Plus one here.
If the buyer has a license and I have the cash in my hand for the agreed upon price where's the risk here?

If I was buying from a HD Dealer I'd be comfortable buying a low mileage bike without riding it.
But from a private sell; it's no ride-no buy.

If the buyer doesn't have a license or cash in hand then he can arrange for the local Dealer to go over the bike.
That will likely cost him a $100 or so but at least they've got some peace of mind.

 

I have owned 9 harleys and only test rode one of them. They all turned out fine.

 

I get the concern. But my bike, my rules. If I have money in hand, you can test ride--that's simple insurance. If that doesn't work, go elsewhere. I have no idea of a potential buyer's skill, experience, or intentions. Hate to not just clap my hands together and imagine everything will be okay, but all it takes is one idiot or one ******* and I'm out a bike with no money in hand.

I've run into the same thing buying and selling guns. Some buyers refuse to provide identification or sign a bill of sale. Again, my gun, my rules. Go away.

The bike sounds like what you're looking for. If not this one, I hope you find the right bike.

 

No test ride no cash....keep your bike, there are many more.
I have rode every bike I have purchased since 1976.

 

That's the problem you have cash in hand not the sellers hand. I have sold about 20 bikes in the last 6 or 7 years. If you put cash in my hand you can test ride it.I have had 2 people say its not what they are looking for after ridding it and gave them to money back. But that's not the only thing, I have them leave there drivers licenses, owners card and keys to there car or truck, and above all I make sure they have a MC licenses and make sure they have experience ridding most of the time you can tell how experienced they are just by the way they look at a bike. If you don't like my rules go some place else, I sell bikes from 1970 back.

 

Well let's see. He falls off the bike and sues you. He hit's somebody and they sue you because you're the owner of the bike. And as I said previously, most private insurance policies don't cover test rides, so you are seriously exposed.

 

That's fine - we won't be doing any deals - I'd be walking away before you'd start that garage door going down, I've dealt with that situation plenty of times and it doesn't bother me at all. Same with the guys that come in and cut your selling price in half, I just walk away and I'm done.

 

You sure are feisty ...

 

My insurance won't cover anyone else riding my motorcycle. If I was selling it I'd probably change that but way too many craigslist scammers these days. Does your insurance cover the bike if you dropped it on the test ride? Would you pay him cash for the damage you have done? Did you offer that? How about ask him what his deductible is and hand him the cash to cover it with the understanding it gets handed back after the test ride? Mine in $1,000.

I'd ask and take a picture of your license & insurance. Make you sign a statement that you are liable for any damage if you crash it. You may be ok but too many are like that Allstate commercial.

Middle of the road could be you offering him to take it to the HD dealerhsip or mechanic or your choice to determine if there are any problems.

With all the scammers on the craigslist I would have a problem with folks test riding my bike unless they agree to terms on it. Folks don't carry liability insurance like a dealership does.

 

Back in the late 70’s the local dealer let a guy test ride a new Harley and he never came back. Insurance didn’t pay for it because they gave him consent to take it. That never happened again. I see now they have another employee follow them on another bike. You can tell by seeing two bikers going by with helmets and fluorescent yellow vests on.