Topic: What is the best way to sell a motorcycle?

[Duanob]

Funny question but I have never sold a motorcycle. I traded one straight across for a car once. the guy never test rode my bike because I knew him and he knew the bike. No problems. My biggest concern is letting some stranger test ride my hard work and money just to have him crash half way down the street. Personally I have bought all three of my bikes without test riding them but I am sure some guys would want to. How do you guys deal with this? Let them test ride it after trading money and title? Ride it myself up and down the street to at least show the buyer everything works as it should? I will be putting a bike up for sale shortly just want to know the best way or the 'cultural way' to go about this. I would hate to see all my hard work laying in a battered pile in the middle of the street just cause somebody doesn't know how to ride it. After the money changes hands, that's a different story. it would still suck but it wouldn't be my worry anymore.

Thanks for the advice.

D

[y2kc0wb0y]

Cash in hand, motorcycle license endorsement and a understanding that IF you break it you buy it.

[madScientist]

Cash in hand, endorsement on the license, and I have a "contract" written up that i make them sign, print, date, and put their DL number that basically says "If you break it you're paying the asking price and own it". I can give you the full verbage if you want.

[Greggo]

Cash in hand, motorcycle license endorsement and a understanding that IF you break it you buy it.

+1  And a helmet if that's your state's law.

[flybox1]

Cash in hand, motorcycle license endorsement and a understanding that IF you break it you buy it.

+1  And a helmet if that's your state's law.

^ this is what i did with my 350F.  It was clearly outline in the CL add.
But the new owner just wanted to hear it run, kick the tires, and then see/hear me ride around the block.
With cash in my hand and the keys in his, I helped him load it. 

[Duanob]

Sounds good, thanks.

madscientist: yes go ahead and PM the wording to the contract if you want. Can't hurt.

[mono]

+1 to the "cash in hand, you break it you buy it" policy, +2356 to having them sign an agreement to that, and wearing a helmet REGARDLESS of state law, because you can still be held liable for their injury if they say the bike was in an unsafe riding condition.

other than that, it's cake.

[greenjeans]

I never ever allow rides unless the cash is in my hands and they have the understanding that if it goes down or they break it - they own it.
It would be even better if you had a generic contract that they could sign before riding - I just started doing that.    Helmet and MC designation on the license a must.

I always offer to ride it for them - they can follow me or just watch - 9 times out of 10, that is good enough for the tire kickers.   The guys that know what they are buying are much easier to deal with.

[Stev-o]

I would not allow a test ride with "an understanding". What would prevent him from driving off after dumping it?
I ride it in front of them showing that it operates. Explain why no test rides.

 However, I did allow a test ride to one guy, he put $500 cash in my hand. After speaking with him for 20 min, I could tell he was a bike guy and very serious about the K5 I was selling.
So he took off and put it through the gears, I was thinking oh #$%*e!  No prob though, he bought it. I saw it listed two months later for a grand higher....I sold to a flipper?!

[mono]

I would not allow a test ride with "an understanding". What would prevent him from driving off after dumping it?
I ride it in front of them showing that it operates. Explain why no test rides.

 However, I did allow a test ride to one guy, he put $500 cash in my hand. After speaking with him for 20 min, I could tell he was a bike guy and very serious about the K5 I was selling.
So he took off and put it through the gears, I was thinking oh #$%*e!  No prob though, he bought it. I saw it listed two months later for a grand higher....I sold to a flipper?!

He probably went through the bike to fix all the crap the PO @$#$ed up then raised the price!!    

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[70CB750]

I would not allow a test ride with "an understanding". What would prevent him from driving off after dumping it?
I ride it in front of them showing that it operates. Explain why no test rides.

 However, I did allow a test ride to one guy, he put $500 cash in my hand. After speaking with him for 20 min, I could tell he was a bike guy and very serious about the K5 I was selling.
So he took off and put it through the gears, I was thinking oh #$%*e!  No prob though, he bought it. I saw it listed two months later for a grand higher....I sold to a flipper?!

He probably went through the bike to fix all the crap the PO @$#$ed up then raised the price!!    

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Auch!

[Stev-o]

I would not allow a test ride with "an understanding". What would prevent him from driving off after dumping it?
I ride it in front of them showing that it operates. Explain why no test rides.

 However, I did allow a test ride to one guy, he put $500 cash in my hand. After speaking with him for 20 min, I could tell he was a bike guy and very serious about the K5 I was selling.
So he took off and put it through the gears, I was thinking oh #$%*e!  No prob though, he bought it. I saw it listed two months later for a grand higher....I sold to a flipper?!

He probably went through the bike to fix all the crap the PO @$#$ed up then raised the price!!    

Or maybe I sold it too cheap? I made $1000 on that deal so I'm not complaining.

[mono]

Haha I was just pulling your leg.  1K profit?  Good work

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[bikerbart]

I recently sold my Hawk gt ( sniff ) and my coworker said he might be interested. He used to have a bike , had a helmet and endorsement. so I told him to come by and we'll go for a ride. I jumped on my CB and he got on the hawk. Not 2 blocks from my house , we are turning into a gas station, and yup, you guessed it, he throws the bike down and it just slides on the pavement. F'd up the shifter, headlight bucket and gauge cluster (NOT CHEAP) . I check on him , ask if he's alright, pick up the bike , push it to the gas station . Sigh. He had a lil road rash, nothing major. The bike however is worth about $500 less now. I didnt ask for anything, I made sure he was ok, even rode back to my place to get his car for him.
 The prick has the gall to not talk to me now because I made an Inappropriate remark about a very stereotypical gender type I will not get into. Dik. I call him the Rainbow Warrior now. .Thing is, anyone who knows me, knows I am a Jokester NOT a bigot. I have to work with him.
 I just want to remind him of when He dumped my Bike and how cool I was with him.

[Duanob]

I recently sold my Hawk gt ( sniff ) and my coworker said he might be interested. He used to have a bike , had a helmet and endorsement. so I told him to come by and we'll go for a ride. I jumped on my CB and he got on the hawk. Not 2 blocks from my house , we are turning into a gas station, and yup, you guessed it, he throws the bike down and it just slides on the pavement. F'd up the shifter, headlight bucket and gauge cluster (NOT CHEAP) . I check on him , ask if he's alright, pick up the bike , push it to the gas station . Sigh. He had a lil road rash, nothing major. The bike however is worth about $500 less now. I didnt ask for anything, I made sure he was ok, even rode back to my place to get his car for him.
 The prick has the gall to not talk to me now because I made an Inappropriate remark about a very stereotypical gender type I will not get into. Dik. I call him the Rainbow Warrior now. .Thing is, anyone who knows me, knows I am a Jokester NOT a bigot. I have to work with him.
 I just want to remind him of when He dumped my Bike and how cool I was with him.

Wow that doesn't sound cool at all on his part. Kind of a douche actually. he should pony up to either fix your bike or buy it. But yes that's my fear of just letting someone ride my classic that I have poured my blood, sweat, and time into.

[flybox1]

^BB - sorry about the bad experience.
one of my girls just graduated from training wheels on her barbie bike.  i'll send them to you to put on his desk 

[70CB750]

^BB - sorry about the bad experience.
one of my girls just graduated from training wheels on her barbie bike.  i'll send them to you to put on his desk 

 

[bikerbart]

  Thanks. I should do that.

[faux fiddy]

A friend and I visited a guy who  specializes and makes his living  rebuilding Suzuki Gamma GP replica bikes. He welcomed me to ride one and I had to think whether I wanted to risk scratching up a bike worth upwards of 25k, but what the heck. Didn't want to do it when I was nodding off, but took a ride the next day without mishap, but what if is the concern.

[Red Good]

Bikes I am selling , I will ride it around for you and do nearly anything you ask me to and then it's time to hand over the money and off comes my plate and it's all yours now . Red

[dave500]

you have to talk your bike up like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281194217860&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:AU:1120

[faux fiddy]

you have to talk your bike up like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281194217860&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:AU:1120

"classic" movie from 212. Pfffffft..

[Jay Ace]

750 I have now, I bought from a guy that was super cool about everything. He asked if I wanted to ride, I declined and he rode it up and down the street. We agreed on the price and he gave me all spare parts he had to take with me before I paid for the bike. He worked at the dealership so I met him there to transfer the title which he gave me without paying! Then he delivered the bike to my house before I paid! Granted he was near by but still, the guy was so awesome to deal with.

If I decide to sell mine, I hope I can do the same for someone else but will need to be careful, for sure!

[Duanob]

750 I have now, I bought from a guy that was super cool about everything. He asked if I wanted to ride, I declined and he rode it up and down the street. We agreed on the price and he gave me all spare parts he had to take with me before I paid for the bike. He worked at the dealership so I met him there to transfer the title which he gave me without paying! Then he delivered the bike to my house before I paid! Granted he was near by but still, the guy was so awesome to deal with.

If I decide to sell mine, I hope I can do the same for someone else but will need to be careful, for sure!

that's pretty trusting. I will probably have one of those counterfit pens for the cash anybody hands me. It happened here in Seattle before.

[dave500]

you have to talk your bike up like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281194217860&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:AU:1120

"classic" movie from 212. Pfffffft..

you forgot "just like the one on the cover of the workshop manual"