If your friend is willing,send him the money and have him look for a bike.At least he can check a few out and secure one before you travel.
Seems like a long expensive trip to look at one bike.
I think most sellers want to sell it now and not have to worry about wired funds from a different country.

Or it may be easier to purchase one from a dealer.

 

Craig's list is a great place to sell/buy. However it has become a venue for local buyers and sellers. Unfortunately, all it ever takes is one or two crooks to screw up a great thing. Some people would rather focus all their efforts on how to scam rather than commit to honesty and earn an honest living.

As many have suggested, get yourself a local advocate here in the states that you can trust. Then you will be in a better position. Have your advocate ensure that the seller has the title in hand and it might pay to run the VIN through a title search to uncover any liens that might exist. I believe that's the best way for you to find your bike.

 

I helped a buddy from Bristol buy a Yamaha Fazer last year to keep here in Colorado (he ran the Iron Butt Rally on it). I acted as the intermediary with the seller, which in our case was a dealer, but it was clear the dealer wasn't thinking Phil's original inquiry from the UK was serious until I popped into the dealership and introduced myself. From that point forward, both sides had confidence this was going to be a legitimate transaction.

Couple of thoughts that might also help: my buddy could not find a UK insurance company that would insure a bike garaged in the US, even if registered and plated in the UK. That meant he needed US plates - Colorado, in this case. CO wouldn't issue plates unless the bike was insured with a company licensed to do business in Colorado - Progressive is/was the only insurance company in the US that would issue a motorcycle policy to a holder of a non-US drivers license even though he reported a US address (mine).

Different states also have different rules with regards to sales tax and titling of used vehicles. All states charge sales tax when the registration address is in the state - likely paid at registration. Several (CA, WA?) will charge sales tax on the sale even if you are immediately taking the bike out of state which means you get whacked with sales tax on BOTH ends of the transaction. Colorado will issue an immediate title and plate if you are buying the used bike in-state, but if you buy the bike from out of state and go to register it in CO, you will have to have the VIN verified at the local police station, then there will be up to a 6 week wait for title to arrive, meaning you will be driving on a temporary paper plate until then. BTW, CO license plate renewal notifications will only be mailed to a US address, there are no provisions to suspend or turn the plate in while the bike is in storage (many states allow it, as you can in the UK), and penalties for late renewals in CO can be stiff.

Ping me at dan (at) leffert (dot) org if you have any other questions that I might answer.

 

My experience as a Brit living in the UK with a RK registered in Florida:
1) Only Progressive would insure me. I first used my friends house as my address but now changed it to my UK one, everything is sent here, no problems
2) When I brought my RK in Georgia, I wanted to transfer my custom tag I had on my Fatboy that I had just sold, took the RK to the local Florida licensing office where they came out and inspected it, checked the VIN and then charged me the sales tax
3) Paid the tag transfer fee
4) Paid $10 for a new title to be printed while I waited
In fact the whole process was very easy. If I did not have a tag then a new one would be issued there and then.
The only thing they will not do is, send a custom tag outside the US. I originally had to have them send it to my friend who then forwarded it to me in the UK.
My tag has to be renewed in April each year, last year I did not renew until October as work prevented me getting out earlier. Just went to local office and paid the annual fee and everything was good, no penalties, but I guess each state can be different

 

Sounds like progressive is definitely the right starting point!

 

with all the computors and things these days you would think things would be faster but I have heard it can take more than a few months for a real good scam money order or check to make the circle and come back to you , then your merchandice is gone and your out the money , I only deal in CASH myself , you should not take afence if you are a honest person but be mad as he!! at the people in the world that do this