Buying a used bike or scooter: what to look at first

Start with the frame

Look down the bike from the front and from behind. The forks should be square to the frame and the rear wheel should track the front. A bike that has been down hard and straightened looks fine standing still and never rides straight.

The wear items tell you the truth about the odometer

• Chain and sprockets. Hooked sprocket teeth and a chain you can lift off the rear sprocket mean hard miles, whatever the meter says.
• Grips, footpegs and the seat. On a genuine 15,000 km bike these are barely worn. Worn ones with a low reading is the oldest trick there is.
• Fork seals. Oil on the fork legs is a repair you will be paying for.

Running

Start it cold. Listen for a rattle that fades as it warms, which is usually the cam chain tensioner. Ride it up to speed and brake hard once: a pulsing lever means a warped disc.

Scooters specifically

A scooter's belt and variator are the equivalent of chain and sprockets, and they are hidden. Ask when the belt was last changed and be sceptical if nobody knows. Check the underseat area for water damage, and look at the centre stand feet — worn flat means a lot of stop-start city life.

Papers, the same as any vehicle

RC in the seller's name, insurance, PUC, and no hypothecation left on the RC. See our guide to transferring an RC in West Bengal.