Quote:
Originally Posted by Malhi Hello gurus.
Can anyone please shed some light on factors that must be taken into consideration if buying a pre owned Harley?
I am a big 48 fan but would gladly settle for an 883. However, I don't see the point shelling 10lac+ on a new one as they are many with less mileage available at half the price in the used market.
I am also not aware of what age, irrespective of the mileage, does to a Harley. Does it become rusty? Does the rubber go bad? Do the breaks harden up? Etc.
Regards,
Malhi. |
Paint and metal bits hold up pretty good, better than others. Things to look out for :
1. Oil hoses from oil tank to oil pump starts developing small cracks in 4-5 years.
2. Voltage regulator is prone to failure on almost all HD bikes. It overheats under heavy battery charging conditions ( like if a bike is parked for some time and then its started just for battery charging without actually riding). Start the bike and let it run for atleast 15 mins, check battery voltage when its nice and hot using a multimeter.
3. Tappets are Hydraulic units,like many diesel cars, but unlike diesel cars they are housed in aluminium crack case, creates Tik Tik noise around cylinder heads if they are bad , this is more likely to be notices on a very long test ride or riding though heavy traffic on a hot day. As oil gets hotter & thinner , tappets gets more and more loud. Ultimately they give up completely due to friction.
4. Look out for stage 1 air filter upgrade with/ or Exhaust upgrade without ECU tune upgrade. Bikes with this combo run much hotter than stock factory hardware. If Ecu has been retuned, its fine. If not, you are most likely looking at engine that would have eaten away the rings or atleast took much life out of them. This could get very very expensive with exhaust valves going kaput too due to lean combustion. Most owners will tell you they got it retuned, they aren't telling the truth unless they are selling the tuner along with the bike. If you get the bike retuned anywhere, you get to keep the tuner device.
5. Look out for bent/ bumped alloy wheels. Most HD models come with very nearly pure aluminium alloys, they are shiny and nice but are very soft aswell. Gets bumped quite easily.
6. Throttle wires starts cracking near the throttle body with age. Probably 4-5years is the life they have.
7. TMap sensor located on throttle body comes with its electrical wire fastened onto the frame, engine vibrates a lot making the sensor vibrate along with it, but the wire loom is tied at the other end. Usually vibrations cracks the wires internally. Look out for shady repair done on that part of wiring loom.
8. Look for seepage, leakage or weeping engine, usually oil can be seen around the heads and base of the cylinders. This is another thing that goes wrong with stage 1 or 2 engine without upgrading the ECU tune. As the engine runs hotter without ecu tune, puts much more thermal stress on gaskets and packings all around. Tjis can only be checked after a long or Hot test ride. Owner would have kept it clean & shiny at you arrival anyway.
9. Check out the clutch for slippage. Easiest way to check is to do a small burnout with front wheel against a wall. A slipping clutch wouldn't do it. You would feel RPM rising without increase in wheel speed. Anyway check clutch change record, usual life is 30-35k under sedated use.
10. Check clutch cable for wear and tear.
11. Check Petrol tank underside to look for signs of repainting, usually colour wouldn't match on underside and no painter gives that side any attention while painting. This could be sign of accident, dent repair.
12. Check battery compartment by removing side panel, look out for shoddy wiring jobs.
13. Brakes and tires are anyway consumables, so pay according to their condition as you find on the spot.
14. If you are buying one with chrome bits, check rust / scratches / spots on exhaust shields, other chrome bits.
15. Check leather condition of saddle/ seat. Well pampered leather seat will last atleast 10 years, however if it has never been polished by proper products, it will show signs of cracks and hardness. Good condition leather will be soft to pinch with fingers.
16.sportster has a pipe bracket that holds the rear exhaust, it develops crack near the rear foot peg, there is a joint in it at that place. Check for shoddy repair work done there.
17. Check for aftermarket parts - Sissy bars/ backrest , engine guard, rear view mirrors etc. Usually you will be told how much the owner spent on them , but they aren't worth a dime under a resale if they aren't original HD products. Don't buy "the money spend by owner " argument, he spent according to his taste not yours.
That would pretty much cover up most of it. Feel free to ask anything specific you want to ask.
Opps i forgot the Battery! Usually original HD battery lasts only 1.5-2 years. Check battery change record/ bill. Check if bike is running some after market battery not original. Pay accordingly. New one will cost you 10 grand ones.