| Author | Message | ||
     Swordsman |
When selling a bike, do you typically allow people to test ride it first? What happens if they crash it? I know that's the standard practice for selling a car, but since bikes take more skill, I would be hesitant to let just anyone jump on it. How does that work? ~SM | ||
| New12r |
If you give me cash in my hand, for my asking price you can ride it, if you so much as tip over, its yours. NO EXCEPTIONS. I buddy let someone test ride his bike a few weeks back, guy never came back, the car he left was stolen too....no money in hand, liability only, he got screwed. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Usually if they show up on a bike of their own, I'll offer a test ride and *they* follow *me*, and I'm on their bike. That way, *I* set the pace and ride roads I know aren't overly technical. I don't worry about the handling envelope during a test ride, I just want them to know the bike goes, stops, turns, doesn't smoke or make any weird noises during the (short) ride. If you have access to more than one bike, even if they show up in a cage, and they insist on a ride...you can either offer to drive and they're passenger just so they know it goes, stops, and turns like it should, or offer an escorted test ride with both of you on bikes, again, with you setting the pace (it is your bike, after all). If it feels hinky to you, say no test rides. Your bike, your rules...and if *that* breaks the deal they probably weren't that serious anyway. 'course...the only 2 personal bikes I've sold outright, I sold in the end to people I already knew  | ||
| Leftcoastal |
If they want to ride it, you have them ride on back (if you have the bike set up for passengers) and they can get the idea how it runs. NEVER, EVER, DON'T EVEN THINK OF, LETTING THEM RIDE OFF ON YOUR BIKE WITHOUT ASKING PRICE, IN CASH THAT'S BEEN CHECKED FOR BOGUS BILLS, IN YOUR HAND!!!!. (especially if related thru marriage!) | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Heres my take on it. I do sales for the company all day long, but when it is my bike/car/boat, I am really particular about the whole thing. Its a motorcycle, it has two wheels, it goes down the road. You can ride it all you want when it is yours. Notes to selling, never give your address out, meet them somewhere like a mall or something, you dont want them 'shopping' from your garage. Cash money talks, I wouldnt even take a check, bs walks, no trades, no demos, no refunds, no warranties. Price is as price is listed, dont call me and try and waste my time with will I take a third of it if you had cash right now. (douche canoe) You want all that; you go to a dealer. If you list it on Craigs list be prepared for some of the most assanign stupid questions about it that you could never have dreamed up. Ps I have the right of refusual if I dont like you, I may not like the home that you plan to provide for it, and well I might just keep it all together. good luck. | ||
| Teddagreek |
No personal checks... | ||
| Glitch |
If you give me cash in my hand, for my asking price you can ride it, if you so much as tip over, its yours. NO EXCEPTIONS. Brian was selling his XB9S (he wishes he hadn't) and the guy dropped it in his neighborhood on a test ride. When he got back, after the awkward silence, Brian broke the silence by saying, "So, is that cash or credit card." | ||
| Tramp |
I base it on the person. I let pretty much anyone ride my buell, I could care less. That's why it has that "slut" sticker on it. | ||
| Midknyte |
If you give me cash in my hand, for my asking price you can ride it, if you so much as tip over, its yours. NO EXCEPTIONS. This, and an M on their driving license. Check with your insurance rep to discuss liability and responsibilites with regard to test rides too & get it in writing. | ||
| Prof_stack |
I'm with Tramp on this one. (Whoa! I can't believe I just said that!  ) That's how I sold my XB9S in June. My spidey instincts tingled that the future buyer was okay, and he was. License checked out. Trust your feelings and don't be too trusting... | ||
| Wile_ecoyote |
Thought the sticker reffered to you Tramp............  | ||
| Froggy |
On my Suzuki i sold a year ago, i had full coverage so i didn't worry if anything happened during a test ride. Hell if the guy never came back, i would make out better in the end cause the insurance payout would of been more than what i was asking. I let people ride my Lightning all the time. One guy had only experience on 2 stroke singles off road, so he was a bit confused, but overall liked it.  | ||
| Seanp |
I just bought a used KLX250, and the guy met me at a gas station on the bike, (I was in my truck). I followed him out to the forest roads, and he let me ride the bike for about a half hour. He just hung out in my truck. He didn't ask, but I wrote him a check for the asking price before I took the bike out. He and I had ridden together once before, so I guess he trusted me. | ||
| Court |
>>>When selling a bike, do you typically allow people to test ride it first? Never. I advertised a bike last week. Had 7 "I'll take it sight unseen" responses from folks wanting to rush right over cash in hand. My deal is you buy it, you own it and I'll give you a 1 hour "I'll buy it back" handshake deal. | ||
| Tramp |
So, Court- which one of those 'sight unseen' respondents bought it? | ||
| Ar15ed |
i'm 46, and i have never ridden a bike before i bought it, and i have never let anyone ride one i had for sale. too many downsides. don't even worry about scratching your bike up; what if the "test rider" gets hurt bad, or killed?! a buddy of mine had a harley for sale a few years ago, and had ridden it to work at an auto parts store. it was sitting out in the lot with a "for sale" sign on it. a guy comes in asking about it, and wants to ride it. lets the clutch out, and "SLAM"! literally drove straight into the concrete wall of the building, 20 feet away. a bunch of guys pulled the bike off him, and he staggered to his car with a bum leg and a profusely bleeding arm. sat there for a minute while everyone was getting the bike up and looking at it, and then he just took off! his wife/gf was driving the car. never heard from him again, but the harley was mangled. the front wheel was mashed back so far it wouldn't even roll. at least a couple of thousand dollars of damage. there are just too many downsides! be honest "up front" about any problems with the bike, and if they still press it, just wait for a different buyer! | ||
| Tramp |
I purchased my Buell without test riding it. | ||
| Court |
So, Court- which one of those 'sight unseen' respondents bought it? Owner of a Chelsea Art Gallery. | ||
| Ferrisbuellersdayoff |
Wash the bike and a set of unused tires makes any machine look new. Arrmorall the black plastics, leather conditioner on the seat. | ||
| Tramp |
....to ensure that the test rider slides off.... To discerning, or even relatively aware buyers, armor-all spells cover-up. Sell it with a some mud on it, instead. | ||
| Swordsman |
Great info, guys! Thanks a bunch for the tips! ~SM | ||
| Midknyte |
Pictures, Pictures, Pictures Take a bunch of hi-res pics to post somewhere. Helps the sale big time. | ||
| Iamike |
Boy, I'd never buy a bike without riding it first. I would have trouble selling mine without letting them try it first. I do agree though that I'd want to have an idea what type of rider they were first and if there was any doubt either they wouldn't ride or I'd go with them. I've walked away from a couple of car deals when the dealers wouln't let me start and drive the car from cold. My gut feeling would be that they were trying to hide something otherwise. I do like Court's suggestion though. What I do when buying a bike is to write them a personal check and have them send me the title when it clears. Never had a problem with that. | ||
| Tramp |
? Where does the motorcycle go while the check clears? | ||
| Froggy |
I would imagine the buyer's house. It does sound odd, but hell if it works... | ||
| Bads1 |
 | ||
| Court |
I posted text only and had 7 "serious buyers" (their words, not mine) within 3 hours. Two were Wall Streeters who are wanting to commute, another the owner of a high-end art gallery. The first guy opted for a cheaper KLR so I am delivering to the Art Gallery guy tomorrow. The deal is I will show up with the bike, he can look it over, I'll have all the receipts (>$2,000 in the last 6 months) and he can look at everything. If he wants it he pays me in crisp $100 bills and I hand him the title. If he wants to ride it, he still hands me the $100's and I keep the title . . . . it's what we, in construction, call "risk shifting". The 100's I'm holding during the "test ride" are to cover and damage. If he damages the bike he can choose to have me leave with some 100's and the title, or I keep the 100's and he can have the title and deal with his misdeeds. I'm getting old. Plus, quite frankly, with the complete set of BMW luggage thrown in, it's a steal. | ||
| Glitch |
I'm getting There, fixed that for ya | ||
| Xl1200r |
Didn't test ride my first dirt bike before buying. Didn't test ride my first sportster before buying. Didn't test ride my current sportster before buying. I have test-ridden similar Buells before buying any of Buells, however. Not sure why - mostly because they've been new and the delaer had one I could demo. If they didn't, I'd probably still buy them without a ride. I have seen FAR too many people who scare the crap out of me and have no business being on a motorcycle to let them ride something of mine. I'm with the "give me the cash first" crowd. | ||
| Court |
>>>I have seen FAR too many people who scare the crap out of me and have no business being on a motorcycle to let them ride something of mine. Be mindful that, in addition to some minor economic loss as a result of damage to the bike, you are assuming incredible liability. Imagine for a moment that the person has actually never really ridden a bike and pulls in front of a school bus . . . . Imagine that you are carrying a $2M umbrella on your personal liability policy . . . . and are carrying limits like 5 times the normal as a result of your employment requirements. In my book ONLY the person who OWNS the bike rides it . . . I sell it to you, you ride it. You don't like it, you sell it back to me and I ride it home and try again. |
