as a rule of thumb, when buying a motorcycle in the second hand market, you always want to acquire it with a closed deed of sale—that is, with the deed of sale under your name as the vendee. the first thing you have to ensure when buying a used motorcycle—regardless of whether or not it has an open deed of sale—is to ensure that it’s registration papers are complete and up to date. be sure to double check all the documents—the official receipt (or) and certificate of registration (cr). if the motorcycle you’re looking at has an open deed of sale, the next order of business would be to carefully scrutinize the deed of sale itself. if any of these pieces of information are inconsistent, this is a definite red flat, and it may be a good idea to walk away from the deal.