Indepent Vehicle Check

[Spinal]

When I bought my merc, my father checked the car and being a self-pronounces merc-guru, he did a great job of picking a car...

That said, I am a little less knowledgeable than he is, and am option for an independent vehicle check... I had a chat with a friend of mine, who bought an Audi after getting an RAC check and he was not pleased (the gasket blew a few months after he bought the car and then the clutch went... but I feel that this may be more down to his... "style" of driving)

So I had a quick look around the internet, yet couldn't find a single company in the UK that does Motorcycle checks... All I can find are the usual online "documentation and history" checks - what I need is someone that goes to the bike, looks at it, rides it, takes it apart... whatever they do to check it and hands me a paper saying "the bike wont kill you if you treat it with respect" (well... you know what I mean )

It isn't really urgent, need to do my DAS first, but I want to get everything "planned" (after all, if you spend enough time on eBay and aren't in a hurry, you can get some pretty good deals!)

Thanks in advance!

Michele

 

[Ade B]

Bikes are a bit easier to check than cars in theory but I suppose there is little demand for this sort of service. They are also a bit more tricky to test drive - I would certainly think twice about letting a recent DAS pass out alone on my S cash in hand or not

I'd suggest 2 strategies.

1. Find a forum dedicated to the type of bike you're after - you could start with Visordown.com or the MCN site. Put up a post there, you will definitely get either a lead or more likely the offer of help from a board member.

2. Get the vendor to accompany you with the bike to a local work shop and get it looked at.

Personally I'd hang around on some forums, bikes come up for sale regularly and you can usually trace the owner's posts which gives you an idea of the history of the bike.

What sort of bike you after?

Ade

 

[Sp!ke]

I can take a look at it Spinal FOC, as long as its reasonably local. I'm no longer in the industry but I am qualified in Motorcycle Engineering and happen to be a bit of an enthusast.

I dont miss much when it comes to motorcycles.

Here's one that I'm currently fitting a few 'upgrades' to.

Part of those upgrades required 'a little modification' of the loom

Ahh the joys of building something really silly.

 

[Spinal]

Spike, I'm guessing the borg-like pipe coming out of the bike in the second picture is to get rid of exhaust fumes?

As for bike.. I am really unsure yet... my dream bike is a Ducati... but then again, there is a little voice of reason telling me that it would not be wise to start of on a 1000cc machine (or a 600cc for that matter). I really like the superleggera (900ss) and the 996 - though I'm also contemplating getting a "random" 400cc for the first year... its all down too what I find when I get my DAS.

As for test driving it myself after passing my DAS - I wouldn't need the seller to stop me from test driving it, I wouldn't do it myself! I have no experience with big bikes, so I would have no clue what to look for! Thats the main reason I was hoping there was something like the RAC vehicle check where someone insured, skilled and whatnot would try it for me

Spike, as usual you are amazingly helpful! I'll make sure to keep you informed when I do get the bike - it wont be for a few weeks (going to Thailand for easter) - but I'll keep you informed!

Its off to putting a note to remind myself to call some schools in my area to book something for the weekend after I get back from Thailand!

Michele