Buying a bike for newbies.
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Received this pm and felt that its best that its answered on here for new buyers.
Hi, there..
Well now here are some questions.[I read the SBF's tips on buying but still not too sure about it.]
1. When I'm buying the bike, how do I give a good check on the bike.
-Like how to know if its worth buying?
-Is the engine running good? Is there anything else i need to know?
2. After the deal is done, I'm going to transfer the ownership right?
-How is it done? and what are the things i need to take note of?
-And where is it done?
-And what the things i need to take note of?
3. After the transferring of owner ship, I must get a insurance for a bike right? -Do i need a person above 21 to sign it for me?
-How is the process of getting a insurance?
-And where can i get insurance?
4. Insurance payment is done on the spot right?
-After that then i can ride the bike back home already right?
-Or is there anything else i need to know?
5.Finally, is there anything else i need to worry about and know about when getting a used bike from someone i dont know?
I really appreciate your time and help! Thanks a million
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1. You wont really know if its worth buying, because you have no experience with bike engines. And at the bike shop, they have minimum petrol in the bike which you most like going to hear it a while instead of hearing its problem on the longer running. You can only maybe hope that the following is in good order before you buy.
a) engine sounds smooth, with no pop sounds or smoke from the exhaust.
b) chains looks tight instead of slacking
c) tire threads are there or that the shop will change it for you.
d) handlebar is straight when you sit on it and stand it upright straight and its looks straight and the wheels are all aligned straight. get a friend to look at it for you.
2) deal is not that easily done, you usually have to put in a deposit with the seller or the shop and provide them your nric and licence for them to do the transfer at the LTA. If its a private seller, you need to double check at the LTA that the bike does not have outstanding installments from any bike shop. If it does, there is no way you can do a transfer yourself.
3) And no. You need to get a insurance first before you can do a bike transfer.
So if you are not doing it with the shop, you need to get the log card or letter of that bike, bring to a insurance agency and get that insurance yourself. No. there is no need for anyone above 21 to sign for you. I am not sure on this point because I never went thru the under 21 process. Being old has its privileges I guess.
You will need, log card of the bike, your licence, your NRIC & preferably the licence of a sub rider, preferably a family member or a really close friend that can help you out in times of trouble. ANd of course, your cash.
4) Yes, insurance can be done on the spot, if you are doing it yourself. Then you go to LTA and do the transfer of the ownership with the insurance, inspection cert (if any); the log card or letter; the owners NRIC and yours. Then you can ride the bike home after you have paid the seller.
SOme private sellers might prefer to be on the spot to sign for the transfer instead of trusting you.
Important note:
a) the bike is cleared of installments or the bike shop control or LTA will not allow transfer.
b) When was the last inspection? Need new inspection?
c) Road tax due?
d) Insurance ready
e) Transfer fees?
f) Petrol. Make sure you top up the petrol once you take over the bike. Ride a short distance if possible, to the petrol station first. -
I would also appreciate others experienced buyers here to advise the newbies and add on whatever crap I've posted.
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thanks for the heads up!
i've been talking about getting a bike but havent even yet complete my 2b. shucks. actually planned to have it done by 1st quarter of 2008 but got a recent fracture of my left hand. need to wait 6 freaking mths to recover... -
Ar yes, your fracture, I hope its didnt happened at the 2b courses. If it does, I hope you know how to claim insurance. The driving centre has a basic insurance plan which you did purchased when you enrol at the school.Originally posted by newcomer:i've been talking about getting a bike but havent even yet complete my 2b. shucks. actually planned to have it done by 1st quarter of 2008 but got a recent fracture of my left hand. need to wait 6 freaking mths to recover...
2. You might want to check your expiry of your Basic theory & the PDL. -
actually its a sport related injury. truth is, i trying 2nd time for the theory evaluation. quite pathetic i know.
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No babe, I do not find it pathetic. Its part and parcel of learning and its normal.Originally posted by newcomer:actually its a sport related injury. truth is, i trying 2nd time for the theory evaluation. quite pathetic i know. -
viciouskitty74 has done a great job on this writeup! It'll really help those who are getting their bikes for the first time and I'm sure it's a rather exciting moment for them. There are some points, however, I would like to correct.
[quote]Originally posted by viciouskitty74:
[b]
a) engine sounds smooth, with no pop sounds or smoke from the exhaust.
smoke from the exhaust is actually common for 2-strokes bike. So, if anyone is getting 2-strokes bike, you don't have to worry about the smoke actually.
3) And no. You need to get a insurance first before you can do a bike transfer.
So if you are not doing it with the shop, you need to get the log card or letter of that bike, bring to a insurance agency and get that insurance yourself. No. there is no need for anyone above 21 to sign for you. I am not sure on this point because I never went thru the under 21 process. Being old has its privileges I guess.
You will need, log card of the bike, your licence, your NRIC & preferably the licence of a sub rider, preferably a family member or a really close friend that can help you out in times of trouble. ANd of course, your cash.
There is also no need for the log card at all now. I recently had a transfer of bike and I didn't even see the log card. After doing the transfer for the bike to be under your name, LTA will issue you a letter stating you're now the owner of the bike as well as other information regarding the bike such as the number of transfers.
For the insurance part, you'll just have to call NTUC and tell them what's the number plate of the bike you're buying the insurance (that is if you're buying the insurance from NTUC)
After that, just head down to any of their branch to pay the premium and you'll get the policy. -
thanks techno for the corrections.
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aye aye aye! those questions posted above seems VVVVVVVV familiar lol
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Recently i got my dad down and i bought a first hand bike under his name...weird the shop dealer said he is not allow to be my guarantor but i can buy the bike under his name. My dad has not possess a class 2b lic though. The whole thing damn weird how come i can buy it under his name when he does not have a lic? Paid 800 to book the bike and waiting for the dealer to bid COE.. eh anyway must wait how long de huh b4 i can go down to collect e bike? i for got to ask the dealer..
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anybody in singapore can buy a bike with or without a license but they just cannot ride it.
and ur father cant be the guarantor becoz the bike is already in his name,a guarantor must be a person other than the owner of the bike..and must be over 21 years old.
about the bidding thingy and all im not sure.
btw,what bike u bought? -
but like this if you accident *touch wood* can claim insurence?Originally posted by devilplot 4:Recently i got my dad down and i bought a first hand bike under his name...weird the shop dealer said he is not allow to be my guarantor but i can buy the bike under his name. My dad has not possess a class 2b lic though. The whole thing damn weird how come i can buy it under his name when he does not have a lic? Paid 800 to book the bike and waiting for the dealer to bid COE.. eh anyway must wait how long de huh b4 i can go down to collect e bike? i for got to ask the dealer..
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What I am more interested to know is....Originally posted by devilplot 4:Recently i got my dad down and i bought a first hand bike under his name...weird the shop dealer said he is not allow to be my guarantor but i can buy the bike under his name. My dad has not possess a class 2b lic though. The whole thing damn weird how come i can buy it under his name when he does not have a lic? Paid 800 to book the bike and waiting for the dealer to bid COE.. eh anyway must wait how long de huh b4 i can go down to collect e bike? i for got to ask the dealer..
1) Why buy the bike in the fathers name? Insurance cheaper? There is no such thing as owner being older and insurance is cheaper anymore. Is there?
And insurance is calculated for the youngest rider, be it subrider or actual rider/owner.
Buying a bike on fathers name, with him having no licence, means you need to take on a non riding insurance with you as sub rider.
It dont make sense that you wont have another sub rider that can help you out when you cannot ride.
2) Why not buy the bike in your own name, and have your father as a garantor for the bike installments? -
I guess everyone is wrong when they say u can buy a bike under your name even if you are under 21. There is no such thing as getting a guarantor when u r under 21 yrs old. The actual truth is like this.. if u r under 21 yrs old u can only buy e bike under someone else name who is 21 n above and he or she must have a guarantor. I went down today with my dad and they clarify everything with us. My dad needs a guarantor even he has stable income and above 21. There is no such thing as buying a bike under yr name if u r under 21 but they will still charge accordingly to the person under 21 yrs old.
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Like...which shop you went to?Originally posted by devilplot 4:I guess everyone is wrong when they say u can buy a bike under your name even if you are under 21. There is no such thing as getting a guarantor when u r under 21 yrs old. The actual truth is like this.. if u r under 21 yrs old u can only buy e bike under someone else name who is 21 n above and he or she must have a guarantor. I went down today with my dad and they clarify everything with us. My dad needs a guarantor even he has stable income and above 21. There is no such thing as buying a bike under yr name if u r under 21 but they will still charge accordingly to the person under 21 yrs old.
Pm me can?
Because I believe that practice differs from shop to shop. -
wah u kenna chop chop bebeh...kns that shop.
why is there no such thing as buying a bike under ur name even if ur U21?
LTA doesnt state that U21 riders cannot transfer the bike under their name.
wow u really kena choppp bebehhhhhhhh
my blood just boils when this &@$*#$& shop just practise anyhow -
The practise changed liao....u dun get it do u? i went down to Mah before they practised the same thing... Its getting first hand bike under installment...Originally posted by LoudnessFZ:wah u kenna chop chop bebeh...kns that shop.
why is there no such thing as buying a bike under ur name even if ur U21?
LTA doesnt state that U21 riders cannot transfer the bike under their name.
wow u really kena choppp bebehhhhhhhh
my blood just boils when this &@$*#$& shop just practise anyhow -
well..first hand 2b bike uh..if uve passion on riding i guess ull regret getting a first hand if ur planning on upgrading..
if u dont think ull regret then maybe when its almost time u take off the p plate ul already feel the itch to upgrade.
as for me,luckily didnt buy first hand cbr125r,how time flies fast and im a few months shy of ramming the S4 in the circuit.
though still a noob
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Wow, practices changed fast.Originally posted by devilplot 4:The practise changed liao....u dun get it do u? i went down to Mah before they practised the same thing... Its getting first hand bike under installment...
Guess its the default payment rate of younger riders nowadays resulting in such a change. -
yea tats y i support 2nd hand bikes. sells cheap n worries when modding. but muz find reliable bikes lah.
i gonna remove my cast when i go for practice... -
2nd hand bikes i don;t really trust 2nd hand bike...got 5 friends 2nd hand bikes always give problems.. why not get a first hand when i can afford it.. Then as u see class 2A bikes aren't really nice at all compared to class 2...maybe e first hand bike can ride for few yrs before upgrading...there is no hurry...i rather get first hand which wun give me much problems..
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If you can afford it. Why do you need installment payment?Originally posted by devilplot 4:2nd hand bikes i don;t really trust 2nd hand bike...got 5 friends 2nd hand bikes always give problems.. why not get a first hand when i can afford it.. Then as u see class 2A bikes aren't really nice at all compared to class 2...maybe e first hand bike can ride for few yrs before upgrading...there is no hurry...i rather get first hand which wun give me much problems.. -
Originally posted by devilplot 4:
I guess everyone is wrong when they say u can buy a bike under your name even if you are under 21. There is no such thing as getting a guarantor when u r under 21 yrs old. The actual truth is like this.. if u r under 21 yrs old u can only buy e bike under someone else name who is 21 n above and he or she must have a guarantor. I went down today with my dad and they clarify everything with us. My dad needs a guarantor even he has stable income and above 21. There is no such thing as buying a bike under yr name if u r under 21 but they will still charge accordingly to the person under 21 yrs old.
if im not wrong, technoboy is riding a sp now, under his name the bike.
technoboy can clarify abit?
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Yeap, I am 18, but paid full cash for the bike and it's under my name.