Or pay for it to be inspected. Or even ask nicely and hope someone local responds to help give it a look for you (yes, we bikers do this stuff for each other from time to time). You can also tell a fair deal from just looking at the state of the bike (i.e. rusty heap, or immaculate - dinks all over it, or smooth as silk?). Check the guides section on this forum for additional tips (got a few decent guides on there), go look at a few machines and you'll get the feel (especially if they're all the same model). No obligation to buy the first one (indeed, foolhardy!) - most sellers will understand why you're not buying on the spot, and those that don't are probably trying to flog lemons anyway. Here's an idea, go look at as many as you can buy yourself, then when there's one (or preferrably two or three in case one is crap) you like, then pay for an inspection (ring some bike garages and ask if they'll come out to the bike(s) and give you a summary - some won't but many will - after all its cash in the till). Try to avoid the AA/RAC as if i remember correctly their inspection charges are FAR too expensive for a few miles of travel and a short inspection of a machine or 2. In light of the way i've been ripped off in the past, i rather would pay myself (well actually i can check through them myself now, but if i was still unable to check through them, i would pay). Yeah, that sounds like a really good idea. There are a few bike garages in the area so I'll give them a ring and see what they say. Though I'm not buying the bike just yet. I've got to pass my CBT first, and then have a long chat with my parents. They're not paying for the bike but I want them to be ok with this.. Thanks a lot for the tips