Top 5 Tips When Buying a Used Dirt Bike

Buying a used dirt bike can be an exciting, yet stressful and exhausting experience! It’s not always an easy task because it is mainly your responsibility to dissect the dirt bike and the seller to determine whether the purchase you are about to make is going to be worth it or not. We want to make sure the dirt bike we are buying is in the best condition possible so we don’t end up in a situation where we get home and find out there are some serious work to be done to it. Referring to oil leaks, bad bearings, cracked frames, or blowing the thing up during your first ride! We all want a stellar deal and bike, and don’t want to end up hosed at the end of it. 

Unless you are looking for a blown up project bike - I would still follow these tips. Here are my top 5 tips when buying a used dirt bike.

 1. Background of the Dirt Bike for Sale

Does it have title? How many owners? How many hours are on the dirt bike?

1. Title: Making sure if the dirt bike has a title is very important because a lot of the tracks and trails that we ride require the bike to be registered. If the bike doesn’t have a title, it could potentially restrict you from riding at these places. It is possible to file with the DMV for a new title, but unless you can for sure prove it’s ownership history and the VIN to confirm it’s not stolen, you can run into some real issues.
2. How many owners? I like to find out how many owners the dirt bike has had as well because it leads to understanding more about the bike’s history. The more owners the bike has had, the more possibilities the dirt bike may have been handled. This could be good or bad. Owner 1 could have treated the bike perfectly and did maintenance to a “T”, but owner 2 could have neglected the bike, etc. More owners makes it harder to confirm how the bike was really kept and maintained during its lifespan. It also makes it more difficult to determine the amount of time spent on the bike which leads into my next point.
3. Hours on the dirt bike you are buying: Knowing how many hours the dirt bike has had on it is a major factor to consider when buying. More hours means more time for parts to wear on the bike and fail, unless it was well maintained. The seller could be selling it right before a major maintenance interval, like a top end rebuilt. The type of bike you are purchasing also plays a factor. Trail bike vs motocross bike? 100 hours on a trail dirt bike is normally less rigorous on a dirt bike compared to someone who has put 100 plus hours on a motocross bike.

 2. How was the dirt bike used? 

Who rode the dirt bike? Track or trail? 

Does the dirt bike have hard motocross race hours on it, was it used for trail and single track riding, or maybe just a farm bike? All of these play a factor in the condition of the dirt bike. A dirt bike used for motocross racing might have less hours on it, but those hours are most likely harder hours which puts more strain on the suspension, motor, frame, bearings, etc. I do believe that the majority of racers keep their bikes well maintained in order to perform at peak levels when racing, meaning worn out parts are usually replaced more frequently. Trail bikes normally have more hours on them but those are mainly at lower RPMs compared to Motocross dirt bikes. This means less strain on the bike overall, but there could be more knicks, dings, dents, scratches because of falling on rocks, hitting trees/ branches - you name it! All of these factors lead into my next point which is about maintenance of the dirt bike you are buying. 

 3. Maintenance History

What are the questions you should be asking?

1. How frequently was the oil changed?
2. How frequently was the air filter cleaned?
3. When was the last time the bearings were greased?
4. Has the engine ever been rebuilt? Complete rebuild or just the top end?
5. When was the last time it was rebuilt? Or how many hours on the new rebuild?
6. Has the suspension ever been serviced?
7. Is the suspension set up (sprung or revalved) for a certain weight or type of riding?

The idea behind asking all of these questions about the dirt bike’s background, history, and maintenance history is to get the full understanding of the dirt bike you are buying in order for you to make the best informed decision. The more you can get the seller talking, the better you can feel them out on whether they are being trustworthy about the dirt bike they are selling or not. 

 4. Inspecting the Dirt Bike You are Buying

Always wondered what you should be inspecting when buying a dirt bike? 

Thoroughly inspect the dirt bike in person. If you are getting the dirt bike shipped, ask for pictures or videos of the following. This is where you can get the best idea of how the dirt bike was treated. 

1. Is the dirt bike washed and clean? If not, this is a tell tale sign right off the bat that could lead to how poorly it was taken care of.
2. Inspect the engine for oil leaks, at the cylinder head, bottom end. Lay the bike on its side or get down on the ground and look up underneath at the bottom of the engine.
3. Inspect the frame for cracks and dents. While the bike is leaned over, check the bottom frame rails to confirm everything is good.
4. Take the seat off and look at the air box. Clean air filter and air box? Then that is a great sign that the bike was cared for. Dirty air filter and hammered air box? Then most likely the owner didn’t care for other routine maintenance items on the bike.
5. Check the forks and sock for leaky seals. Sit on the bike and push the suspension up and down a few times and check for smooth action. You will know if they are leaking if there is a ring of oil around the inner tubes. If they are clean, then the seals are good and won't need to be replaced.
6. Inspect the wheels. Check for loose spokes. Wiggle the wheel to make sure the bearings are still good. If there is play or a wobble in the wheel, it will need new wheel bearings.
7. Inspect the linkage bearings. With the bike on the stand, lift up on the rear wheel to confirm there is not excessive play in the bearings.
8. Start the bike and take note of how hard or easy it was to start. Let it warm up and listen for any weird knocking, ticks, or strange noises from the engine.
9. If the owner will let you take it for a test ride, shift through the gears to make sure everything is smooth and the bike runs strong.

 5. Negotiation and Buying a Dirt Bike 

Negotiate REASONABLY and RESPECTFULLY. Do some research on how much the specific bike you are interested in is going for in the market based on its condition. No one hates more than a buyer who comes in and offers thousands of dollars less than the seller’s asking price, trying to “score a deal,” without first doing any due diligence on their end. It is easier to negotiate a better price after having a respectful conversion about the dirt bike with the seller. This is the process that I use every time I look to buy a used bike. There is a lot that goes into it in order to be able to pick up a nice used dirt bike for sale at a great price! The idea is to be patient, and the right bike will without a doubt come around. These are great baseline tips and techniques to use but what are some other tips that you suggest doing when looking to purchase a used bike? 
 

Happy bike hunting! It is one of my favorite things to do to pass the time! Ride hard, be safe, 

Greg Hitchko 

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