Buying a used motorcycle in Singapore: the complete checklist

Paperwork, licence class, COE, and a hands-on inspection you can do yourself before you pay. Everything to check so the bike you buy is the bike you were promised.

A good used bike can be excellent value. A bad one can cost more than it saved in its first month. In Singapore you also have to think about the licence you hold, the COE left on the bike, and a proper ownership transfer. Work through this list before any money changes hands.

1. Make sure your licence covers the bike

• Class 2B: motorcycles up to 200 cc.
• Class 2A: motorcycles above 200 cc up to 400 cc.
• Class 2: motorcycles above 400 cc.
• You must hold each class for at least a year before you can take the test for the next one. Check the current rules on the Singapore Police Force and LTA websites.

2. Check the paperwork and the COE

1. Ask for the vehicle registration number and check the bike's details on LTA's OneMotoring site: make, model, engine capacity and registration date.
2. Find out when the COE expires. A Certificate of Entitlement lasts ten years, and the remaining COE is a large part of a used bike's value. A bike near the end of its COE costs less, but you will have to renew the COE or de-register it.
3. Match the chassis number and engine number on the bike with the registration details. If they do not match, walk away.
4. Ask whether road tax and insurance are current, and whether the bike has any outstanding fines or a loan on it.
5. Ask for service records and receipts. Regular oil changes at a known workshop are a very good sign.

3. Inspect the bike

1. Ask the seller not to start it before you arrive, and touch the engine when you get there. A cold start shows problems a warm engine hides.
2. Start it from cold. It should start readily and idle smoothly. Listen for knocking, rattling or a ticking that grows with revs, and look for blue (oil) or white (coolant) smoke.
3. Look under the engine and around the fork legs for oil. Wet or dirty fork tubes mean worn seals.
4. Check the chain and sprockets for hooked teeth and the chain for stiff links or rust.
5. Read the tyre date codes and check the tread. Two new tyres is a real cost to factor in.
6. Look at the brake discs for deep grooves or a lip at the edge, and check how much pad material is left.
7. With the front wheel off the ground, turn the bars lock to lock. They should move freely with no notch in the centre (worn steering bearings).
8. Look for crash damage: scraped bar ends, levers, footpegs and engine covers, bent brackets, or fresh paint on one side only.
9. Test every light, switch and the horn, and check that the dashboard shows no warning lights once the engine is running.

4. Test ride

Only ride with the correct licence and insurance in place. The clutch should engage smoothly without slipping when you accelerate in a high gear, gears should change cleanly, the bike should track straight with your hands relaxed on the bars, and the brakes should stop it firmly without pulling or vibrating.

5. Transfer ownership properly

• Ownership is transferred online through LTA's OneMotoring by the seller and buyer, and a transfer fee applies.
• Have your own insurance ready, since the bike must be insured in your name before you can ride it away.
• Pay through a traceable method, and get a written receipt that names the bike, the registration number, the price and both parties.
• Never pay a deposit for a bike you have not seen, and be wary of prices far below the market.