Second Hand Scooty Kinda Check Garne Kura: Dio, Ray ZR, NTORQ and Others

Scooters are bought for convenience and often used hard: short trips, stop-start traffic, two people and shopping on board. They are also simple, and a well-kept one is a sound buy. The difference between the two is not visible in photos.

Most of what applies to any used bike applies here, so start with the 50-point checklist. The points below are the ones that are different on a scooter.

The transmission: where scooters differ most

A scooter has no gears to change and no clutch lever. Instead a belt runs between two pulleys that change size as you accelerate, with an automatic clutch at the back. The belt, the rollers and the clutch all wear, and they are hidden behind the left-hand cover.

• Pulling away. Open the throttle gently from a standstill. The scooter should move off smoothly. A shudder or judder as it starts to move points to the clutch.
• Acceleration. If the engine revs rise but the scooter does not pick up speed to match, the belt is slipping or worn.
• Noise. A whine, rattle or slapping sound from the left side, changing with speed, comes from the transmission.
• Top speed and pickup. A scooter that feels flat and will not reach the speed you expect often has worn rollers or a tired belt.
• Rear wheel on the stand. With the scooter on its centre stand and the engine idling, the rear wheel should be still or barely creeping. A wheel that spins strongly at idle means the clutch is dragging or the idle is set too high.

Starting

• Start it from cold with the electric starter. It should catch quickly.
• If the scooter has a kick starter, try that too. It is your backup when the battery is flat, and one that is seized or slipping is worth knowing about.
• Scooters depend on their battery more than most bikes. See what battery voltage readings mean.
• On a fuel-injected scooter, the warning light on the console should come on with the key and go out once the engine is running.

Body panels and frame

Almost everything you can see on a scooter is plastic, and plastic tells the story of every fall.

• Panel gaps. Panels should meet evenly on both sides. Wide or uneven gaps mean panels have been off or the frame beneath is no longer straight.
• Mismatched colour. One panel a slightly different shade has been replaced or repainted.
• Broken tabs and missing screws. Look under the edges and inside the front compartment.
• The floorboard. Check for cracks, and look underneath it at the frame for rust and for damage from hitting kerbs or speed breakers.
• Handlebar and front wheel. With the wheel pointing straight ahead, the handlebar should be square to it.
• Scrapes at the ends. Brake lever tips, mirror edges, the exhaust guard and the lower side panels are where a fallen scooter touches the ground.

Under the seat and the small things

• The seat lock should open and close with the key, first time.
• Look at the storage space for cracks and signs of water.
• If the fuel filler has its own lid or release, check that it works.
• Check the side stand and centre stand. A scooter gets put on its stand many times a day.
• Test every switch, the horn, both headlight beams, the brake light from each lever and all four indicators.

Brakes, wheels and suspension

• Both levers. On a scooter both brakes are on the handlebar. Each should feel firm and stop well short of the grip.
• Linked brakes. If the scooter has a combined braking system, squeezing the left lever should slow both wheels.
• Tyres. Small wheels turn more times per kilometre than large ones, so scooter tyres wear and age quickly. Check tread, the date code on the sidewall and the sidewalls for cracks.
• Front end. Push down on the handlebar. The front should compress and return smoothly, with no knock.
• Steering. With the front wheel off the ground, turn the bars from lock to lock. It should move freely with no notch in the middle.

The ride

Ride it slowly, then at the speeds you will actually use it. It should pull cleanly without hesitation, track straight when you relax your grip, and stop in a straight line. Carry a passenger for part of it if you normally will: a tired transmission shows itself under load.

Papers

Exactly the same as for any bike. Check the owner, the chassis and engine numbers, the tax and the insurance before anything else: what to check in the bluebook.

Scooters in stock

You can see every scooter currently listed on MOTOVO, with prices, on the second hand scooters page. Certified ones come with their 50-point report; Uncertified ones are listed by the seller and need the checks above.