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Check List for Buying a Used Honda PC800 (Pacific Coast)

Check out this web site for a check list also: http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html

Thanks for the input for the items to inspect before a PC purchase. I am trying to make a printed list to make the evaluation process quicker and more complete. I wish to avoid "Hey I didn't see that before". Here is what was offered: Please make additions to the list if we missed anything.

1. Check for oil leaks out of the valve cover by shining a flashlight into the spark plug holes to look for leakage. If it is excessive, oil will most likely be present.

2. If it has or has had a Honda Tall Windshield, the dash may show some signs of melting. This should be obvious with a visual inspection

4. Front forks for pitting or rust. This could signal a leaky front fork in the future or replacement of the forks.

6. Color of the brake and clutch brake fluid. If it is dark, it probably hasn't been changed, which means potential oxidation of the lines.

7. Look at the trunk from underneath the bike for tire rubbing on trunk top. (only an issue with '89 bikes, corrected in 90s and newer)

8. Check the brake light switches - Front and back. I had a front switch go bad on one of my previous bikes.

14. Oh, by the way when you are ever looking at buying a vehicle (car, bike, truck etc...) kick the tires. I don't know why but almost everyone does it.

23. The last registration or inspection sticker will indicate how long a bike may have been parked if it is not current.

24. Availability of service records can provide insight to condition of bike and indicate the level of care given by the owner. ie. I have a record of everything that have been done to my bike.  versus "It's been sitting in that corner of the garage for 6 years."

26. Check the tabs on the plastic to see if they are present. Carefully take the plastic off to see.

27. Check engine oil, if the oil is really bad the engine could be unhappy (but, see next item) but more importantly it freaks out the owner a little and having him or her a little off balance later is good for negotiations.

28. Start the engine when it's cool and hold your hand over the tailpipe; the engine should stall (possibly again freaking out the owner.) If it doesn't, get your buddy to locate the holes. Exhaust parts are in the 200 - 400$ range.

30. On an '89, ask if it has had its stator replaced. There is very close to a 100% failure rate of these. If you have an '89 and don't know if the stator's been replaced, buy thee a dashboard charging system indicator.

31. Sniff around the saddle for gasoline smell. Some PCs' auto fuel shutoff diaphragms leak, allow $100US for Repair and Replacement.

32. Put bike on center stand, get buddy to sit on back, move the front wheel to check that the front caliper isn't stuck. Then turn the wheel from one stop to the other, several times, feeling for notchiness. That would indicate a bad bearing. Squat in front, grab the axle ends (Frisbees?) and pull front to back to front, checking for looseness.

33. Look for oil drips where the bike's parked. Find out where they're coming from.

34. Check for the PC front fork wobble. Not bad, just a known characteristic

1. Go with a wrenching buddy even if you are one yourself, get him to enforce No. 3 below.
2. If you take a vehicle for a test drive and it's not love at first sight... move on. Not always true...
3. Even if you are in love, thank the owner politely and go for coffee with your buddy to discuss, then come back later to bargain.

Owner of a 1990 PC800