Before you hand over the money, let someone independent look at the bike for you. At Iron Custom Motors in São Domingos de Rana, Cascais, we inspect used motorcycles for buyers — not for sellers. We have no stake in the deal, no bike to sell you, and no reason to talk a machine up. We look inside the engine with a videoscope, run a real compression test, and hand you a written report with photos and video so you know exactly what you're buying before you commit.
A used motorcycle hides its history well. A fresh wash, a polished tank and a confident seller can cover a tired engine, a straightened frame, or a charging fault that surfaces a week after the sale. By the time you feel it on the road, the money is gone and the seller has moved on. A pre-purchase inspection removes the guesswork. We assess the real mechanical and electrical condition of the bike, separate cosmetic wear from costly problems, and tell you what it will take to make it right. The fee is a fraction of a single avoidable repair — and far less than buying the wrong bike outright. Independent and unbiased — this is the whole point. We work only for the buyer. We don't sell motorcycles, we don't take a margin on the deal, and we have no relationship with the seller. Our only job is to give you the truth about the machine. That independence is what separates a real inspection from a seller's reassurance. Buying in Portugal as an expat? The used market here moves on local knowledge, local language and local history — three things that are hard to read from the outside. We're your technical eyes on the ground. Our team works in English, Portuguese, Russian and Ukrainian, so nothing is lost in translation with the seller and no detail slips past because of a language gap. If you're searching for an English-speaking motorcycle inspection in Portugal, this is it. For the broader service flow, see our expat service hub. Already planning to keep the bike serviced with us afterwards? See our motorcycle service & repair and pricing.
Most sellers — and many workshops — never look inside the engine. They listen to it idle, glance at the oil, and call it good. We go further, because the engine is where the real money lives. We run a compression test to measure what each cylinder is actually doing. Compression tells the honest story of piston rings, valves and head sealing — the wear you cannot see or hear from outside, and the difference between a healthy engine and an expensive rebuild waiting to happen. Then we go inside. Using a videoscope (borescope), we pass a camera into the cylinder and look directly at the bore and piston crown — checking for scoring, wear, carbon build-up and damage. You see it on screen, and you keep the footage. For most buyers it's the first time they've ever seen the inside of an engine they were about to buy. It's the single most revealing test we run, and it's the reason riders bring us bikes before they sign. This is the standout. A seller can hide a lot on the surface. Inside the cylinder, the engine tells the truth.
Our pre-purchase inspection is a structured, 10-point check covering everything that decides whether a used motorcycle is a smart buy or a costly mistake. We don't invent faults and we don't inflate concerns — we report what's there, with photos.
Overall condition, originality and consistency. We look for mismatched or replaced parts, signs of neglect, evidence of a hard life, and details that don't add up against the bike's claimed age and mileage. This is the first read on how the machine was treated.
Cold start behaviour, running condition, oil state, and the two tests most checks skip — a compression test on each cylinder and a direct look inside with a videoscope. This is where a tired or damaged engine reveals itself before it becomes your problem. (See section 02.)
Oil, coolant, fork seals and gaskets. A weeping seal is cheap; a leaking head or case can be a major repair. We identify where it's coming from and how serious it is.
Pad and disc wear, brake lines, fluid condition and actual function front and rear. Brakes are a safety system, not a negotiation footnote — we tell you what's worn and what's due.
Forks, shock, bearings, travel and leaks. Worn or blown suspension ruins how a bike rides and can be expensive to put right — better to know before you pay.
Frame straightness, weld and repair signs, and evidence of drops or accidents. A bike that's been down hard can look perfect and still be compromised. This check protects you from the worst surprises.
Battery and charging system, lights, electronics, fault codes, and wiring and connector condition including corrosion. Electrical gremlins are among the most frustrating and time-consuming faults to chase — we flag them before you own them.
Tread depth, wear pattern, age (date codes) and damage. Old or damaged tyres are both a safety issue and an immediate cost to factor into the price.
Wear, adjustment and condition of the chain and sprockets, drive belt, or shaft drive. A neglected final drive is a real cost and often a sign of how the rest of the bike was maintained.
The written deliverable: what's good, what needs attention now, and what to budget for next. Clear, prioritised, and honest. (See section 06.)
The process is simple and built around your purchase, not our schedule.
Message us on WhatsApp with the make, model, year and location. We'll confirm the price, what's included and the first available slot.
We can inspect the motorcycle at our Cascais workshop, or on-site at the seller's location — we travel. On-site is ideal when the bike isn't roadworthy, the seller won't move it, or you simply want it checked where it stands. Either way you get the same inspection.
A full 10-point check, including the compression test and videoscope cylinder inspection, with photos and video taken throughout.
A written report with a clear list of recommendations — so you can buy with confidence, negotiate from facts, or walk away clean.
You don't walk away with a verbal "it's fine." You receive a written report documenting every point we checked, with a clear, prioritised list of recommendations: what's in good condition, what needs attention now, and what to budget for down the road. The report comes with photos of what we found, and the videoscope footage — including the internal cylinder video — so you can see the engine's condition with your own eyes. It's evidence you can act on: enough to buy with confidence, to negotiate the price from facts rather than feeling, or to walk away knowing you dodged an expensive mistake.
We inspect every brand and type of motorcycle we service — sport, naked, touring, cruiser, adventure, classic and full custom. Our work spans Harley-Davidson, BMW Motorrad, Ducati, Suzuki and Honda, and the wider range of machines that pass through our workshop every week. Whatever you're about to buy, it meets a workshop that knows it.
Pre-purchase inspection — from €150, taxes included. A full 10-point technical inspection, including the compression test, videoscope cylinder inspection, and a written report with photos and video. The fixed fee covers a workshop inspection. For an on-site inspection at the seller's location, travel may apply depending on distance — message us with the location and we'll confirm an exact figure before you book. You'll always have a clear price up front, in writing. See the full price list or message us on WhatsApp for a quote.
Iron Custom Motors is based in São Domingos de Rana, Cascais, and inspects motorcycles for buyers across Cascais, Estoril, Oeiras, Sintra, Lisbon and the wider Greater Lisbon area. We work in English, Portuguese, Russian and Ukrainian, and we travel to inspect a bike where it stands. If you're searching for a motorcycle pre-purchase inspection near Lisbon — independent, multilingual and genuinely thorough — you've found it.
Don't buy a used motorcycle blind. Message Iron Custom Motors on WhatsApp at +351 917 961 230, tell us the make, model, year and where the bike is, and we'll confirm your slot. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00–18:00, in São Domingos de Rana, Cascais — workshop or on-site.
A full inspection typically takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the bike and whether it's at our Cascais workshop or on-site. We don't rush it — the point is to check everything that matters, including the compression test and the videoscope look inside the engine.
Yes. We inspect at our Cascais workshop or on-site at the seller's location — we travel. On-site is ideal when the motorcycle isn't roadworthy or the seller won't move it. Travel may apply depending on distance; we confirm it before you book.
Yes. You receive a written report with a prioritised list of recommendations, photos, and videoscope footage including the internal cylinder video. It's evidence you can use to buy, negotiate or walk away.
A seller who won't allow a compression test or a videoscope check is worth a second thought. We'll still complete every other point of the inspection and tell you clearly what we could and couldn't verify — so you can weigh the risk with open eyes.
Yes. We inspect every brand and type we service — Harley-Davidson, BMW, Ducati, Suzuki, Honda and beyond, from sport bikes to cruisers, classics and customs.
Almost always. The fee is a fraction of a single avoidable repair, and far less than buying the wrong motorcycle. An independent inspection turns a gamble into an informed decision — and often pays for itself in the price you negotiate.