Buying bikes privately
Discussion
I'm fairly new to the biking malarkey - have an Africa Twin which is my commuter and daily ride but looking for Bike 2.
Fancying a Desert Sled but can't find any for sale privately, so have to pay dealer prices. The Ducati dealer here (Glasgow) won't even let me ride one (only had license since April although done 7000 accident free miles, 5000 on the Africa) and clearly not interested until I'm ready to hand over cash. I grudge giving them business but looking through the usual channels, it seems very few bikes are sold privately. Am I missing something? Is this just the way of bike sales?
Fancying a Desert Sled but can't find any for sale privately, so have to pay dealer prices. The Ducati dealer here (Glasgow) won't even let me ride one (only had license since April although done 7000 accident free miles, 5000 on the Africa) and clearly not interested until I'm ready to hand over cash. I grudge giving them business but looking through the usual channels, it seems very few bikes are sold privately. Am I missing something? Is this just the way of bike sales?
The desert sled is a fairly new model so I would imagine there will be very few of them for sale privately at the minute.
Most of the bikes sold will likely be on a PCP deal so when the time does come to change they will more often than not just be PX'd against something else, and that is exactly what I did with my Scrambler.
If your local dealer is not very accommodating and you are willing to travel, it may be worth giving the dealer in Newcastle a call. I wont mention the dealers name, but they are on Westgate Road in Newcastle.
I have always has great service from them and if they do have a Sled on Demo, I am sure you will be able to get a ride.
Most of the bikes sold will likely be on a PCP deal so when the time does come to change they will more often than not just be PX'd against something else, and that is exactly what I did with my Scrambler.
If your local dealer is not very accommodating and you are willing to travel, it may be worth giving the dealer in Newcastle a call. I wont mention the dealers name, but they are on Westgate Road in Newcastle.
I have always has great service from them and if they do have a Sled on Demo, I am sure you will be able to get a ride.
oooh, I do like those Desert Sled things. Was following one on the commute the other day and it is without doubt the best looking of all those big scrambler type bikes.
Have to be the white version as it looks like an XT500. I'd never use it but I do want one all the same. Needs a Griffin Clubman replica helmet to go with it.
Have to be the white version as it looks like an XT500. I'd never use it but I do want one all the same. Needs a Griffin Clubman replica helmet to go with it.
jamiehamy said:
I'm fairly new to the biking malarkey - have an Africa Twin which is my commuter and daily ride but looking for Bike 2.
Fancying a Desert Sled but can't find any for sale privately, so have to pay dealer prices. The Ducati dealer here (Glasgow) won't even let me ride one (only had license since April although done 7000 accident free miles, 5000 on the Africa) and clearly not interested until I'm ready to hand over cash. I grudge giving them business but looking through the usual channels, it seems very few bikes are sold privately. Am I missing something? Is this just the way of bike sales?
TBH I've always found Ducati (and Triumph) Glasgow to be nothing but helpful, but you'll be lucky to find any dealer who'll let you ride a test bike if you've only had a licence for 3 months (but nearly 600 miles a week since then is some serious mileage!, maybe my arithmetic is pants tho' Fancying a Desert Sled but can't find any for sale privately, so have to pay dealer prices. The Ducati dealer here (Glasgow) won't even let me ride one (only had license since April although done 7000 accident free miles, 5000 on the Africa) and clearly not interested until I'm ready to hand over cash. I grudge giving them business but looking through the usual channels, it seems very few bikes are sold privately. Am I missing something? Is this just the way of bike sales?
).haha! I had been told it was good but the pictures didn't do it for me. I wandered in one day out of curiosity and despite the Scrambler being more what I was looking for (smaller, weekend bike), the DS really caught my eye.
Would like to try the BMW too - having the Africa Twin I do a bit of soft roading so can't help feeling that the next bike should have that too.
Still hard to find decent private sales tho - I suppose if most new ones are sold on pcp or similar they will go back into the dealer network. THe second hand ones all look overpriced but I suppose if not many out there they can charge what they like.
Ride wise - I bought my AT from over in Edinburgh - dealer was great, did an escorted ride, but they don't have anything I'm fancying just now. I don't blame dealers, there must be some rockets appearing wanting a test ride that spoil it for the many.
Would like to try the BMW too - having the Africa Twin I do a bit of soft roading so can't help feeling that the next bike should have that too.
Still hard to find decent private sales tho - I suppose if most new ones are sold on pcp or similar they will go back into the dealer network. THe second hand ones all look overpriced but I suppose if not many out there they can charge what they like.
Ride wise - I bought my AT from over in Edinburgh - dealer was great, did an escorted ride, but they don't have anything I'm fancying just now. I don't blame dealers, there must be some rockets appearing wanting a test ride that spoil it for the many.
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