9 Used Motorcycles You Should Never Buy Due to Engine Problems

Nowadays, motorcyclists usually prefer the look, modern styling, and features of motorcycles. This is the reason why new and modern bikes attract young and experienced riders alike.

However, like everything else, the prices of motorcycles have also gone above. New motorcycles are becoming more luxurious and expensive to buy. The majority of motorcyclists cannot afford to buy a new motorcycle model.

Due to this reason, there are many bikers who still prefer buying a used motorcycle. Used motorcycles have always been in good demand, and you can find a better deal for yourself.

You need to have buying experience and solid motorcycle knowledge before you plan to buy a used motorcycle. We don’t want you to suffer from your bad decision and experience with your used bike.

Buying a used motorcycle can save you a lot of money. But it should also save you from the headaches and expenses that go into constant breakdowns, engine problems, and frequent maintenance.

Continue reading this article to learn about the nine used motorcycles you should never buy due to engine problems.

Before we start discussing this bike, It is a fact that Yamaha is undeniably the most reliable motorcycle brand, alongside Honda. This Japanese motorcycle brand has manufactured one of the most notable and long-lasting models with bulletproof engines.

However, the Yamaha V-Max is an exception. Undoubtedly, the VMax is among the fastest cruiser motorcycles ever produced. It is a performance cruiser and can accelerate much quicker than other cruiser bikes. It is as fast as a sports bike.

Despite being a very impressive model, the Yamaha V-Max was discontinued in 2020. It was a redesigned and reengineered model of the older Yamaha V-Max (1985-2005).

The faster and redesigned Yamaha VMax featured a 1,679 cc (102 cu in) liquid-cooled, 65° V-4 engine. This powerful V4 produces a claimed horsepower of 197 hp at 9,000 rpm and a torque of 166.79 Nm at 6,600 rpm.

The VMax is one of the most appealing performance cruisers with a bold and muscular design. However, it is not recommended for those who can’t handle too much power and speed.

Though a very prominent model, the Yamaha VMax is not the used motorcycle you should buy. It is not for those who don’t want frequent motorcycle maintenance cycles and the additional costs of keeping the bike functional.

The first problem you may find with the Yamaha VMax is the fuel pump issue. The VMax’s fuel pump is prone to show issues after some time if the bike is not used. Due to the fuel pump problem, the VMax is also prone to show starting issues. Engine stalling can occur frequently if there is an issue with the fuel pump.

Being one of the most powerful and fastest cruiser bikes, it also drinks too much fuel. If you love twisting the throttle much, the fuel economy is likely to drop significantly.

The Yamaha VMax also features the V-Boast feature, which is responsible for providing extra thrust and power. However, it is reported to malfunction at times.

On top of these issues, the VMax also requires frequent maintenance after other cruiser motorbikes. Considering all these engine problems, the VMax is not a cheap motorcycle in the used motorcycle market.

Having one of the most complex engines and features, the Yamaha VMax requires specialized care and maintenance. Not every mechanic can fix the VMax issues.

Engine heating can also become a major problem with the Yamaha VMax if you prefer riding it in urban settings. It is not ideal to ride on busy roads, considering the lack of a better engine heat management system.

The Harley Davidson Street 750 is a well-known beginner-friendly Harley motorcycle. It is also among the cheapest Harleys the company has ever made. It was quite a popular Harley model in India, but it didn’t gain much attention in the U.S. or other motorcycle markets. This bike was discontinued in the U.S. in 2021.

The first and foremost issue with the Harley Street 750 is the excessive engine heat. Despite being fitted with a 749 cc liquid-cooled Revolution X V-Twin engine, it wasn’t effective in managing heat.

The lack of better engine heat management is a great drawback for a motorcycle like the Harley Street 750. This bike was built for city traveling. It wasn’t a good option for highway cruising. The lack of heat management can be a much bigger problem while riding within the city and on busy roads. Excessive engine heat can make riding very uncomfortable for riders.

On top of making rides uncomfortable, the excessive engine heat can also result in early wear and tear of engine components.

The other major issue with the Harley Davidson Street 750 is its poor braking performance. The brake calipers were reported to corrode and wear early. Harley also recalled certain Harley Street 750 models due to this problem.

Being the cheapest and most affordable Harley bike, many questions were raised about the build quality of certain Harley Street 750 parts.

Considering the number of issues the Harley Street 750 has, it requires frequent maintenance. The repair and maintenance costs can also increase depending on the number of issues this bike shows.

The Indian Scout Sixty is another very attractive bobber-style American cruiser bike. Even a glimpse of a bike is enough to draw you towards riding this cruiser motorcycle. It may look quite simple, but the elegance and neatness is what sets this bike apart.

The Indian Scout Sixty features a 999 cc liquid-cooled, V-Twin engine, delivering adequate torque and horsepower. Being a middleweight cruiser bike, it is good for both experienced and beginner riders.

The major problem with the Indian Scout Sixty is its electrical system. The bike is prone to have issues with its electrical appliances when exposed to water or moisture.

Such a situation can lead to an electrical power cutdown. If such a situation arises, riders will not be able to start a motorcycle.

The used and old Indian Scout Sixty models also require frequent maintenance. To overcome these electrical issues with this bike, you will have to spend an additional cost.

If you are planning to buy a used Indian Scout Sixty model, deeply inspect the model for any issues. According to most reliability reports and user reviewers, coolant leak is another big problem with the Indian Scout Sixty.

There is also some issue with the braking performance in the ABS models. The air in the brake circuit can make braking performance less reliable.

Make sure to also check with the air/fuel mixture. The Indian Scout Sixty is also prone to run on a lean air/fuel mixture, causing issues with the throttle response. Certain used Scout Sixty models are also observed to stall at low speeds due to the lean air/fuel mixture.

Overall, the Harley Davidson Breakout is considered a reliable bike, particularly the newer models. However, the older Softail Breakout models are reported to have certain issues, particularly with engines.

The Harley Breakout is a very unconventional model with a chopper styling, flat and wide handlebars, a wide rear tire, and a long wheelbase. This bike has a striking cruiser look. However, the issues with the engine can be a headache for the owner.

The major problem with this Harley Breakout model is the oil sump issue. The oil leaks and accumulates in the crankcase, resulting in more wear and tear of engine parts.

Cold starting can also be another major issue with the used and old Harley Davidson Breakout models.

The transmission and gear shifting installed on the Breakout is usually smooth. However, if not frequently maintained, it becomes rough.

On top of these engine problems, handling is quite an issue with the Harley Davidson Breakou t. Due to being fitted with a wide rear tire, cornering is a big issue. The Breakout is good for linear performance on straight roads. The low cornering and ground clearance also make turning corners an issue.

Another issue with the Harley Breakout, like most Harleys, is the lack of better engine heat management. Riding a Harley Breakout can be quite problematic on hot, sunny days.

Like most Harley-Davidson cruiser motorcycles and touring bikes, the Harley Breakout also requires frequent maintenance. The repair and maintenance costs of the Harley Breakout are also quite high compared to other brands.

The suspension technology installed on the Harley Breakout is not very advanced. It is quite basic and lacks advanced features.

The early Harley-Davidson Sportster models, particularly those manufactured in the 1980s, are considered unreliable. These bikes were reported to have several issues that caused riders severe headaches. These Harley Sportster models are considered the worst Harley motorcycles ever produced.

The main issue with the 1980s Harley Sportsters was the engine. The 997 cc V-Twin Sportster engine is used to produce relatively low horsepower. The fuel economy was also quite poor.

Besides poor fuel economy, the early Harley Sportster models also had small gas tank capacity.

The engines installed on the 1980s Sportster models were notorious for producing excessive vibrations. These vibrations made motorcycle riding highly uncomfortable.

So, the early Harley Davidson Sportsters, particularly those produced in the 1980s, must be avoided if you are looking for a used Harley Sportster.

Later Harley Davidson Sportster models, including the Sportster Iron 1200 and the Iron 883, are renowned for their superior reliability. These two Sportster models are among the best-selling Harley bikes and a perfect beginner-friendly platform for new Harley riders.

We all admit the popularity of Harley Davidson Street Glide. It is among the best-selling Harley Grand American Touring bikes. Undoubtedly, the Street Glide is one of the most reliable Harley touring bikes. However, the 2017 Harley Street Glide was a disaster.

The major problem with the 2017 Street Glide was the engine heating problem. Its engine failed to manage the heat successfully. Though the Street Glide was made for superior comfort, the high temperature resulting from the excessive heat emission could grill the rider’s legs.

The 2017 Harley Street Glide’s excessive heat from the engine can also result in early wear and tear. It can also lead to motorcycle breakdown, which can be extremely dangerous while riding at high speeds.

Harley Davidson always had an issue of engine overheating to a certain extent. But, the problem with the 2017 Street Glide was not normal. Excessive heat can also lead to oil leakage during the ride, which can ultimately lead to road accidents.

The 2017 Harley Davidson Street Glide is also quite expensive to repair and maintain. Overcoming this 2017 Street Glide’s overheating issue can cost you a lot of money, and you may still not be able to get rid of the issue completely.

If you want to buy a used Harley Davidson Street Glide, avoid the 2017 model year. These problems were completely rectified in the very next year's Street Glide model.

If you are into old Harley Davidson motorcycles and want to buy a used one, it is recommended not to go for Twin Cam 88 models. It is not a particular Harley model; it is an engine type by Harley that was before the Milwaukee-Eight.

The Harley Davidson Twin Cam 88 engines are known for their several issues. It is not like they make Harley bikes completely unrideable, but it can give you a severe headache.

The major problem with the Twin Can 88 engines was the low-quality cam chain tensioners. They had the tendency to start wearing out immediately. As a result of the wear and tear, plastic dust was produced that entered the oil pump, causing issues.

The other main issue with Harley models powered by the Twin Cam 88 engine was the oil leakage. The oil leakage could cause the engine parts to malfunction and not lubricate properly.

Vibrations produced by these models were also quite uncomfortable. Similarly, overheating was another big issue that riders had to face.

Harley Davidson tries overcoming these issues by introducing the Twin Cam 88B engine to replace the Twin Cam 88A version. It did a good job of suppressing the vibrations produced by the Twin Cam 88A. It replaced the solid-mounted engine with counter-rotating balancers to overcome the extreme vibrations.

These models require frequent maintenance and upgrades to keep them rideable. The amount of money you will have to spend on frequent maintenance and modifications isn’t worth the effort.

Hysoung is a notable South Korean motorcycle brand that was established in 1978. The company initially designed parts for other motorcycle brands, particularly Suzuki. Later, it started producing its own motorcycles.

Hyosung started its operation in the U.S. in 2005, and it is called Hyosung Motors USA. Hyosung was quite relevant in the motorcycling industry in the US. However, it doesn’t seem to have a solid presence in this domain.

Plenty of Hyosung motorcycles are still available in the used motorcycle market. However, most of Hyosung's models, particularly the older ones, are considered unreliable. These bikes are reported to have unreliable engines and poor-quality parts.

So, make sure to avoid older Hyosung models if you are looking for a used motorcycle.

Chinese-made motorcycles are quite cheap bikes, and this is why they attract many riders. They may be a good choice for those who only want to ride occasionally and don’t want to invest too much money.

However, buying a used Chinese-made bike is not a good idea as they are quite unreliable. To keep the price low, Chinese-made bikes tend to use low-quality motorcycle parts. They may look attractive, but they don’t last longer and require frequent repairs and maintenance.

If reliability is your top priority and you want a motorcycle that lasts a lifetime, there is no better option than a Yamaha or Honda motorcycle. You can buy these bikes without having to worry about frequent repairs and maintenance.

The quality of engineering and simplicity are what make the Yamaha and Honda motorcycles highly reliable. These bikes are also quite affordable, unlike Harley Davidson and Indian bikes.

Other than these two top Japanese motorcycle brands, Kawasaki and Suzuki also make one of the most reliable motorcycles.

In the low-capacity, affordable motorcycles category, you can also consider Royal Enfield.

According to most surveys and consumer reports, Ducati and BMW are unreliable motorcycle brands with low reliability scores. However, this is not true for all BMW and Ducati models.

The fact that most BMW and Ducati motorbikes are luxurious and high-performance, designed for aggressive and sporty rides, makes them less reliable. The motorcycle and engine parts tend to wear out quickly because they are usually put under great stress.

Harley Davidson and Indian Motorcycles also require frequent maintenance and repairs. They are not as reliable as Japanese motorbikes.

There is a whole list of signs and indications that point to a bad motorcycle engine. It is important that you are familiar with all these signs so you can identify if your motorcycle engine is bad. These signs and indications include:

• Poor acceleration.

• Difficult to maintain a constant speed.

• The exhaust pipe emits black or excessive smoke.

• Poor idling.

• Oil leakage or unusual oil consumption.

• Excessive overheating.

• The engine makes weird noises.

• Starting issues.

• Loss of power while riding.

Buying a used motorcycle may seem a suitable option for many motorcyclists. They are quite affordable, and if you are lucky, you can get a good deal. The used motorcycle market is also quite big, and there is a lot of variety in it.

However, you have to be very careful and should research a lot while buying a used motorcycle. This article lists down 9 used motorcycles/models that you should never buy due to several engine problems. Avoid buying these used motorcycles if you don’t want to spend more of your time fixing the bike than riding it.

There are many great used motorcycle options in the used motorcycle market. While buying a used bike, make sure not to go for an unreliable engine. Always pick the one with a well-reputed, reliable engine.