The showroom price of bikes and scooters in Nepal is very high. Even if you invest a large sum in a new vehicle, it will depreciate quickly after making the purchase. In this situation, second-hand bikes and scooters may look quite appealing. In essence, you are getting a similar utility as buying a new vehicle, by spending far less. So, should you consider buying a refurbished vehicle from the reconditioning house?

Reconditioning house is a business establishment that purchases old, used, and second-hand vehicles and tries to restore them in pristine condition. It takes a certain amount as commission and makes sales to the prospective customer. In theory, it all looks quite good. However, there is still a high chance that you will end up buying a bad vehicle, which will cost a lot of your time and money in the long run.

We have prepared a list of five tips that you can easily follow while buying bikes and scooters from reconditioning houses in Nepal to save you from the hassle. 

Tips before buying vehicles in recondition houses

 

External examination and Irregularities

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When you arrive at a reconditioning house, the salesperson there will show you a variety of bikes and scooters. Among them, find a few within your budget range, and start the physical inspection. External examinations will help in two major ways:
- You will know the condition and maintenance status of the vehicle
- Any defects you can find will help you to lower the asking price 

To perform the external examination, you have to start with the chassis. It covers a large area of the bike, and you should look for signs of rusts, wear and tear marks, scratches, etc. Ensure all the components in the vehicle are stock parts. If you find any new or replaced components, ask the owner for the reason for such replacement. Do not forget to check how the insides of the fuel tank look, there should be no rust or leakage!

You should avoid purchasing a vehicle that has been in a serious accident. It could have sustained some critical issues, which are not visible on the normal inspection. However, the signs of such big accidents are very hard to conceal. The prime examples are bent chassis or wheel frame, and welding in the frame. On the other hand, perfectly balanced wheel frames, good condition of the battery, no wear of tear on tires, and a well-lubricated chain denotes that the vehicle was maintained well. 

The last thing to check is the chassis number and engine number. Both the chassis number and engine number will be visible on the bike itself. You can crosscheck the numbers with the numbers listed in the bill-book or ownership documents. If the vehicle had been to a major accident that needed engine replacement, take it as a big red flag.

Information about the owner and Paperwork

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For security reasons, you should check the ownership documents, including the vehicle’s bill book, and insurance. If the ownership document shows a transfer between three or more owners, you should ask the reason behind such frequent transfers. You should make extra efforts to check if the vehicle comes from a stolen source, or has any pending legal cases tied to it. Only purchase after making sure that the vehicle is free from all pending legal expenses including the taxes. 

 

Cold start and test-drive

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The most common procedure that most buyers skip is to perform a cold start of the vehicle. Most vehicles, even the bad ones, tend to drive quite well when the engine is warm and running for some time. However, you will have to start the bike or scooter from a cold position in daily use. Thus, it is extremely important to perform the first test-drive of the vehicle from a cold position.

The cold position here refers to the state where the engine is off for a long time. To get the bike or scooter in this state, inform the recondition house beforehand that you want to test drive the vehicle from a cold start. You can also touch the engine and silencer pipe of the vehicle. If those are cold, you are good to go.

Take the original keys of the vehicle and perform a cold start. If the vehicle acts as expected, check the electrical system and all the lights. Ask someone from the reconditioning house to check all the lights; mainly indicators, braking light, and headlight of the vehicle. The headlight should have two different modes- high beam and low beam. After checking the lights, get on the vehicle and continue to perform a normal test drive. If the braking, suspension, handling, or any aspect of the driving feels off, do not buy the vehicle. 

 

Electrical system and Brakes

The electrical and most critical components of the vehicle require special attention. You will be paying a large sum of money for a bike or scooter, even in refurbished condition. So, do not feel shy to make proper inspections. If you find traces of rust, leakage, or strange wires, you should call a trusty mechanic to inspect the vehicle. He will check the status of all the internal wiring, as well as standard priority components like brake levers, brake disc, and interior components of a scooter. Inspect the tires and suspension system thoroughly as that will cost a fortune if you have to replace it later.

 

Market Research and Transfer

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If you followed this guide thoroughly, you now have a clear understanding of which bike or scooter to choose, and what things you need to consider while buying from a recondition house. However, this is not yet the time to make payment and finalize the transaction. You should visit some more recondition houses and check what they are offering. Sometimes, looking into the vehicles outside of your preference list will also help.  At last, go to the government office for the transfer of the vehicle, and only after all the procedures are completed, make the final payment. 

 

Conclusion

Buying bikes and scooters from reconditioning houses in Nepal could save you a fortune worth of money. However, there are many risks involved. At the end of the day, you will purchase a bike or scooter. Then the same vehicle will take care of your daily transport needs. Therefore, you should take sufficient time to look for details hiding in nooks and crannies. In most cases, buyers get very excited to get their first vehicle. Even the more experienced one can fall for the persuasive sweet talks of the seller. 

Fortunately, the buying process is not as complicated anymore. We have simplified the entire process by listing all the things you need to look out for in the bikes and scooters. If you followed along, a sweet deal is waiting for you. You are finally ready to get your own two-wheeler and experience a good ride on a budget.