Selling my Bike: test riders

[Renn Sport]

So I am selling my Ducati Monster and it’s the first bike I have had to sell. When I bought the bike the owner wasn’t keen on a test ride without all the money up front.

Is this the norm? I don’t fancy standing there watching some undesirable ride off on my bike because I let him test it.

So the questions are;
Do I allow test rides?
Should I ask for a deposit or full money up front if the prospective purchaser insists?

[Chilli]

Full amount in cash, AND check it. No-one I know would expect a private seller to let them take it out without a full deposit.

[dern]

If I was being ultra careful (and I think I would these days) I'd get him to bring his driving license and I'd scan it and print it out with the date and the rough times he's going out because having to deal with the fallout of someone elses parking/traffic-accident/speeding offences on your bike is a nightmare without any proof. I'd also take the full amount in cash and if the test pilot bends it he's bought it.

[3doorPete]

Tricky one this. I tend to gauge the buyer and decide based on gut feeling.

Basically - forget political correctness, go with every prejudice you have, accent, the vehicle they turn up in, knowledgability on the bike etc etc.

Based on all of this, I'll decide if the person is serious or not and what risk they are.

Additionally, if letting them test ride and you know the bike is sound, I always agree to a price SUBJECT TO TEST RIDE. That way, they don't ride it, then waste your time with a silly offer. If you can't agree on price, then they ain't getting a test ride anyway.

If they have come in a car - I also ask if I can hang on to their car keys whilst they ride the bike. Yes - the car could be nicked, but by the time the deal's stuck I think you have a feel for the person.

Remember, if the bike is stolen, all you have to say to the insurance company is that you were mugged at knife point for your keys. Of course you weren't selling the bike and gave it over willingly....

[Chilli]

3doorPete said:

Remember, if the bike is stolen, all you have to say to the insurance company is that you were mugged at knife point for your keys. Of course you weren't selling the bike and gave it over willingly....

Hmmm, not sure I'd want to advise you to commit fraud. Then losing your bike would be the least of your worries.

[711]

As others have said, full deposit in cash and license and insurance checks.

Every bike I've sold has been under those terms, and none of the serious buyers has had a problem with it.

The usual arrangement I've done is:
- Buyer looks round the bike and we agree a price (assuming they're interested LOL)
- I get the cash and hold the rider's license / insurance cert whilst they test ride the bike.
- If the buyer finds a real problem as a result of the test ride, then he either gets money knocked off or walks away from the bike with his money back.
- registration documents signed and handed over.

I'd agree it seems a bit officious, but I've sold about 15 bikes and cars in my time, and told everyone up front that's what my terms are.

No one's ever objected to it...perhaps I've not had people view because of it, but then maybe I didn't want those sorts to come along anyways

[Stu R]

Bike thefts are getting more and more common, and these days you'll get done for not taking reasonable steps to ensure that whoever is riding your bike is licenced / insured.

Not worth the risk of having someone ride it without having several means of covering yourself these days imo.

[AeroPower]

make sure they give you the entire amount in cash before they test ride and ask for them to leave some ID too.

[black-k1]

This is not an easy call. Advice given so far is all good but remember, it is recommended that as a seller, you don’t give a potential buyer your address, instead you meet in a ‘neutral’ location with lots of other people. This is to stop scrotes coming back later and nicking the bike having checked out exactly where you live.

What this means is that you would now be asking a potential buy to hand over a large wad to test ride a bike when he/she doesn’t know you, doesn’t know if the bike is stolen and doesn’t even know where you live. Were I the buyer, I wouldn’t hand over the dosh! (And I wouldn’t buy the bike without a test ride!)

When I’m buying I always take someone with me. (Preferably the wife and kids) That way they can stay behind with the seller when I’m test riding the bike and the seller can then be sure I’ll come back. Likewise, when I’m selling I’ll be much happier if the potential buyer is accompanied and the second person stays behind.

I also would not be happy letting a complete stranger take a copy of my license and insurance details, especially if we are at said ‘neutral’ location. I worry about identity theft and that also tells the ‘seller’ who I am, where I live and that I have a large wad of cash tucked under the mattress! I will happily sign a disclaimer stating that I am fully licensed and insured which will cover the seller in the event of anything happening.

You have to ‘play it by ear’ and do the best you can. By all means put restrictions on test rides but also turn those around and ask if, as a buyer, you would be happy with those restrictions.

[rsv gone!]

So basically K1, you leave your kids as collateral? Sounds reasonable!

Personally, I don't let anyone test ride my bike unless the money is on the table. It usually isn't at the viewing stage, though. I have taken them for a pillion ride, just to demonstrate that everything works.

Edited by rsv gone! on Wednesday 24th September 08:36

[Sossige]

black-k1 said:

This is not an easy call. Advice given so far is all good but remember, it is recommended that as a seller, you don’t give a potential buyer your address, instead you meet in a ‘neutral’ location with lots of other people. This is to stop scrotes coming back later and nicking the bike having checked out exactly where you live.

Hmm, the converse of that as a buyer is that I would never buy a vehicle privately from anywhere other than the seller's address - and I'd expect to see that match the address on the V5C.

It's a difficult call, world is full of thieving sgs.

Soss

[Wacky Racer]

I would never allow a prospective buyer to "test ride" one of my machines, asking for trouble, a ride on the pillion maybe......Even if they were insured it would almost certainly only be third party only on your bike.

Start the engine, let them rev it up certainly.

I have sold several machines over the years and my "customers" have been very understanding...

Even if they leave a vehicle with you, it could be stolen, and they ride of into the sunset with your pride and joy...this has happened several times

Wise up.....Don't be a mug.

[Bri957]

Good advice in this thread, much appreciated.

I'm advertising a bike for a colleague, and we both were wondering what the deal is with test rides.

As it is slightly related, where are the best places to advertise bikes these days? I have stuck it on here and visordown so far and had no interest other than that of the Nigerian variety.

[dern]

Sossige said:

black-k1 said:

This is not an easy call. Advice given so far is all good but remember, it is recommended that as a seller, you don’t give a potential buyer your address, instead you meet in a ‘neutral’ location with lots of other people. This is to stop scrotes coming back later and nicking the bike having checked out exactly where you live.

Hmm, the converse of that as a buyer is that I would never buy a vehicle privately from anywhere other than the seller's address - and I'd expect to see that match the address on the V5C.

It's a difficult call, world is full of thieving sgs.

I wouldn't say it's full but there are certainly enough to make it all a pain in the arse. This is the trade off though... the risk of a sale going wrong vs making more money. Most bike shops will do a sale or return service which means you avoid all this but you get less money.

[dern]

Bri957 said:

As it is slightly related, where are the best places to advertise bikes these days? I have stuck it on here and visordown so far and had no interest other than that of the Nigerian variety.

I've only ever had any joy from bike trader. Anywhere else (PH included) seem to be full of dreamers with no money. I'm sure sales have been made through them (and they're often free so worth a punt) but I've always had more leads through biketrader. MCN might be worth a punt too... I've been looking for a bike recently and there was more choice on there than in biketrader but a lot of that is because bikes are on there for ages rather than just a fortnight.

[Bri957]

dern said:

Bri957 said:

As it is slightly related, where are the best places to advertise bikes these days? I have stuck it on here and visordown so far and had no interest other than that of the Nigerian variety.

I've only ever had any joy from bike trader. Anywhere else (PH included) seem to be full of dreamers with no money. I'm sure sales have been made through them (and they're often free so worth a punt) but I've always had more leads through biketrader. MCN might be worth a punt too... I've been looking for a bike recently and there was more choice on there than in biketrader but a lot of that is because bikes are on there for ages rather than just a fortnight.

Thanks for that, much appreciated - I'll give bike trader a go.

Bri

[Sossige]

dern said:

I wouldn't say it's full but there are certainly enough to make it all a pain in the arse.

You're right of course, it was wrong for me to generalise like that. There are lots of decent people out there, but unfortunately you have to protect yourself....

[Renn Sport]

Many thanks for all your responses. This has been a bit of a dilemma for me as I have sold cars but this is the first Bike I’ll have to sell. I think everyone’s input has been valuable even where there are opposing views. It’s all very helpful.

I think I will demonstrate the bike if needs be at my place and after agreeing a sum for the bike and taking payment, allow the buyer the opportunity to test the bike and return it before we complete the particulars.

I am not sure I’d like to meet people on some street other than my home. However I do take the point about thieves being alerted to where I keep my bike. Its going to be more of a problem when my bikes get more pricey.

[black-k1]

rsv gone! said:

So basically K1, you leave your kids as collateral? Sounds reasonable!

You have no idea how tempting it has been at times to simply keep the bike and forget the kids!!!









For any of the PC brigade out there, this is only a joke ...... none of the bikes I’ve tried have been quite good enough to warrant leaving all the kids!!!!!!!