How to Buy a Used Triumph Motorcycle

Triumph motorcycles, produced in England, makes some of the most versatile riding tools around. From its modern classics which exemplify retro styling with its Bonneville and Scramblers to its Urban Sports machines with a flair for style that include the Speed Triple and the Tiger, it is easy to see why anyone would want a used Triumph motorcycle. Regardless of the Daytona 675's excellent handling, excellent handling won't be there if an inspection is not conducted prior to buying your used Triumph motorcycle.

To begin, you want to avoid buying used Triumph motorcycles that have been raced in the past. Racing adds a lot of stress to the motorcycle's parts. It degrades the tire's quality by adding roughed up edges and making it a candidate for burn out. Raced motorcycles may have been subject to crashes in the past. Surefire signs of crashes on your used Triumph motorcycle include deep parallel scratches on its engine case, bent brake and clutch levers, and twisted front forks. Judge the prior use of the bike by examining any possible scratches on its lower plastic and metal parts as well. This is a sign that the owner leaned the bike while turning too much in the past. Any deep scratches above foot level should be a high cause for concern.

An optimal used Triumph motorcycle will also have its clutch system intact. Ask your seller how long its been/many miles have passed since the clutch cable was changed. Ideally, you'd like it to have been changed consistently especially if 30,000 miles or mile have been added to your used Triumph motorcycle. Perform a do-it-yourself inspection by putting the bike into first gear, squeezing the clutch, and rolling it forward. You want to check for smoothness and little resistance here. If the clutch is downgraded, expect to fork over $100 plus labor for its replacement.

Used Triumph motorcycles should also have their tires scrutinized to the last groove. Tires with 1/8" or more of tread left are healthy, in addition to those that don't have any dry rot, worn down knobs, or cracks along its surface. Test the integrity of your used Triumph motorcycle dealer by asking how old his tires are. Verify this yourself by spotting the DOT code inside the rubber sidewall of each motorcycle. By conducting careful and systematic checks on your used Triumph motorcycle, you will encounter less potentially costly problems later on.