I don't think I'm being unreasonable do you?

[steviejasp]

I wasn't actively selling my MTB but a friend of a friend asked how much I would take for my used twice 2012 Lapierre with reverb post and carbon bars etc.
We agreed a price verbally and he asked when he could test ride it. I thought he meant around my close for a couple of minutes.
Turns out he wants to take it over the downs with mates(my friend) for the evening.
Was it unreasonable to say no sorry. Its nearly three grands worth and minty clean etc.

[deckster]

My response would be that would be fine, on receipt of a £3000 deposit, refundable on return of a clean, fully working, non-dinged bike. Other than that, the chancing git can jog straight on.

[JQ]

I would take exactly the same stance as you.

[Hackney]

Not unreasonable at all.

[littleandy0410]

You mean bugger! The least you could do is move out of your house for the day too, so when he gets back he can test out your shower, raid your fridge and have a nap on your sofa too!

Obviously before you bought it from your LBS, the shop flew you out to Morzine to allow you to test ride it properly!?

[shouldbworking]

Alternatively you could have gone out for an enjoyable ride and swopped bikes over for some of it and had a good time.

[Gizmoish]

Once did this with a remote control car I was selling to a friend when I was about 12. fker trashed it. I could have killed him.

[P-Jay]

Sounds to me like he fancies using a nice bike for the evening free of charge. No chance.

If it had seen a bit action then maybe and looked used, maybe, depending on how well I knew him, but your bike's USP is it's 'like new'.

[trashbat]

I disagree. It's a reasonable request. Would you refuse to ask for a test drive of a car for sale on the basis that 'it's clean now'?

Whether or not you want to let him is another matter.

[BOBTEE]

You're not a shop doing a demo day, fk him!

[Steamer]

Depends on:

A. How much of a liablity he is - does he ride with 'mechanical sympathy'?

B. What are his standards of bike cleaning like?

and the most important

C. if the worst happens and it goes missing / breaks - will he cough up for it!?

[exgtt]

If it was well used fair enough, but when its mint and worth the same as a decent R1, well that's a cheeky request! Gonna be a much bigger strain on your friendship if he brings it back with a minor nick in the frame and he's decided he doesn't want it. Not worth the hassle IMO.

Edit just noticed its a friend of a friend, tell him to get fked! Cheeky .

[Steamer]

exgtt said:

Edit just noticed its a friend of a friend, tell him to get fked! Cheeky .

I missed that bit too!

As has been said: 'Jog on son!' a ride around the block in exchange for car keys of a similar value - thats what I did when selling to a stranger.

[trashbat]

On a tangent that probably is unreasonable, but since it's PH feels just fine, why the hell do you have a £3,000 bike that you've only used twice?

[SpydieNut]

I agree- you're not being unreasonable at all. He sounds like he's trying it on. IMO, a test-ride means just that, a short spin around the block. If he wants to ps off with his mates over the downs for the day, let him do it on his own bike, ie after he's bought it from you. At the very best he'll bring it back filthy. What if he trashes it and brings it back with a 'sorry, but I don't want to buy it after all'.

What a muppet-tell him to jog on and don't lose any sleep over it.

[garrykiller]

No not unreasonable. I wouldn't lend £30 of stuff to a friend let alone a £3000 bike!

[steviejasp]

Thanks chaps, I did the right thing then.
I bought it at a new LBS open day event thing. I thought it might re-kindle my interest in mtb'ing.
It didn't

[Kell]

I don't think it's unreasonable at all.

Not only is it not a direct friend, you don't get that sort of opportunity when buying new.

Certainly not without signing something saying that you're liable for any damage and leaving your credit card details.

[LeeJay]

Not unreasonable if you've agreed a price with him.

I've lent my bike and car out to friends several times, knowing they will respect it isn't theirs.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Too much hassle tbh even for a mate, let alone a random Barry

A ride round the block should be enough, along with a detailed inspection