how to determine a fake odometer reading?

[revnort]

If the bike still has the original tires on it, that should be enough evidence that it only has 3000 miles. You can check the date code on the sidewall to see how old the tires are.

If they ARE original, you'll want to be putting some new ones on there after buyng it.

It shouldn't be that hard to inspect for wear on a bike with 3000 miles. But get a list of everything that was supposedly replaced on the bike and a reason why. If it has new tires, chain, sprockets, grips and other stuff that would show wear, that's a clue that it might have more miles than advertised.

Check for play in ignition, fuel cap. The keys, ignition etc on low mile bike should have minimal wear.

Check nuts and bolts for tool marks.

Also check for rock chips on paint. Radiator, fender, and all should look new.

Yep.

There are PLENTY of bikes out there that are low mileage. 3000 and the bike should look pretty much new. Check bolts etc as described above. Ask what service has been done. That answer should be nothing more than the engine break in service and maybe an oil change.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

I'd also ask how many bikes they have....I don't think my co-worker rides all 6 of her bikes all the time! Some get much lower mileage than others.

 

[EjGlows]

I bought an '05 in 2008 with 298 miles on it. Totally possible.

 

[corndog67]

I bought an SV with 52 miles on it when it was 3 years old. I went to see the guy, he almost couldn't walk, he'd hurt his back at work. I believed him. I cashed him out immediately.

 

[Xenos]

If you don't think it's ture save yourself a headache and move on.

 

[angelsndevils]

Also check for rock chips on paint. Radiator, fender, and all should look new.

Radiator is the big one for me. Nobody wants to mess with that headache. Other parts are easily replaced, buffed out, repainted but nobody wants to touch that radiator. Should.look pretty pristine on a low mile bike.....unless owner was Lou or Banjo boy.

 

[psychocandy]

Odometers are so easy to swap on bikes, it's outta hand. Not too hard to find a low mileage odo on eBay. But it also seems hardly worth it to do unless they're trying to hide something really effed up about the bike. I bought an 8 year old SV650 with 6000 miles on it. Now it's 12 years old with over twice that (and I would consider that pretty low mileage for the the time I've had it). Low mileage bikes are not that rare. Especially sport bikes. Lotsa folks with weekend toys out there.

 

[wannabe]

I have a 2001 ZX-12 with about 4,000 miles on her. But, about 80% of those miles were at full throttle.

 

[VicTim]

For most people bikes are toys or secondary vehicles so it's not hard to find one with really low miles. However, if a bike looks like it's been through a war and the odo says 3,000 I would be wary.

 

[DocWong]

It's definitely not unusual for such low mileage.

What I do is like others have said, check out the bike and check our the bike's history and the current owner. I just keep asking questions and look for consistency and just keep on inspecting until it all makes sense.

Anything that is not consistent with either ownership or bike I investigate further.

For example if the bike's was bought new and just put into the garage after the first owner rode it, it should have all the tell tail signs of a bike with original tires. All parts should like like new with the exception of dust and dirt from sitting for so long, etc.