Buying remotely

[Newky Brown]

Hi,

I'm thinking of returning to biking after a few years lay off and have set my heart on a Triumph Tiger 1050 or 800.

A few have come up but are a reasonable distance to me. Most dealers seem to offer delivery for not a lot of money but never having bought remotely, has anyone done it and what was your experience? Some dealers offer pay on delivery bar a small deposit which seems fair but is this something you can insist on?

[JulianHJ]

Slightly OT, but bikes regularly crop up on www.tiger800.co.uk, and it's a great community too, if you end up with one.

[Plinth]

Yes, last week I bought a bike from a dealer 175 miles away.
I paid for the bike and the transport via bank transfer and he delivered a few days later.
All went very well and I will be buying again from him.

[Newky Brown]

I'll check out the tiger800 site, thanks.

I've been looking at the Superbikefactory and Somanybikes and they seem reasonably priced and the latter has a money back clause if you're not happy, so may give them a try.

[2wheelsjimmy]

I would assume you have that with any place. Given your buying over the phone, distance selling regulations apply.

I’d be putting a deposit on a credit card to cover your arse. Then all will be fine. And if you don’t like it, return it.

[trickywoo]

I bought a Tuono from an authorised dealer unseen.

Promised it would have a new MOT and was in lovely condition.

Turned up with a bald rear tyre, two weeks to run on the MOT and a broken crash bung mount.

They sorted it but I didn't expect that kind of service and you really need to be prepared to send it back on the van it came in if your aren't happy with it.

There are chancers everywhere who will try and palm you off with st hoping that if it looks good from 5 yards away and they start it up your excitement with a new toy will let them get away with it.

[Newky Brown]

Good point re using the credit card to pay.

At least nowadays you can ask for close up detailed photos of everything and even a video of it started up.

A long time ago i travelled nearly 150 miles to view an "immaculate" 205 gti. When i got there it looked like someone had attacked it with a baseball bat. I didnt even knock on the owners door and just turned around and drove home.

[poo at Paul's]

I saw a properly immaculate and seemed very cheap Tiger 1050 ABS at a dealer the other day. 2010, full luggage (incl top case) full Triumph history, brand new tyres, 18k miles less than £5k. It was proper mint, unmarked.

They're a hell of a lot of bike for the money, i reckon a better bet for road use than the 800, which is quite asthmatic, particularly when loaded up. .

For buying remotely, you could always ask a local BBer to take a look at it.

FWIW, I bought a bike recently that looked mint in the photos but up close when I saw it wasn't quite so nice. Was still ok, and I bought it, but I knocked them down 20% and if i'd done it off the photos, id have offered asking less 10% straight off.

Edited by poo at Paul's on Friday 2nd March 10:43

[Pravus1]

I'd look up what people have to say about superbike factory before getting anything from there.

I've bought remotely from good dealers in the past. No issue usually so long as you get the inof and are happy before money changes hands

[SteelerSE]

Newky Brown said:

A few have come up but are a reasonable distance to me. Most dealers seem to offer delivery for not a lot of money but never having bought remotely, has anyone done it and what was your experience? Some dealers offer pay on delivery bar a small deposit which seems fair but is this something you can insist on?

I bought from a dealer in Cumbria (I'm in Surrey). They sent me a video walkaround. It was also a bike from that year with only 800 miles on it so the risk of it being a lemon at that point was very low. It was a very good experience all round.

I'd be a lot warier of an older higher mileage bike without seeing it.

[Newky Brown]

I've been reading the reviews for Superbike factory and their rating is a little less than i would like. They arent too far from me so may go and take a look.

Again, a good point about higher mileage bikes and extra caution.

[poo at Paul's]

BTW, sadly that Tiger I saw has sold, it was never going to stay around long at that money, shame it was a real minter.

[Newky Brown]

I was going to ask for a link to the site as well! Never mind there seem to be a few about to choose from.

[Gunk]

I’ve only ever bought one bike blind and it was needless to say it was a disappointment when it arrived. A drunken bid on eBay, never again,

I’d always physically view a second purchase, you need to scratch and sniff. There are always bit and bobs you can’t see in the photos on the tinternet, plus face to face I find you can haggle a bit harder. I try and be patient and buy locally.

[tom_e]

Bought both of my bikes "blind" from dealers, first one was really rougher than a badgers arse once I actually knew what I was looking at but it was my first 125 and the "I just want a bike and I want it now!" excitement took over.
My 2nd one was an SV650 and was it absolutely spot on condition and completely as described.

[Newky Brown]

I guess if you call and possibly record the conversation, asking all the relevant questions, if it's not as described you've a stronger case to get your money back.

[Charliecloud]

If you stick with a reputable dealer then it should all be fine. Just get all the photo's, video's and details that you want,inc copy of service book etc and make sure it has all the keys. My current bike was bought from a dealer in Glasgow and it was a painless transaction.
Good luck

[Jazoli]

Distance selling regs work in your favour, if its not as described they must take it back, no exceptions, I'd rather view the bike personally due to past issues buying unseen but I'm sure others have had positive experiences.

[podman]

A good friend of mine who delivers bikes for a living gets a disgruntled buyer once every couple of weeks who is disappointed with his or her purchase, in the majority of cases, the dealer takes the bike back no issue but thats not always the case..

He delivered a Ducati Desmo not so long back that the engine was obviously not right when started, the buyer was distinctly unhappy with that one but as he had collected it from Italy, he left seller and buyer to resolve it.

If it was me, no way would I part with my money without seeing and hearing it.

[Newky Brown]

Yes, thinking now I'll wait until something comes up near me or make the effort to go and view.

The trouble is one persons "immaculate" is another's "good condition" and I don't fancy the hassle of returning and trying to sort a refund if there are any issues.