Buying from far away...?
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Club Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 10,734
Likes: 3,755
From: SWFL
Buying from far away...?
I'm looking at buying a FXR and as we know clean ones are few and far between. Ive never bought a vehicle sight-unseen, and I'm probably not unless I get some kind of inspection (as least to see matching VIN's on a title and frame, hear the motor start when cold, etc.) Whats the best way to get this done? Ask the owner to bring it to a local dealer or indy?
There's a 99 fxr i'm looking hard at, but its on Craigslist and you hear all kind of scam stories about that...
I thought dealers had some kind of private sale service, but its only if you finance and you both have to be there anyway. So that doesn't buy me anything.
Any suggestions?
There's a 99 fxr i'm looking hard at, but its on Craigslist and you hear all kind of scam stories about that...
I thought dealers had some kind of private sale service, but its only if you finance and you both have to be there anyway. So that doesn't buy me anything.
Any suggestions?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 647
From: Santa Clarita
For me, the only way I'd feel comfortable about a purchase like this would be if I went to where the bike was and personally looked it over. If I didn't think I was knowledgeable enough, I'd take somebody with me that I KNEW was knowledgeable.
No offense to anybody, but there's nobody on these forums that I know well enough to trust to look at something and give me an opinion. This is just gonna be something where I bite the bullet, take the risk, and hit the road. With cash in my pocket.
Or stay home and wait for the next one to come along.
No offense to anybody, but there's nobody on these forums that I know well enough to trust to look at something and give me an opinion. This is just gonna be something where I bite the bullet, take the risk, and hit the road. With cash in my pocket.
Or stay home and wait for the next one to come along.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,907
Likes: 29,887
From: PNW
I've had people ask me to check vehicles out for them. If you know someone from the area, ask them if they would mind looking.
I would say post it up and ask people, but there might be a dirtbag lurking who would buy it out from under you.
Short of that, ask for for detailed pics to make sure the bike looks good. Ask for a video of him starting it. If all of that seems good, and the guy seems legit, ask him to take it to the nearest dealer at your expense.
Some people will be okay with that. Some won't.
In the end, Paypal a down payment with cash to be paid upon final inspection.
I would say post it up and ask people, but there might be a dirtbag lurking who would buy it out from under you.
Short of that, ask for for detailed pics to make sure the bike looks good. Ask for a video of him starting it. If all of that seems good, and the guy seems legit, ask him to take it to the nearest dealer at your expense.
Some people will be okay with that. Some won't.
In the end, Paypal a down payment with cash to be paid upon final inspection.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 402
Likes: 38
From: Roanoke Va
Have a member look for whatever you specifically are concerned about. It it is supposed to run would be a good start.
I bought a bike from California sight unseen and it worked out great. I asked a lot of questions and checked out the seller.
Couldn't hurt to contact the seller to get a feel
Good Luck
I bought a bike from California sight unseen and it worked out great. I asked a lot of questions and checked out the seller.
Couldn't hurt to contact the seller to get a feel
Good Luck
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 1,651
From: Olean, NY
I wouldnt buy it without seeing it but Id trust opinions if it was even worth going to look at. Someone willing and close could at least tell you if the pictures youre looking at are representative of the bike, they could even take a ton of pics while there. They could also tell you how its being stored, how it runs, and anything about the current owner (since that says just as much as the bike itself).
Id like the opinion to at least know if its worth traveling 7 hours for or not. Then again, Im always up for a road trip and would plan a weekend around checking it out. Maybe find a few others that are in between that you could look at also.
Last edited by Cygnusx51; Apr 4, 2018 at 12:40 PM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 263
From: Catalina AZ
I have bought cars/truck without seeing them.
Buy with if as advertised caveat.
With today's phone/camera's most of the time you can tell allot.
I passed on a couple bikes last year after getting pictures.
They didn't give with the as advertised statement.
I did miss out on a good deal in Florida ( I was a little slow on my response).
I had a sweet ride home all planned out to....
Such is life
Like stated above you can always see if someone on the board is close and can check it out and send you good pictures/video exc.
Buy with if as advertised caveat.
With today's phone/camera's most of the time you can tell allot.
I passed on a couple bikes last year after getting pictures.
They didn't give with the as advertised statement.
I did miss out on a good deal in Florida ( I was a little slow on my response).
I had a sweet ride home all planned out to....
Such is life
Like stated above you can always see if someone on the board is close and can check it out and send you good pictures/video exc.
Last edited by GRWHD; Apr 4, 2018 at 01:23 PM.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 647
From: Santa Clarita
And here I thought we were friends!
I wouldnt buy it without seeing it but Id trust opinions if it was even worth going to look at. Someone willing and close could at least tell you if the pictures youre looking at are representative of the bike, they could even take a ton of pics while there. They could also tell you how its being stored, how it runs, and anything about the current owner (since that says just as much as the bike itself).
Id like the opinion to at least know if its worth traveling 7 hours for or not. Then again, Im always up for a road trip and would plan a weekend around checking it out. Maybe find a few others that are in between that you could look at also.