I know this has been discussed in the past but I can't find anything off the search bar!
So here's my question I have sold many vehicles in my life but never a motorcycle! I remember reading comments such as they want the buyer to have cash in hand, have them sign something that states they take liability if they crash it or break something, show their insurance card, hold their license and be sure it's mc stamped.
I also remember someone saying they don't let a person test ride it they can start it listen to it and buy it but would never let someone test ride it!
Not sure why I'm confused about this but I also remember reading how some folks have had their bikes stolen as well. Please help a brother out and share your experience!

thanks in advance
Ranger Rick...

 

Sold my 2007 FLHX a few weeks ago. Before that i sold 4-5 other bikes of mine. No test drives, here's the paper work of work done ( if you have it) and this is the price. I start it up throw a few revs and thats it. You want a test drive I want the full amount of $$$$$ in my hand before you sit on my bike. First guy who looked at my FLHX knew it was well taken care of once he saw it in person. I started it up went over the bike with him. He paid me and rode off.

 

After you meet buyer you can deside if you want to let him ride or not.also do you have insurance on bike,if so tell them to let you hold the deductible that you have on your insurance.
Make sure they have motorcycle license,if they are serious About buying the bike they will work with you.

 

You hit the high notes w/ "cash-in-hand, m/c endorsement, liability, etc." I've actually had them ride "bitch" on the bike too...

Selling private party sux, but go w/your gut...if your spidey senses are tingling, it's probably for a reason.

 

Here is what I go by and always have. When I sell a boat or motorcycle I don't allow sea trials or test drives. There are just too many people out there that will want a sea trial on your boat and you end up burning through $50.00 worth of fuel and they don't buy it. Or they test ride your bike and run the crap out of it and decide not to buy it, even though everything is perfect on it.


I will let someone test drive a car/truck I am selling if I go with them.


I have never had a problem selling cars, trucks, boats, or motorcycles by doing it this way.

 

You can get a lot of lookyloos on a motorcycle.


It's kinda weird. I've had guys show up, look at it, and then go "Man I wish I had the money!" WTF?


Unless I know them they are not likely to get to ride it.

 

Also worth noting, in an age of Craig's list killers, take appropriate precautions.

 

The major flaw with this approach is that if they dump your bike, they walk away $500 poorer (deductible) but you're stuck with higher insurance premiums for the next 3 years with this claim on your record.

 

I haven't sold a bike in a long time (done trade ins), but I think I'd require a 100% security deposit for a test ride. If you break it, you bought it. Oh, and I'll be your escort for the test.

 

Ask yourself; would you buy a bike from a private party without testing riding it?
If your answer is yes, then that's how you should sell it.

I personally wouldn't buy a bike from from a private party that I don't know without test riding it.

I think as long as the prospective buyer has a valid endorsement and at least a $500 deposit I think a test ride is warranted if you want to sell the bike.

As for requiring a 100% deposit; I guess that depends on how much you're selling that bike for.
For my 2009 Heritage if I was selling it I'd be asking north or $10K which is an awful lot of money to hand over to a stranger assuming that the prospective buyer has the cash to begin with and is not financing it.

If you're not comfortable, there are brokers out there that will gladly sell your bike for a fee.