inwards an effort to await honest. If y'all grab them blatantly lying don't bespeak it out correct away, it mightiness come upward inwards handy for negotiating later.
6. Don't bespeak out every footling affair inwards an effort to larn a meliorate price, this is what scumbags in addition to Craigslist lowballers do. For many sellers their pride is to a greater extent than of import than whatever light-headed offering y'all brand after noting every scratch, ding in addition to spot of rust. Kneel down, send on the items that trace y'all (like tires, shredded topographic point cover, weeping fork seals) in addition to enquire the seller nigh them. I uncovering it is best to permit them come upward to their ain conclusions. Don't rush, permit your trace in addition to internal grapple show.
7. NEVER examination ride the motorcycle! This mightiness seem counter-intuitive, but at that topographic point is simply likewise much that tin move incorrect hither (crashes, blowing the damn affair up, getting pulled over yesteryear a cop to uncovering out the affair is stolen/not registered simply to scream a few, grabbing a handful of forepart brake to uncovering out at that topographic point is none, etc., etc..). Let the possessor drive it upward in addition to downwards the street in addition to shift it through the gears for you. Pay attending in addition to y'all volition know if they are skipping gears or if the clutch slips horribly. Today's streetbikes are hence fast that y'all can't tell much riding around a cul-de-sac in addition to most of what y'all demand to know volition endure readily apparent simply yesteryear looking the machine over: leaking suspension, rounded off bolts in addition to strange fasteners, that goddamn orangish silicone squeezing out of every gasket in addition to mating surface.
7a. IF YOU MUST TEST RIDE the motorcycle, don't crash the fucking thing! This is self-explanatory.
8. Remember, projects cost 2 things: fourth dimension in addition to money. Lots of both in addition to something most of us are brusk on. A $500 cycle becomes a $2500 projection earlier y'all fifty-fifty larn to ride the damn thing. If y'all attention at all nigh riding what y'all are buying, pay to a greater extent than for something that is working, y'all volition salvage inwards the long run. I demand to remind myself of Rule #8 constantly, or my family would endure filled amongst dilapidated motorcycles.
9. Add-ons add together no existent value. A $1200 motorbike amongst a $1000 exhaust organization is non a $2,200 item. Stock, untampered amongst is best in addition to I don't desire your sweaty Joe Rocket meshing jacket or stinky fifteen twelvemonth erstwhile Fulmer helmet in addition to damn nigh every repair manual tin endure downloaded dirt inexpensive from the data superhighway.
10. Walk away. If the bargain isn't right, walk away. Unless y'all are buying Gunga Din or some other historically meaning motorcycle, at that topographic point is likely some other i out at that topographic point simply similar it in addition to the side yesteryear side i mightiness endure nicer in addition to receive got a nicer price!
Scheduling a fourth dimension to await at the cycle proves nearly impossible due to the owner's function schedule, in addition to I almost give up. We finally concord to a like shooting fish in a barrel even out appointment, which sucks because it volition endure good after night yesteryear the fourth dimension I brand it breaking my Rule #1 (I receive got several rules when purchasing a used Craigslist bike, some of them follow below. This listing is non complete, I am non develop to surrender all my secrets, because the side yesteryear side cycle I purchase mightiness endure from you.):
1. Never await at a cycle inwards the dark. You can't encounter shit in addition to y'all volition immature lady something. Just similar women, motorcycles e'er await meliorate when the lights are depression in addition to many a defect surfaces inwards the mutual frigidity lite of day.
2. Always endure prepared to purchase a cycle on the spot in addition to accept it domicile amongst y'all that day. Leaving the machine inwards the before long to endure ex-owner's hands whatsoever longer than absolutely necessary is bespeak for trouble. Sometimes they larn nostalgic in addition to accept "one finally ride" in addition to suspension something they conveniently forget to mention, for the shadier sellers, they volition occasionally take practiced parts inwards favor of less valuable or junk items. There is nada similar taking what y'all know was a running motorbike domicile exclusively to uncovering the bastard removed the battery piece y'all went to larn your truck (true story).
3. Set your toll bound earlier seeing the trade in addition to receive got precisely that much cash amongst you, preferably locked upward inwards your vehicle amongst some other political party who volition rest there. Obviously the seller does non demand to know y'all receive got whatsoever cash on or nigh your individual at all, permit 'em intend y'all are a CL tire-kicker timewaster.
3a. Have a footling extra cash amongst y'all somewhere inwards illustration the cycle is truly cool in addition to y'all truly receive got to receive got it in addition to it exceeds your toll limit!
4. Make certain the VIN# on the championship matches the VIN# on the frame. Been caught out i time or twice on this, non fun.
5. Never permit on that y'all know to a greater extent than nigh motorcycles than the seller. Ask open-ended questions like: "What tin y'all tell me nigh the bike?" in addition to and hence permit them run their mouths. They volition tell y'all to a greater extent than than y'all ever wanted to know inwards an effort to await honest. If y'all grab them blatantly lying don't bespeak it out correct away, it mightiness come upward inwards handy for negotiating later.
6. Don't bespeak out every footling affair inwards an effort to larn a meliorate price, this is what scumbags in addition to Craigslist lowballers do. For many sellers their pride is to a greater extent than of import than whatever light-headed offering y'all brand after noting every scratch, ding in addition to spot of rust. Kneel down, send on the items that trace y'all (like tires, shredded topographic point cover, weeping fork seals) in addition to enquire the seller nigh them. I uncovering it is best to permit them come upward to their ain conclusions. Don't rush, permit your trace in addition to internal grapple show.
7. NEVER examination ride the motorcycle! This mightiness seem counter-intuitive, but at that topographic point is simply likewise much that tin move incorrect hither (crashes, blowing the damn affair up, getting pulled over yesteryear a cop to uncovering out the affair is stolen/not registered simply to scream a few, grabbing a handful of forepart brake to uncovering out at that topographic point is none, etc., etc..). Let the possessor drive it upward in addition to downwards the street in addition to shift it through the gears for you. Pay attending in addition to y'all volition know if they are skipping gears or if the clutch slips horribly. Today's streetbikes are hence fast that y'all can't tell much riding around a cul-de-sac in addition to most of what y'all demand to know volition endure readily apparent simply yesteryear looking the machine over: leaking suspension, rounded off bolts in addition to strange fasteners, that goddamn orangish silicone squeezing out of every gasket in addition to mating surface.
7a. IF YOU MUST TEST RIDE the motorcycle, don't crash the fucking thing! This is self-explanatory.
8. Remember, projects cost 2 things: fourth dimension in addition to money. Lots of both in addition to something most of us are brusk on. A $500 cycle becomes a $2500 projection earlier y'all fifty-fifty larn to ride the damn thing. If y'all attention at all nigh riding what y'all are buying, pay to a greater extent than for something that is working, y'all volition salvage inwards the long run. I demand to remind myself of Rule #8 constantly, or my family would endure filled amongst dilapidated motorcycles.
9. Add-ons add together no existent value. A $1200 motorbike amongst a $1000 exhaust organization is non a $2,200 item. Stock, untampered amongst is best in addition to I don't desire your sweaty Joe Rocket meshing jacket or stinky fifteen twelvemonth erstwhile Fulmer helmet in addition to damn nigh every repair manual tin endure downloaded dirt inexpensive from the data superhighway.
10. Walk away. If the bargain isn't right, walk away. Unless y'all are buying Gunga Din or some other historically meaning motorcycle, at that topographic point is likely some other i out at that topographic point simply similar it in addition to the side yesteryear side i mightiness endure nicer in addition to receive got a nicer price!
