What are the danger signs?

I can walk round a 70's Civic once and give you chapter & verse on almost every square inch of it, but a bike is a whole different barrel of monkeys! I'm new to biking so I know I'll be buying a used bike. I'm reasonably technically minded but being a bike novice I'm not sure what to look for in terms of mechanical condition.

So, is there a good general list of things to look for? Unfortunately, I've not done my CBT yet so a test ride is pretty much out of the question! Plus I don't have anyone I know who is wise to the ways of bikes that I can take with me.

I know, not a good state of affairs is it? I know to check for loose spokes and to observe the engine on starting from cold, but that's about it. What else do I need to look for?

To narrow the field I know I want a Honda. I'm going direct access so 500cc or higher. I quite fancy a CB500 (or one of it's larger brethren) or an XBR500. I know I want an older bike. Not only to try and take advantage of classic insurance, but also I'm a bit retro anyway. (I still don't think i-pods will catch on! )

I know my question's a bit woolley, but any advice would be much appreciated.

I'll go bike shopping with you, I love it

I passed my test on a CB500, nice bikes

I'm rubbish when it comes to mechanics, so I always read review after review after review, I have in the past paid for a mechanic to take a look!

However, the big one is comfort, for instance, I liked the look of the new diversion, sat on it at the bike show and didin't like the position I was in and I found the seat hard.

Just get yourself to some bike shops and start sitting on them.

Have fun in your search

I suppose some wouldn't recommend the way I do it, but have bought my last two bikes off fleabay without seeing them, and travelling a loong way to fetch them..and both have been peaches (similarly with a car and campervan too!).

Any problems have been told to me by the vendors and have turned out to be honest!

I rely on high amounts of good feedback to be a good indicator and sometimes contact one of their previous customers for extra feedback.

I think dealers are usually overpriced and overrated (unless you are going for a brand new bike), so tend not to spend my pennies with them.

But with an older bike, like the XBR (not many good ones left), I would definately have to see it and hear it running before I contemplated a purchase.

I suppose for the very basics, make sure it's started from cold, check for any strange rattles (such as the camchain) or bangs, is it smoky and what condition is the oil in?

A compression check is another good indicator of such things as valves clearances, piston rings and the like.

You can also use a hollow tube as a stethoscope. Start the bike and place on end to your ear and the other on the engine and listen carefully. It should be running smooth and consistently with no unpleasant or strange noises.

Hope some of this helps.

Thanks for the input guys.

I've been trawling the interwebs for 'local' used bike dealers but it seems like nobody wants to sell anything earlier than 2001 or thereabouts. Still, I'm in no hurry. I'll start looking through local papers and see what I can find. I'll take my time, though I will admit that fleabay does look mighty tempting.........

Don't forget Gumtree - you might just find what you want there, and at least it'll be local so you can go and have a look at it.

You will find main dealers won't have anything with age or mileage - they wouldn't consider mine with only 20K on the clock (and all I wanted was a price for insurance value) when you do your training ask the instructors or indeed your fellow trainees, someone may know a local shop or mechanic who fixes and sells on.
Danger signs would be rotting tyres, misaligned wheels and holes in the exhaust (along with many other things)

Wherabouts are you Vulcan? someone on here may be near enough to give you a few ideas