Good BMW Motorrad gear is built to last, which is exactly why it is worth buying second-hand. It is also why a tired jacket can still look fine in photos. Here is what to check.
Fit, with your riding layers
Try it on with what you actually ride in underneath. Sit on a bike if you can: sleeves and trouser legs ride up when you are in the riding position.
Armour
Check that the shoulder, elbow and knee armour is all there, and the back protector if the jacket had one. Missing armour is the most common problem with used gear, and the easiest one to miss.
Zips, seams and Velcro
Run every zip, including the vents and the jacket-to-trouser zip. Look closely at the seams on the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. That is where gear slides if it has been down the road.
Scuffs and abrasion
Scuffing on the shoulders, elbows or knees means it has had a fall. That is not always a deal-breaker if the armour and seams are fine, but the price should say so.
The waterproof layer
You can’t see a waterproof membrane, so ask how it has been washed. Fabric softener and the wrong detergents are bad news for waterproof liners.
Helmets
Be much more careful with helmets. A helmet that has been dropped or crashed may look perfect and still not protect you. If you don’t know its history, don’t ride in it.
How we do it
Everything in our used gear section is checked, cleaned and photographed properly, and there is one of each, so when it is gone it is gone. Got BMW Motorrad gear you no longer use? We buy it.