Shopping for a motorcycle is an exciting time. I love perusing the wanted ads and OfferUp, even if I’m not in the market.
I’ve bought 3 Yamaha V Stars and Viragos in the past year. Let’s go over what I look for when shopping for this motorcycle. This process gives you information about the motorcycle and will give you more information you can use to negotiate.
We are going to start with the obvious checkpoints first and then get into the details. The details are going to give you negotiating power.
I’m going to go over the motorcycle specifically, but looking over the seller is just as important. You want straight answers to any questions you ask. If I have to dig for explanations, I’m suspicious, so I’m going to lower my price.
Here is the general checklist of what to look over:
- Overall Condition of the Motorcycle
- Odometer
- Battery/Does it run or start?
- Paint
- Tires
- Exhaust pipes
- Ignition
- Brake Fluid
- Motor oil level
- Brake pads
- Sprockets
- Chain
- Hoses
- Rust
Overall Condition of the Motorcycle
Getting an overall look at the motorcycle is easy to do and can be done by anyone. Look it over and note any missing parts or damage marks.
If you aren’t familiar with how the motorcycle should look, bring a print out or find a photo of the stock bike online.
This will allow you to compare it to what it should look like. If you notice differences, feel free to ask the owner about them. Mods or modifications are a fun way to personalize your motorcycle but done poorly or using cheap parts lowers the overall value.
Aftermarket parts can be signs of damage. This is common on V Star 250s and other beginner friendly motorcycles, as they get dropped more often.
Note any fluids or leaks underneath the motorcycle. These can be signs of major issues.
Write down any issues you find. These can be talking points and used for negotiating with the seller.
Odometer
The odometer tells you how many miles are on motorcycle. This number is used to know how much use the motor has been through.
It is important to know how to read the odometer.
On a Yamaha V Star or Virago 250, there will be a spinning dial with 6 numbers. It is located on the gauge cluster. The odometer is in the middle of the speedometer.
The far right white dial measures tenths of a mile. In the example below, it reads “002344”. This is read as 234.4 miles. It is between 234.4 and 234.5 miles on the odometer.
Other motorcycle brands don’t have a tenth of a mile dial, like old BMW motorcycles. Be aware of that when shopping for that second motorcycle.
Battery / Does it run or start?
The battery of a motorcycle is a key component of the electrical system. And it’s the answer to 90% of the questions asked on Reddit’s motorcycle community.
Batteries run down if they are not stored on a battery tender. When you go to fire up the motorcycle, you’ll hear a click, or series of clicks, nothing, or whimper of a starting sequence. That’s a dead battery.
But, thats only the first roadblock. With a dead battery there are usually dirty carbs, especially on V Star 250s that have sat for a while.
If a motorcycle doesn’t start, if its not a easy fix like replacing the battery, you could find yourself wrenching for a while.
More negotiating power. The seller won’t be able to show you it runs.
Don’t fall for the “it just needs a carb cleaning and new battery.” If it was that easy, they would do it themselves and could justify asking for a higher price.
Paint
Paint on cars and motorcycles begins to fade with time and poor maintenance. A motorcycle with faded paint was likely kept outdoors and uncovered.
A motorcycle with a bad paint job may be hiding some damage or done by someone without experience.
All these are in your favor for getting a lower price. For a restoration project, you won’t feel too bad when you do your own paint job.
The V Stars came in classic cruiser colors:
- Black
- Red
- Black cherry
- Blue
- Deep purple
Exotic colors are not stock on the V Star 250, but they can give it great character and spice.
Tires
Tires are one of the most important parts of a motorcycle. They are the contact points with the ground you’ll soon be flying over.
If a tire on a motorcycle fails, you’ll be in a world of hurt.
Take a minute to check the age, condition, and tread of the tires. Age is the most important factor for me. Tires may look good and show decent tread but with age they get hard and dry.
I don’t ride on tires that are more than 5 years old, even if the tread is like new. They may be able to get you home but continued use may cause them to fail unexpectedly.
Tires are stamped with their date of manufacture. It reads as Week of the Year and the Year. Both are going to be two digit numbers, for a total of 4 numbers.
For example, “0598” would be this tire was manufactured in the 5th week of the year 1998.
In this photo, you can see the number “3908”. This translates to the 39th week of 2008. On a 2009 motorcycle, that means they are very likely to be the original tires.
These are on a 2009 Yamaha V Star 250. Yes, the tires are “like new” but the bike was kept outdoors and they are almost 15 years old.
I’m going to need to budget for replacement tires and the labor cost as well.
If the tire is less than 5 years old, what condition are they in?
You are looking for cracks in the sidewall and tread. Look for uneven wear and bald spots.
Budget around $300 for tires, inner tubes, and labor.
Exhaust Pipes
The exhaust pipes on the V Star 250 give it a nice mid pitch sound. If it rumbles and gives a low loud sound, the pipes have been altered.
They may be aftermarket or have has the baffles removed.
Your exhaust sound is personal but be aware of the laws in your area. Here in California loud pipes may get you a ticket.
You can ask the seller for the original exhaust pipe.
Slip ons aren’t common on these motorcycles. I have never seen a slip-on on one of these bikes.
Checking these next few items will give you a better idea of the budget you’ll need to get the motorcycle in proper running shape.
Brake Fluid
Going fast on a motorcycle is a beautiful thing. Everyone should experience it.
Coming to a safe and controlled stop is just a wonderful.
Having the power to slow down at your command is critical, so check that brake fluid.
On the V Star 250, it can be found on the right hand controls of the motorcycle. In a cubed casing, their will be a circular looking glass. The cube is the master cylinder. It holds the brake fluid.
Brake fluid should be clear and a light yellow-like color. A brown or black color means it’s time to flush and replace your brake fluid.
It will cost you less than $15 bucks but will save your life.
Brake pads
Another important part of the braking system are the brake pads. We only need to worry about the front brakes right now.
The rear brake is a drum brake. Drum brakes don’t require maintenance often and on a low mileage motorcycle should be okay.
You can see the front brake pads by looking at them from the top. This photo shows a good set of brake pads.
If you aren’t sure about them, just replace them for peace of mind. The front brakes will be doing the majority of the braking, so they need to be reliable.
Sprockets
The sprockets on a motorcycle are part of the drivetrain of a motorcycle. One a V Star 250 the drivetrain has a front and rear sprocket powered by a chain.
You would need to remove a few covers to access the front sprocket, but the rear one is out in the open. It is part of the rear wheel assembly.
The teeth on the sprockets should look like perfect mountains. If they look like shark teeth and slant to one way, it is time to replace them.
In terms of mileage, they can last anywhere from 10-20,000 miles.
Ask the seller if they replaced them. If so, find out with how many teeth on each. The stock configuration is 17T on the front and 45T on the rear.
We’ll talk about sprockets and their effect on speed in a future post.
Chain
Without a chain, you won’t be going anywhere. With a rusty and worn chain you’ll be damaging your sprockets.
Rust on a chain is not a good sign. It tells me the bike sat outdoors or in a moist environment for a while. I recommend replacing it. It’s not worth the trouble if derusting or cleaning. There are O rings that are likely in their last leg too
Another sign of a worn out chain is slack. A chain with too much movement up and down has likely been stretched out. It’s the natural wear and tear of this system.
There is the chance the chain was installed poorly. This happens when the rear axle isn’t set to the correct length and the chain isn’t tensioned to the specifications in the service manual.
The V Star chain is a 520 chain with 114 links. The JT brand is known for their high quality chains, they even offer different color options.
Hoses and Rubber
Fuel and air hoses dry out and begin to crack with time. Plan on a replacing a number of these if the bike sat outside.
Here is a photo of a cracking hose. I’m going to need to replace these to make sure the fuel or air doesn’t leak.
Leaking gas is an obvious problem. Leaking air may not seam like an obvious problem but it can cause major issues. Air leaks can cause your motorcycle to run lean and could lead to engine damage from running poorly.
Look at the other rubber components on the bike. A common rubber part that fails with time is the intake boot underneath the carburetor.
Rust
If you are shopping for a project bike, rust is going to be expected. I’m sure you’ll find rust in the gas tank. When gas is left in gas tanks for months and years, the gas breakdowns and the water causes rust.
Rust in a gas tank is manageable. There are a few different methods of removing it. All of them use an acid of some sort to do the cleanup and a sealer to prevent future rusting.
Gas tank rust is a good negotiating point. To derust a gas tank, you’ll need chemicals and time. White vinegar is popular among mechanics. I have had great success with EvapoRust.
The other parts of the bike, shouldn’t have rust. Cracks in the paint with expose raw metal that may rust over time.
Note the locations of this rust and what level or depth it is. Surface rust can be removed. A lot of times, some #0000 steel wool and elbow action will be enough.
What you don’t want, is rust that weakens the frame of the motorcycle. This comprises the safety of the motorcycle and could lead to catastrophic failure down the line.
Conclusion
Buying a V Star 250 is an exciting step in your riding career. A clean 250cc motorcycle shouldn’t cost you a fortune.
Using the knowledge here, you can be an informed buyer.
Part of the shopping experience should have you asking yourself, do I trust this seller? I only recommend buying a motorcycle from sellers you are upfront about scratches and dings.
Drops happen. Coming clean about the damage shows they are being honest. Another option is to bring a friend who is familiar with motorcycles.
The important things is keeping a list of things you find during your look over
Good luck finding your V Star 259!