a tough question

To one and all,

When you go to sell a motorcycle through the paper or Craigs list do you offer a test ride or not?

When I make a purchase from the dealer it is very rarely that a test ride is offered.

What say you?

 

I say, if they want a test ride, get a copy of their license and auto insurance. That way if they crash it, you will at least be able to attempt to recover costs for repair. One might also try to get them to sign an agreement that states that if they wreck the machine, they will be responsible for repair of any damages, but that one might be a stretch to get upheld. I have not sold one in this manner, so I am only going by what I have experienced. When I bought my 93, the lady selling it made copies of my license and insurance.

 

Make a "you break it, you buy it" policy very clear. Like in writing clear.

 

In the immortal words of Jerry McGuire, "show me the money". No cash in hand, no M1, and no signed acceptance of liability = NO RIDE. Don't get punked.

 

Believe it of not I do, but I get a good feel for the dude, where's his money and yes you break it you bought it, show me the cash leave it in neutral hands then if he can show me proof in his abilities then I probably will let him take it around the block, other wise it's a buy it with a 1/2 hour no damage refund. I mean look at it this way, if you were to buy a bike wouldn't you want to do more than kick the tires? I know I won't buy a bike with out a ride first, so why not the other way around, so far it's worked for me, but then I know how to read people too.

 

I've bought and sold via CraigsList. IMHO, no test rides unless the buyer puts cash in my hand. Give me the asking price in cash or check and you ride. It proves the buyer is not just a tire kicker and gives you an out if he/she dumps it. Have them sign off on something you've prepared stating this and you sign it as well. They bring it back in one piece then they can have the money back in full if they don't want it.

 

It depends how keen you are to sell your bike? I would never buy a bike i hadn't ridden. I have always let the buyer ride my bike, they give me their liscence and they have their car that they came in so i look after there keys. You usually can tell buy first impressions if you can trust this person. I have never had someone ride my bike then not buy it. In Aus people don't come look at bike unless they are genuine. Although my last bike an 08 busa a guy bought it without even looking at it and put the money in my account before he had even seen it. I have only had good experiences, but i suppose if you have been burnt before you might be a bit reluctant.

 

No ride!!
That you hold the money stuff will still leave you open to all kinds of
legal problems if the test ride ends in a crash.

 

I would never buy a bike that I didn't ride first, but yet have never had any seller request my license or insurance card when doing so. For any bike where I was the seller, I'd try to feel the person out once they showed up. I'd discuss what bike(s) they owned previously and try to determine how serious they really were. If they passed that, then they got to take it out. I have never been burnt. At the same time too, I think most people are expecting a test drive. To me, it is no different than buying a car. You don't have to sign your life away to do that.

 

Its a case by case decision I think. I was allowed to test ride my VFR but I knew a guy who knew the guy. I sold one bike on ebay no test ride just loaded it up and left. Sold my Z1000 after riding in a circle for the guy and he loaded her up and took off. I always worry what happens if they wreck your bike then threaten to sue you if they get hurt. I pesonally wouldn't let you test ride without cash in hand and either you or the buyer should have motorcycle insurance...........oh I forgot, let a guy test drive a 69 Impalla I had and he ran into a gas station protection pole and never bought the car. Gave me 500 bucks for the dent but I was still pissed!!!

 

I wouldn't allow a test ride without cash in hand- and I wouldn't do a cashiers check either- too many fake ones around.

It is kinda interesting when I bought my VFR a month or so ago, I wasn't offered a test ride (bought it new from a dealer) and didn't think to ask for one either. I guess I trusted in what I had read and Honda's quality, but it is funny that the sales people don't even offer the possibility. It made sense on my first bike (a Suzuki GS 500) they didn't ask because I was upfront about being a noob that didn't yet know what to do but hadn't thought much about it this time around until now...

 

I ve had people ride in circles for me... I just test the controls, if it makes them comfortable to sell the bike that way. I haven't been burned.....yet...... a nieghbor recently sold his rebel 650(?) the guy buying it drove 70 miles to see it. the got on it and was riding it about 5 minutes and hit a curb and mangled the bike. he walked back to the p/L they were in and said" I guess I'll take it, " handed him the cash 2800.00 and then asked if he could keep it a few days till he could come back with a truck. he planned on riding it home after buying it.

 

I have never not test ridden any bike I ever bought..if they wont let me, I dont want to deal with them anyway! I also dont waste anyones time unless i am very serious and maybe that shows? i also let any serious buyer ride my bike before he buys it, I have nothing to hide, and I have insurance so if he wrecks it, so wreck it good so i can get me a new one.. I also have never bought a bike in 30 yrs i didnt test ride first.(yes i still got fooled and got some duds).I would have to be a idiot to not test ride in my opinion, so I would expect the same from a serious buyer. I've bought and sold a pile of em, and will keep doing it this way myself.I have a few right now on my list for this spring as I want a new bike.
..to each their own tho..

.

 

Yeap ID doesnt mean jack, its not easy........ but basically you have to be bit hard nosed about it, ive been scammed in person a few times in life and the worst contentors are the friendlest ppl, oh mate i know what you mean im not like that, yeah right! even seen a firemen do it, so basically its all love and war, cash in your hand "is your policy" and you dont bend the rules for anybody, if they carry on about it? and make you feel guilty? just politely stand ya ground and say its a rule that you live by and if they are keen they will be back with cash, as on the other side of the fence? i would never pass over serious money for good bike with out a test ride and i would be prepared to hand the money over but ask for his ID to put in your pocket so if he plays funny buggers on rtn and wont give the money back you can phone the cops and give them the story with the guys ID. Good luck.

 

You could offer to give the guy a ride on the back.

My Brother had his Duc 916 stolen several years ago. He had it up for sale. The prospective buyer had ID, was driving a late model Acura Legend, and in no way seemed a criminal. After allowing him to test ride the bike, about two hours passed before my Brother called the police. Turned out the nice Acura was stolen too!!

 

I've sold a few bikes in the past 4 years. Only one I allowed a test ride was my 97 track bike in parking lot. Maximimum 25mph top speed. I knew the guy from a message board, I didn't feel at all concerned about it. The other two I sold, no way. One guy was a new rider, no license or anything. Screw that!

 

Lets face it, if you look at a bike, hear it run, and check all of the inspection items....you pretty much know if it is the bike for you. Last summer when I bought my Suzuki off of Craigslist, I made a deal with the guy and gave him a deposit. On the condition he corrected some small items and the bike drove with no mechanical problems when I returned with the cash, the deal was complete. In return, he agreeed to return my deposit if the bike did not meet my expectations on the test drive. Both of us were happy with the agreement. I did not finance it though....in the case of financing and not being able to deliver cash, I would probably substitute a test drive with an inspection from a motorcycle mechanic.
I would be hesitant about taking a bank check as well. There are numerous acounts of people who take a bank check only to find it returned as a forgery 2 weeks later. I do not know the details of how the scam works, but I was innundated with emails from the middle east when I tried to sell my snowmobile (apparently alot of good snowmobiling in the desert). This guy was going to send his "assistant" with a bank check for the full price plus the cost to ship it overseas. This guy was persistant and only stopped emailing me when I suggested that he make the bank check out to his assisant and have his assistant cash it on the way over to the house. I guess some scams are more obvious than others lol!

 

I have a cashier's check in my wall from some douche bag that tried to buy a bicycle off me from a message board posting. The check shows and it's the old (I send you double the purchase price for shipping and can you wire this extra money to my whoever...) scam. I told him to get bent and then applied his email to a great many porn sites. It's sad but there are so many freaking scammers out there it's difficult to know who to trust so I just don't really trust anyone I don't know. Sad it needs to be that way

 

Working part time for a dealer & selling stuff on my own generally I will allow a test drive. At the dealership only used inventory is allowed to be test rode, on very very rare occasions new stuff, but generally the off road equiptment in a field behind the shop so we can monitor the useage. We do get copies of DL & generally make sure they are approved for financing on big ticket items prior to allowing the test ride. I have on a personal sale allowed a well known coworker w/o a cycle endorsement take my VFR out when I was attempting to sell it a few years back. But I knew his back ground & knew that he could actually ride. I also let my nephew ride w/o an endorsment but knew from riding off road with him he could handle the bike. I guess for me on personal sale it a gut feeling if I'm not comfortable w/ the person its cash up front.