"Check that bike's history before you buy"

Motorcycle sales, not surprisingly, slow down in winter – which is when clued-up riders go looking for second-hand bargains.

The problem is that motorcycles are just as vulnerable to criminal scams as other vehicles – in fact, research shows that about 20 percent of used motorcycles offered for sale have a history that the seller isn't about to tell you about, especially expensive, large-capacity machines that are likely to have the most appeal for criminal activity.

Outstanding finance is a growing problem for motorcycle buyers in the current economic climate. About 10 percent of bikes offered for sale – privately or through dealers – have outstanding finance on them.

The problem is that any bike that isn't fully paid for still belongs to the finance house, meaning the buyer could lose both the motorcycle and the money they paid for it.

The speed and power of modern bikes – and the high cost of repairing them – also means that insurance companies write off a bigger percentage of crashed motorcycles than other vehicles.

Some can be legitimately repaired by professionals and represent a possible bargain but others – especially those with frame or suspension damage - are only fit to be scrapped.

Motorcycles are twice as likely as cars to be written off by insurance companies and the number of scrapped bikes that have subsequently re-appeared on the road is rising.

INFORMED DECISION

TransUnion Auto Information Services offers a verification service which will tell you the vehicle's legal status and history - and its market value - with a simple online query through its website.

It will tell you whther the bike is still subject to finance or if it's been scrapped and then re-registered as a built-up machine, allowing the prospective buyer to make an informed decision.

It'll also show whether the motorcycle has ever been reported stolen – if it has, just walk away, no matter how tempting the machine or the price; it's not worth the hassle.

Most commuters are looking to save on transport costs and, as the weather improves, a second-hand motorcycle – or bargain-basement grey import – is an attractive option.

But bear in mind that bikes are at even greater risk of certain frauds than cars. You wouldn't employ a person without checking their references - do the same with your next bike.

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