How to Buy a Used Enfield

Tips On Buying a Used Motorcycle

Things I would look at before buying a used motorcycle. Find a friend/traveller if your not too technically minded.

Electrics
-check indicators work
- check head lights hi and low work
-check brake lights work for front and rear pedal
- check horns work. Put hand on each horn or unplug each horn in turn to hear how individual horn sounds
- check battery housing for corrosion. Also check where the battery overflow hose is and if at the end of the hose it is corroded by battery fluid

Mechanics
-make sure you see the bike in day light
- test the clutch by revving out the engine to 3000 rpm and slowly drag the clutch out
- test the engine by riding it and red-ling it in first gear
-when starting the engine check to see if it blows smoke
- feel entrance of exhaust pipe and see it is oily, if so it burns oil
-feel the play on the front sprocket. If it can move side ways problem in the gear box
-check the play of the chain. If it is tight in one place and loose in another time for a new chain
- pull the chain away from the rear sprocket ( 3oclock). It if pulls away more than 5 mm the chain is getting on.
- check the wear on sprockets
-check Speedo works
- check to see how much engine oil is in bike. Gives indication as to how it is maintained (ie- if it is below the recommended level, not well looked after) Also if chained is oiled and water battery level is ok, by same argument
-check air filter to see if it needs replacing
-check all air hoses, see if they need replacing.
-look at the wear marks on front/back brakes or look at the adjustment screws to gauge if brakes need replacing
-check steering arm bearings
-check swing arm bearings on rear suspension unit
-check rear wheel bearings
-check front wheel bearings
-jump on front forks to feel ride
-jump on back suspension to feel ride
-look for oil leaks on suspension front and back. Also note if oil leaks at top of front forks. Remove rubbers on front forks (if it has it) to see if oil seals are leaking
- ride the bike and go through all the gears, feel how gear box is working
- see if the bike has a proper maintenance log and if it is regularly serviced
- accelerate really slowly and feel if the engine pulls smoothly. Could be problems in carburation
- spin front wheel freely and check it is not wobbly, so that it is running true
- spin rear wheel freely and check it is not wobbly, so that it is running true
- check spokes on front and rear wheel are not loose or broken
- engine should sound smooth, listen for knocking
- Does bike have petrol filter?

Finish
- check for rust on ->
* wheel rims
* petrol tank, especially on the inside of the tank
* frame
* scratches and general appearance
-tears in the seat
-Check wear on tyres, front and back. The minimum depth in the west for a road safe tyre pattern should be 3mm, about the thickness of a match head. The Enfield manual recommends the following minimum tyre treads-
Front = 1mm
Rear = 2mm
Personally I wouldnt let the front tyre wear so low before changing it. A rear wheel slide is possible to control where a front wheel slide often results in scraping the mirrors on the ground. I changed my rear tyre (MRF Nylo Grip Plus) after it had done 25154Km and it had just 1mm depth of tread left, but I could have ridden a little longer on the same tyre without problems. I changed it only because I was in a convienient place to do so.
- look for holes in exhaust pipe. Run engine and run hand over the exhaust manifold, along the pipe and the exhaust pipe, feel for any exhaust gas leakages
- look for oil leaks

Luggage Rack
- inspect welds for rust, breakage and cracks
- general paint job
- are the connection points to the bike in good condition and are they strong enough to carry the load? Check for cracks in this area, critical area

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