Buying a used dirt bike is an excellent option if you want to enjoy off-road biking, and this saves you a lot of money. You can purchase the right parts of the bike and replace it with the saved money and also get the bike modified according to your needs.

Being a buyer, it is your job to check the bike before buying it so that you do not have to face any problems later. For this, you need to have some mechanical knowledge, or you should take your friend who is an expert in buying & selling bikes.

Set a Budget

If you are a beginner and just started to go to driving school to learn how to ride a dirt bike and now want to purchase a used dirt bike then the first task is to make a budget for how much you want to spend on the bike. Evaluate the current market price and compare it against the price it is valued at.

If you are getting a more expensive bike than your budget, then the last option is left for you to buy a used bike. Estimate maintenance and repair expenses before purchasing a used bike, and along with that, some components of the motorcycle may also need to be replaced.

Some other expenses are added to it, also estimate them. In some states, sales tax may also be levied, so do not forget to include it in the total cost of the purchase rate. The cost of title transfer and registration from Local DMV can come in a few hundred dollars. You also need insurance after purchasing the bike.

Do Your Research

Research is vital when buying a used dirt bike. Choose which brand and model bike you want to buy according to your budget, size, experience level, and riding style. Choose your options thoroughly so that it makes it easier for you to buy a bike.

Forums are very knowledgeable in this, you will get to read reviews of every model and also customer feedback. This information proves to be very useful before buying a bike.

Take a look at the price in the area around you. Recommended and average rates will be seen on websites like Craigslist. Stay updated with all this information and with the help of it, negotiate the price of the bike.

Used Dirt Bike Checklist

Outer Surrounding Area

It is not just for the bike, but when you go to see the bike, look at the cleanliness of the garage, where is the bike, and how is it sitting. How do seller other bikes look like? If everything is clean and well, then the bike will be excellent, but this is not the only factor to buy a used dirt bike.

Frames

If a lot of crashes are seen on a dirt bike, then they will be visible on the subframe and frame. Check unusual bends and cracks at the place of weld or where two sections meet. If the subframe is bent, it will be known by looking from the rear side of the bike.

Usually, the frame will be bent on one side, if it is, then in such a situation, negotiate the price because the used subframe will not be less than $50-$200.

Tires

Is the tire terrible or good? You will have to see this. The edges should be sharp; otherwise, you have to change the tires. Sharp edges maintain the grip of tires along the ground. Tires are a bit pricey if it needed to be replaced then negotiate the price with the owner.

Fuel Tank

The fuel tank is the stomach of a dirt bike. If there is rust inside the fuel tank, then the performance of the bike will be deficient, so do not buy the bike without checking the fuel tank.

To check the fuel tank, take a flashlight and put that light in every corner of the fuel tank to get a clear vision of the fuel tank. If possible, touch inside the fuel tank with the help of your fingers, it will give a good sense of rust. Fuel filters are also an excellent way to judge a fuel tank.

Suspension

Apply front brake while driving the bike, and when the front suspension is pressed and comes to its place without any loud noise, then the suspension of the bike is okay. Make sure that the suspension does not make any loud noise. And the suspension should be clean, shiny, and smooth.

Also, see that there is no oil on the fork seal; otherwise, you will have to replace it with a new suspension. Jump the bike by sitting on top of the seat. And see if the rear suspension comes to its usual place or not, without springing up and down.

Air Filter

It is crucial to check the air filter, it will know whether the maintenance of the bike was being done at the appropriate time or not. Take some tools with you so that you can remove the seat and check if the air filters are clean or not. Make sure there is no dust or dirt. It should be nice, clean, and slightly oily, which indicates a well-maintained air filter.

Coolant

Remove the radiator to see if the coolant is filled to the optimum level. The proper coolant is of green neon color, and its smell is also sweet. Remove the cap of coolant and see, it should be green in color. If the coolant is of brown color, then it means that dust and engine oil have taken possession of it. In such a situation, you may have to spend a lot of money while repairing the bike. So do not buy a motorcycle without doing this test.

Radiators

Make sure to check the radiator before doing the test drive, because after the bike is warm, you cannot remove the radiator cap. Look for dents and broken fins on the radiator. Make sure that the water pipes are correct, and there is no leakage. If the radiator is terrible or needed repairing, then do not buy the bike without bargaining.

Swing Arm

Check the condition of the swing arm and also make sure the wheel should be in the middle. Dent and damage are easily detected on this. And this has to be taken care of. See it by swinging up and down and make sure it has not any problem. If it moves freely, that is the sign of right swing arm; otherwise, you have to replace it with a new one.

Bearings

The bearing of the dirt bike used regularly needs grease to have a smoother performance. To check the bearing, rotate the tire, there should be no scrap in the between; otherwise, the bearing will have to be replaced. Along with this, there are bearings in the handlebars, so check them too.

Clutch & Brakes Lever

Clutch and brake can be easily bent & break. It would not have been so expensive if there were not more than one to replace. Rear brake pedals and shift gears may also break. The shifter should be slightly tight. If it is crooked, it means that the splines are likely to be damaged and need to be replaced.

Check the disc brakes by looking at the wear indicator. If the brake pads are going to be exhausted, then it is essential to replicate them, and they are not very expensive. Simultaneously check the drum brakes and also check the brake fluid in the cylinder. It is necessary to change the dirty oil.

Handlebars

It gets bent very quickly as soon as the bike is flipped or wrecked. You will easily come to know about it only after seeing it. But once you do a test ride, you will be known whether the handlebar is in good condition or not.

Seat

Is the seat not torn from anywhere, is it properly installed? This has nothing to do with the performance of the bike, but our motorcycle should look beautiful.

Engine Condition

This is an essential part of a bike; if it is wrong, then the rest of the elements of the bike are of no use. So check it very carefully. See the engine oil level, which should be the lowest. If there is no oil in it at all, then it is a sign of engine damage, and this is the reason why the engine would have been seized. So before riding the bike, check it thoroughly.

Engine Sound

Allow the engine to start and idle for at least one minute and listen if there are any strange sounds, grinding, knocking, etc. If it is 4-stroke and it ticks with the engine’s RPM, it is likely a worn chain or tensioner. A relatively simple fix on most bikes. If a rattle appears when the driver is thoroughly heated, it may be a piston rattle, which will need to be rebuilt.

Exhaust

See the head pipe for dents and bends. If there is any significant damage to it, you will have to get it replaced or repaired. A crushed pipe will lack power. Also, listen to the exhaust note. In general, you can tell when the muffler packing is little to no because it becomes loud and raspy. A new and fresh packaged silencer is quite quiet, and its sound is excellent and crisp. Packing is very cheap, but changing it is not a fun task.

Oil Leakage

Look at the oil leaks, especially the front fork seal and at the bottom of the engine. There may be a possibility of oil leaking at the place where the dirt will stick more, so observe this thing. In most cases, the seller cleaned the bike before you arrived. So right after the test ride, the bike must be checked for oil leakage.

Carburettor

Well, you cannot inspect the carburettor internally, but at the time of riding the bike, you can sense how dirty and bad it is. If the bike is taking more time to start or is having trouble, then it is the sign that the carburettor is needed to be cleaned or repaired. And this happens when the bike stands without driving for weeks and months.

Chain

The bike chains stay suitable for a long time if they are taken good care of. Secondly, if the chain is rarely or never cleaned and lubed, it can wear out very quickly than the top-end on a motocross bike. Check the kinks and see how far it is from the adjuster. If there is no space left in the adjustment, it means the chain is stretched out, and now it needs to be replaced. If there is a lot of corrosion and skips in the chain, then it is a useless chain.

Sprockets

The chain usually wears on top of the sprocket. In general, you get a rear sprocket and two front gears. And you must check that it does not have any worn, broken, or sharp edges.

Conclusion

So this is the checklist for buying a used dirt bike. If you have a reasonable budget from which you can buy a new bike, then it would be our advice that you buy a new bike. In that, your maintenance cost will be very less, and you will not have to face any problems after purchasing a brand new dirt bike.

Before buying a dirt bike, check it thoroughly, take a test ride, and see all the necessary documents. Now, if you want any more information, then you can take the information by commenting below.