Topic: Scams a buyer should look out for?

[Perseo]

I am looking to find an SOHC four to buy, leaning toward a 400f.  My only other motorcycle buy was 35 years ago, from my brother (that one is in the barn, where I put it in 1988).

For a while last year I was watching ads on Oodle (for vintage Harleys), and saw that the same bike would be offered at a low price by various would-be sellers all over the country.  Using the same photo.  I assume they would have taken a deposit and disappeared.

My question:  Are there scams I should be watching for, or particular selling places that are more prone to fraud?  (Oodle certainly had an aroma.)

For now, my intent is to actually see what I am buying, and I get that the existence of a title vs a mere bill of sale is a big consideration but not a show-stopper.  Still, I have to recognize that I am a novice motorcycle buyer, so any good advice would be helpful.

Thanks.

[BomberMann650]

Yeah, craigslist seattle is currently a wholesale market on japanese superbikes.

$1000 for a gsxr 600!  $1200 for the liter bike.  Special edition CBR $1100!  There are a dozen ads.  The pictures are a dead giveaway that the poster has no idea what washington communities look like.  Model Texan homes and lawns in the background.

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

The more often an ad is run, more likely it's a con artist chumming the waters for his next catch.

With an old CB, you're more likely to find a seller who has exhausted their knowledge trying to fix it.  Then wants to sell for 3x it's worth because it's a "rare vintage cafe racer"

[754]

 Buy on here, a bit safer than out there.
 Usually a good bike of two a week on here plus some great projects.

[ekpent]

 Sounds like your hunt is on,that's half the fun. Put the word out to anyone that will listen your looking. Put up a wanted add on Cl or other places if your comfortable dealing with that. Your safest bet but not the cheapest is probably to keep watching E-bay for one popping up on their site within driving distance. Little more monetary protection and standards.
  Here's hoping a super nice all original barn find running great with low miles at a steal of a price finds its way to you soon ! Not asking for much- right ? 

[754]

 Advertise locally and nearby, get it below market price.

[Perseo]

Thanks for the good advice. 

Ekpent - you have described perfectly what I am looking for.  Not asking for much at all.

[carnivorous chicken]

This is all good stuff for when you are looking, but there are some things to consider when you've found something. Buying a non-running bike is almost always a leap of faith in terms of believing what the seller is telling you. Lost titles can be a red flag, but I've bought probably a dozen or so bikes without titles without problems (AZ is particularly easy for getting a title, and none have come up stolen). Cosmetics matter if you want to keep it original; the prices on tanks, side covers, etc., have gone up in the past 10 years or so significantly. For non-running bikes my gauge is whether I can part it out for the price the seller is asking if it's a non-running bike. If it's a runner, you want to let it run and warm up, and do the obvious: listen for weird sounds, watch for leaking oil, run it through the gears, make sure it stops, look for signs that it's been down, etc.

[754]

 On a 750, try hard to get chain cover off and inspect for damage.
 Check for mismatched numbers they should be within 500 or less.
Check point cover are of cases for breaks for repair and rear upper rear motor mount on 750 for cracks or welds. These usually mean bike has gone down hard, and then frame could be suspect.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

"Ran when parked"
"Just needs a tune up"
"No title problems but I only have a bill of sale"

[Duke McDukiedook]

Just needs the crabs cleaned...

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Just needs the crabs cleaned...

Crabs!
Was that a Freudian slip?

[chewbacca5000]

I have been wondering the same thing about cars on craigslist.  See ads for 4 to 5k cars for 1 to 2k.  All look ver similar to each other.  Thought about checking one out, but it has to been a scam.

[754]

 Easy to find out, tell them you have someone in the area to inspect it.. then that will never happen..
 But they are willing to ship for free cuz they are in the military  brother in law owns Fedex  Ricard Bransen will deliver it in a Chinook..bla..bla..bla..