I am now a vehicle owner!!!

For those of you who know me, I passed my motorcycle 2B licence last year and ever since then, I have been dreaming to own a motorcycle. This week, I finally achieved my goal! (Albeit im in debt now XD)

I was looking to get a Yamaha XSR155, a vintage looking cafe-racer motorcycle. However, that model is out of my price point. After scouring the internet for months, I landed on a Honda Tourism CB190X. The price was reasonable and I went down to enquire about the bike.

Now what is an RVI post without some takeaways! Here are some of the learnings I had while researching on how to purchase a second-hand motorcycle.

Certificate of Entitlement (COE)

To control the number of vehicles available on the road, every vehicle in Singapore needs a COE which basically entitles you to own the vehicle. COE is usually renewed every 10 years, and is first purchased alongside your first-hand motorcycle. For a second-hand bike, it is good to see how many years there is left for the motorcycle, and the valuation of the COE at the time of purchase. As of July 2024, the COE is $9024, and this bike has a remainder of 4 years left. That makes the value of the COE approximately $3600. It is good to keep the price of the COE in consideration when purchasing your vehicle as it varies from time to time.

Mileage

Mileage refers to the distance that the vehicle has travelled with the current engine. With a lower mileage, it means that the bike has travelled lesser and thus the engine is less likely to be damaged or subjected to wear and tear. Of course you also have to consider how long the motorcycle has been around for. For example, my motorcycle was first purchased in 2019 by the first owner, and currently have a mileage of 84000km. It could be considered high to some people, but mileage is quite subjective as it depends on the usage of the owner. Sometimes it is not good to have low mileage with a long term usage as the motorcycle is not used as frequently.

Number of Owners

The number of owners prior is important as sometimes having many owners could be a sign that there are problems with the motorcycle and the owner is selling the bike fast at a lower price point. The maintenance of the motorcycle could possibly come with a heavy price so it is a good idea to keep this in consideration.

Motorcycle Checking Tips and Tricks

Exterior damage to chassis

The first thing that is easy to do is to check for any damage to the chassis of the motorcycle. Usually if a motorcycle has crashed before or have been in an accident, there are obvious signs based off the exterior body of the bike. Do a visual inspection of the motorcycle to ensure that there are no obvious scratches or signs of damage from skidding.

Electrical components

The electrical components are important to start a bike, like the electrical starter, horn, signal lights, headlights, brake lights. Flickering or dim lighting could be a sign of a faulty electrical component which might require more money in servicing or replacing the parts.

Steering bar alignment

For motorcycles that crashed before, usually after falling on the side there will be a misalignment in the wheel and handlebar. Take a seat on the motorcycle and ensure that the bike looks aligned to you. It is also important to get a feel of the motorcycle, and experience how it is like to be on the bike as everyone have different physical capabilities (some bikes might be too heavy to handle for you).

Suspension fork

Same as the above, a motorcycle that has crashed before might have a dented or bent suspension fork. Slide your fingers down the suspension fork to ensure that it is still a straight cylinder tube. This also helps to check for leakage of the suspension hydraulic fluid which could be a major problem for the suspension.

Engine Sound

Start the engine and set it to neutral gear. Rev the engine to hear the noise of the engine. The sound it produces is a good indicator of any problems with the engine. If you hear a clinking sound or metal parts hitting one another, it could be a sign that something fell through within the engine and there could be problems with it.

Brakes and tyre condition

If your bike is a disc brake, visual inspect the brake pad to ensure that there are still sufficient padding for the brake to function properly. Ask the owner to ride around and give the brake a test to hear if any noise is produced when the brake pedal is engaged. Check the tyre for any signs of wear and tear as replacing it could be costly ($300-500) Enquire about the lifespan of the tyres and when it was last replaced.

Chains and sprocket

Like a bicycle, a motorcycle relies on a chain and sprocket to propel the machine forward. Check the condition of the chains and sprocket if possible. Look for any signs of wear and tear or grinding of the teeths that could be dangerous to the operation of the machine.

Receipts of parts and servicing

Enquire about any previous replacement of the parts, and if they have any original spare parts available. Check with the owner about their servicing habits, and how much they spend on bike maintenance. This process shows their care and love for the vehicle, and also means that you are purchasing something that has been cared for previously.

Some Tips about Servicing and Maintenance

After purchasing your motorcycle, it is always important to bring it to a reputable mechanic to do some basic servicing or mechanical checks to ensure that you did not miss any major issues. It is also recommended to change the engine oil upon receiving your motorcycle, and to change it once every 1500-2000 km mileage cycles (some prefer 1000km but each to their own to be honest).

As with every new vehicle, it takes time to get use to the operations of it as it is always different. Through my own experience, I chose not to split lanes for the first few days of operation, as I upgraded from a relatively small bike to a large bike with pannier boxes and a large handlebar. Always be safe on the road and stick to the traffic rules and regulations!

For all riders out there, I hope this small guide that I’ve created could be beneficial to you, and stay safe on the road!