Buying anything second hand can sometimes be a bit of a risk. For vehicles and autos this is even more so.
Let's face it. No matter how well you know the previous owner, there really is no way of telling how he/she handled their car or motorcycle before it was sold to you. There are really only two things you can do to minimise the risk:
1. Do a through inspection of the vehicle in question
2. Always buy from a reliable source
Motorcycle
Sticking to your guns on these principles will pretty much ensure that you don't buy any junk. If you're shopping around for your first (or next) motorcycle, a good place to be looking is at police motorcycle auctions.
People that buy from these auctions can generally expect two types of motorcycles. They are bikes that have been confiscated or seized by the police as part of their crackdown on criminal activity, or motorcycles previously owned the police department.
Police motorcycles auctions are renowned for its quality stock for sale. Usually when a motorcycle is being taken out of service by the police force, it undergoes some work to take of the badges, stickers and sirens. When completed you have almost a brand new motorcycle, ready to take on the road. These motorcycles have also had a significant maintenance schedule whilst in service, so they're generally in a really good condition. Always a good buy!
On the other hand you venture into buying confiscated goods at police motorcycle auctions. It goes without saying that many of these may not have the service track record of police owned bikes, but there are usually some really good gems to be found.
Between all of these you are bound to find what you are looking for. Of course, remember to do a good inspection before you start bidding. The standard things to look for are the state of the seat, handlebars, tyres, lights, gauges and switches. Also check if the forks are not twisted in any way. As with any engine driven vehicle, you should generally 'steer well clear' if you find any suspicious leaks as this could potentially spell trouble.
Get these boxes ticked and attend as many police motorcycle auctions as you can and you will get that perfect new machine you've been hoping for.
Police Motorcycle Auctions