precautions when selling a bike
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 163
From: Northern VA
No test rides. How do you know the guy can handle the bike competently? You don't. All you need is some knucklehead to drop your bike and then back out of the sale and you've got damaged goods on your hands.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: U.S.S.A.
I'm fixin' to sell my Sporty (see below). I sold one bike before it years ago and I let the guy take a ride, but I figured he drove up from Virginia to NJ with his son, had cash in hand, and was serious. Still, it was not smart of me to let a perfect stranger ride my bike, but it turned out well.
This time 'round, though - NO test rides. The raked out Sporty can be a little unwieldy at parking lot speed, after that, it rides like it's on rails. Still, I can't take a chance. Start it, sit on it. Rev the engine. Watch ME ride it. I like the idea of offering a refund in 10 minutes if the bike comes back intact. Just hold their money and don't sign the title.
This time 'round, though - NO test rides. The raked out Sporty can be a little unwieldy at parking lot speed, after that, it rides like it's on rails. Still, I can't take a chance. Start it, sit on it. Rev the engine. Watch ME ride it. I like the idea of offering a refund in 10 minutes if the bike comes back intact. Just hold their money and don't sign the title.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 4
From: SoCal
amen. above is the only way its done. i actually go a bit further: close the deal first then buyer takes bike for a test drive with the proviso that I buy it back on the spot if he finds issues with the bike that I have not disclosed in advance.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 964
Likes: 243
From: right outside of town
..and then there's the stories about some guy showing up with a stolen car or truck, leaving it for 'collateral' , never to be seen again..I bought a used ride with 1700 miles on it last year..never even asked the guy if I could test ride it..just listened to it run and paid my monies..so my answer would be..absolutely no test rides..
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,368
Likes: 14
From: Yokohama
Show them the bike, let 'em hear it, take 'em for a spin if they want. If they insist on a test ride to close the deal, tell them they have to pay in full beforehand and if they break it, the sale is final.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Willis, Texas
I sold a bike one time and told the guy he had one hour and if the bike wasn't what I told him he could bring it back in the same condition and I would give him his money back. Ha said if it wasn't any good he would be back in 30 minutes. I took the money and never saw him again.
I heard a story about a guy that let a young guy test ride his bike. The guy said he had bike experience. He over revved the engine, let the clutch out too fast and hit a tree. Kid was life flighted. Totaled the bike and got sued by the family.
What if you let someone test ride your bike, the guy has no experience, he dies on your bike? His family could sue you because you let someone ride YOUR bike that didn't know how to ride. Attorneys are wonderful at turning the tables on you when a grieving family is in the courtroom. Be careful, there are a lot of people out there looking for a free lunch. T.
I heard a story about a guy that let a young guy test ride his bike. The guy said he had bike experience. He over revved the engine, let the clutch out too fast and hit a tree. Kid was life flighted. Totaled the bike and got sued by the family.
What if you let someone test ride your bike, the guy has no experience, he dies on your bike? His family could sue you because you let someone ride YOUR bike that didn't know how to ride. Attorneys are wonderful at turning the tables on you when a grieving family is in the courtroom. Be careful, there are a lot of people out there looking for a free lunch. T.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 2
From: USA
No money, no sale, no ride. The first bike I ever sold, the guy dropped it. I know a guy that rode a dozen bikes before he bought one. WTF? Last bike I bought, I paid, then rode, with the" money back" agreement.
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