My lover is moving... I was going to get a fat boy to ride with him... (I'm too independant to be a mere passenger..) With him moving, I am at a loss on what I need to look for in a used bike purchase... I have the opportunity to get a 2002 fat boy with 10,000 miles... Is that a lot? Previous owner was also a lady, so I believe they may be gently used miles...


[IMG]local://upfiles/48312/59553436A01B4A4FBC910C56DB5736F6.jpg[/IMG]

 

No, 10K is not a lot of miles on an '02, very low miles actually. How much?

 

Not a lot of miles by any stretch. I agree with stro how much and what kind of mods?

 

that's pretty low. I put that much on my bikes this summer!

 

More info per condition, color,general condition... is that a carbed bike ?

 

The mileage is low for an '02, How much? Has it been properly serviced? etc...Need a little more info please.

 

I'm guessin' you'll be getting some offers from around here ...


If you've got a local dealer/mechanic you trust then take the bike to them to look it over. Lots of Texas "Gentlemen" on this board as well, so maybe one of them is close enough to be of some assistance. As for the miles ... not that big of deal on an '02 bike. A lot of riders on this forum will put more than 10k on a bike in a year. A good cross-country trip will put 6500+ in a couple weeks.

For what it's worth ... here are a few items that you can check yourself, and it may help you in making the final choice of which bike to buy.

1. Check fit and finish of the shiney parts. Scratches, dings, dull paint, tarnished chrome can all be signs of wear. A 5 year old bike should still be in pretty good condition. If it's been garaged for bad weather and not ridden on long distance runs then it will be pretty nice. If the fit/finish is not good then chances are the mechanics have suffered as well.

2. Check the wear on the tires. Motorcycle tires vary greatly on wear. A sportbike tire will last 3000 to 5000 miles while cruiser tires may go as long as 10,000 miles. Don't expect them to last as long as car tires, they just won't do that. NOTE: Daily Driver tires will wear much differently from weekend warrior. A daily driver usually has more wear in the middle of the tire (from the commute on highway or major roads to and from work) while the weekend warrior will have more wear on the sides (from leaning into those wonderful twisties). That will help you determine as much about driving style as anything else. Also, if the bike has fairly new tires then don't be shocked, but be sure to ask if they still have the old tires around. Probably won't, but you never know. A new set of tires before 10,000 miles likely just means the bike is being maintained, so ask them how many sets of tires they've gone through. If this is the 3rd or 4th set in 10k miles then something is probably wrong.

3. Look under the floorboards for excessive scraping. You should expect some scraped surface, but if it's worn down to a knife's edge start to worry. Also look at the bottom of the pipes for scraping. That means the person leans the bike a lot, which is not by itself bad. While you're down there check the underside of the engine for nicks, scratches, and gouges from running over things.

4. Sit on the bike. Look at the condition of the brake and clutch levers, bar-end weights, straightness of the bars and overall positioning of the front end. This can show the signs of dropping. The levers will show as quickly as anything, and also make sure to check the ends of the grips (rubber/leather grips that have been dropped will be scraped). Cables should be clean and clear of excessive gumming/lubricant at the ends. They should aslo run smoothly to their respective parts (brake, clutch, etc.) and should not bind when turning the bars. A bike that has been dropped may have a slight tweak in the front end that is evident when you sit on it.

5. Hold the handbrake and bounce the front suspension. It should feel even and firm. Simply holding the front brake on and pushing the bike forward and letting it rebo

 

I just purchased a 2002 FatBoy last month and mine had only 7,000 miles, but had custom paint, wheels, and lots of extras. I absolutely LOVE my bike, but the weather in MO is not being very cooperative for riding the past few weeks!

 

I can help you with the "lover" problem!

 

Can I get an AMEN!!