Triumphrat

delrazor · 06-25-2009, 05:50 AM

As a veteran of three months Triumph ownership I have been asked to come and give 'expert advise' on a bike for sale by a friend.
I guess I will start with all the things that were wrong with mine, plus...
- frame straightness
- signs of collision
- welds in headstock
- tank leak
- engine and frame numbers (and their integrity)
- chain
- tracking
- smoking
- power availability
- braking
-shockers

...Anything to add?

cheers
derek

GrandPaulZ · 06-25-2009, 07:58 AM

-Steering & forks - slop or klunking, oil seal leakage
-Hold front brake while holding front tire between your knees, pulling and pushing on handlebars will reveal bearing wear and/or slop by bike movement
-Clutch actuation - pull in lever & kick, should kick through freely
-Engine compression - kick should be quite firm
-Open seat, wiring should be fairly neat, no wire nuts or duct tape
-Swingarm bushings - Bike on centerstand, firmly push rear tire side to side, swingarm should not allow sidewards movement
-Brakes
-Tire condition
-Rear shocks - damping, signs of leakage
-Oil leaks
-Lighting & horn
-Ease of starting
-Tickover (idle) smoothness
-Shifting / clutch actuation
-Throttle response
-Ability to cruise at steady speed without surging
-Stability in turns and under braking
-Kill button
-837 other small things!