I bought a used motorcycle, but I can’t tell if it’s running well or poorly. .
I’d guess it’s probably in decent condition.
The criteria for judging good versus bad are pretty vague, and hard to quantify, aren’t they?
With an older bike, being anywhere near new-bike condition is a stretch. . .
• How’s the engine starting?
If it won’t start or is hard to start to the point of worry, that’s something to think about.
• Is the push-pull effort not too heavy?
Given the weight involved, it’s hard to judge whether it feels heavy or light. But check the tire pressure at the specified PSI—that alone can rule out whether low tire pressure is holding you back.
• Does it start smoothly from idle?
In normal condition, you shouldn’t need much slip clutch—it should engage smoothly and the bike should move forward.
If you need to hold the slip clutch a long time or it jerks (some bikes do that, but it’s rare on Japanese models), you might want to think twice.
• Do the controls operate smoothly?
This can’t be quantified either, so it’s hard to say, but . . . we build them so people can enjoy riding, and I’ve never seen a production bike that bad.
Unless you have extremely weak grip strength or tiny hands, don’t count that.
If it feels really hard to ride or you’re always worried about taking it out, that might be a safety issue. Your five senses might be telling you something.
In that case, I’d say get a local bike shop to give it a once-over, and it’s also a good idea to find a regular shop before something breaks (‘ω’)ノ
