1. There are 2 ways of buying a bike and this is just how I buy bikes. So the first walk-around is I walk around the bike and look to see levers/grips/footpegs/winkers/anything that would hit first is a crasher.
a. The price of the bike drops down is one issue.
b. X is a crash and it's an immediate peek at the neck for paint chips or cracks, and Y is no crash and that stress crack moving in the other direction so it begins to become a rolling parts bike.
c. The bike's price is like a stone dropped in a pond is that price sinks to the bottom. How bottom is it? I can't walk away from a parts bike is transfer this to a new, straight, no stressed frame... or I Walk!
2. Second walk is the bike was never a crashed, well taken care of, etc.
a. First move is walking up to a cold bike. I do not buy a hot [pipe/head] bike you walk up to it I'll come back tomorrow. Why? Worn valve guides. If you do not zip-tie a Depends under that intake or exhaust valve; it drips oil down the worn guide; drops onto the piston; you stand in back of the bike; have the owner start it; watch for a puff of smoke.
b. Again, money towards the crashed parts is smoking money for the engine is no difference. This is looking at another potential parts bike and a take it or leave it price.
c. I bring my compression tester or here comes the rolling office and Mr. Closer. To close the deal on said bike for said price; a request to cold-test after the initial start up looking for smoke is just that one fire off so why keep the bike running? Cold says, if either cylinder is off by 3 pounds, the price drops. If the compression is 10 pounds between cylinders, it's as good as looking at a leakdown test. It says junk to me. It has to be a deal I can't refuse kind of worn out engine, poor idle, smokes on start up, steers one way and the handlebars another; kind of test ride...Boy, Do I Walk Away!
Signed,
NOLTT
![10422906_837341172997418_6017035154454302251_n[1].jpg](/data/attachments/18/18528-20eb94176902a54c7e70d58d9c1added.jpg)
