Please help me! I am going against conventional wisdom yet it still feels right to me...what do you think?

I found a road king online from a private seller located 5.5 hours from me. It's everything I want in a bike. I have spoken to the seller at length a couple times now and I really trust in my gut that he is being honest 63 yrs old, hanging it up and selling his baby. The bike: 2000 Aztec Orange with 21,250 miles priced at 11,000 or best offer. The seller is consistent in saying that there is absolutely no mechanical or cosmetic issues what-so-ever. He emailed me about a dozen really nice photos and the bike is spotless. It literally has every peice of chrome that you can have, new tires, leather tour pack, upgraded bars w/ tac, 3 seats (stock, 2-up sundowner, and a HD solo), vance and heinz, stage one and looks immaculate.

So, my dilema - I can't get there to check it out for a week - even sight unseen I am nervous about losing this bike - would it be crazy to commit to it before checking it out in person? Any ideas about a returnable down payment?

Thanks.

 

Where's the bike? Have someone closer take a look? What's the VIN # for the bike?

 

I don't know what could be so important that you can't make the time to go see it. you better get your priorities strait.

 

The dealers in my area have lots of '05 to '06's touring bikes for around 10K with less miles.
I personally would want atleast an '07 with a six speed tranny.
If you are hot to trot on that RK.....I'd offer him way less....Hell it's almost ten years old.

 

I've bought 2 vehicles, (one car, one bike) site unseen (pictures only). If you want protection, agree to a price and ask the guy to do a buy-it-now on eBay. Make sure the ad contains the claims he is making and your expectations. Then purchase the bike, you both get protection (he gets a contract, you get insurance against fraud) through eBay. It all comes down to how much you trust the other person, like the poster above said, get the VIN run that by the MoCo and see what comes up.

I did the eBay thing about 2 weeks ago for a 2009 SG in FL, I live in NC. I just picked up the bike this week and everything was fine, but your mileage may vary!

I dont know what your priorities are, or what any of the poster's are, but I'm entirely too busy to drive 5.5 hours to just see a bike, I either buy it or I wait or something else to come along that I would rather have.

 

Send him a check for whatever you have agreed upon as a down payment and post date the check for the day you can be there. (If he is willing to do that) I bet you find the bike is exactly as described. However that does seem high for a 2000 model.

 

Id say dont be anxious if it was meant to be it will still be there next week.
warning this logic does back fire but not offten.

 

Two things

one, google motorcycle inspections for your state. I know there are places that will do a thorough checking over and give both parties the report. I've done this with one bike and one car. Cost about $100ish each time. Well worth it.

Two, www.escrow.com. I've used them dozens of times. You could put the agreed price in escrow, pending your in-person approval.

Lastly...I agree the price might be a tad high for an 00 in this market.

 

Me personally would not buy a bike that i have not checked out unless it was an absolute screaming deal and I wouldn't get hurt if I had to unload it. 5.5 hours isn't too far. I look at it like is it wasn't there when I could look at it then it wasn't meant to be. Again that's just me.

 

It is a "or best offer" buy and I haven't made a financial offer yet - what do you feel is a good offer on the bike described?