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Points to Consider While buying a Used Bike

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This blog has been published on June 19, 2020, EST READ TIME: 5 MINUTES

A search for directions towards a destination on Google Maps will give you an estimated timeof arrival. If you check, you will find that the time taken by bike is lesser as compared to the time taken by a car to reach the same destination. The time difference can be significant in metros like Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru owing to heavier traffic and spread-out distances.

Therefore, it doesn’t come as a surprise thata lot of people are now switching from cars to bikes for their daily commute. For many of these people, bikes are the secondary mode of transport and hence, they do not want to spend a hefty sum in buying one. Solution? Buying a second-hand or used bike.

Buying a used bike can save you as much as 50% (or even more) on the vehicle cost. A lot of IT professionals keep changing cities and many times they sell almost new bikes at much lower prices. So, if you are lucky, you might get one such deal and save a lot of money.

Also, if you have been eyeingone of those luxury bikes forlong time but cannot afford to buy a new one, a used luxury bike can be a good way to fulfill yourdream

Where to Buy a Second-Hand Bike

Thanks to the internet and dedicated portals for trading second-hand vehicles, buying/selling used bikes has become extremely easy. Websites like olx.in, quikr.com, droom.in, bike4sale.in and other similar websites serve as platforms where you can check all the available bikes up forsale. Apart from that, you can also buy used bikes from certified dealers.

Certified dealers or dedicated portals like droom.in, bike4sales, cars24, etc., thoroughly check the bike before putting them for sale. Therefore, you take less risk when buying it from such a platform. But when buying a bike from a private seller, you must carefully inspect everything on your own.

Apart from the place where you are buying your second hand bike, here are a few other things to consider.

Check the Condition of the Bike -

A deal that seems too good to be true? Then it might actually be. Therefore, it makes sense to carefully inspect every part of the bike.

• Check the bike for scratches. Too many scratches and dents, especially towards the silencer, indicate that the bike had a series of falls or accidents.

• Check the bike for rust, including in the tank area and the underside of the silencer.

• Check the condition of the tyres. Tyres that are heavily worn out may set you back by Rs 3,000 when replaced.

• Check the lever effort. The clutch should be smooth when pressed/released.

• Check the engine. Switch it on and keep it idle. Note if there is any noise or too much fluctuation on the RPM gauge.

Take a short drive on the bike. Check it for alignment, engine power, brakes as well as for other accessories and electricals.

Check the Papers

Many people consider document checking as the last on the list but it is indeed a very important part. Check if all the original documents are there and are up to date. Check for Registration Certificate, Pollution Certificate and bike Insurance.

If the vehicle does not have insurance, it will not be registered by the RTO. Therefore, make sure you obtain the insurance certificate before you finalise the deal.  You can then transfer the insurance to your name along with ownership of the vehicle. If the policy has lapsed, you will need to buy/renew the insurance policy immediately.

Being careful and vigilant when buying a used bike is the key to ensure that you get the best deal.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

This blog has been written by

S. Gopalakrishnan | Motor Insurance Expert | 40+ years of experience in insurance industry

A veteran in insurance industry. S. Gopalakrishnan is a name to reckon with in the field of reinsurance, he has headed the Reinsurance department and has rich experience in other fields of motor insurance. He loves to share his opinion on latest topics in the insurance industry and how he can help people in safeguarding their assets using insurance products.

Mr.S. Gopalakrishnan recommends "HDFC ERGO for your vehicle insurance needs, it has always put customer’s interest at the forefront, with round the clock assistance to deal with emergency breakdown issues and hassle free claims process. You can be assured of complete and reliable guidance through the whole process."