Hi everyone,

I need advice!

I've Never sold a bike before, and I have a prospective buyer coming this saturday for an inspection.

What do you guys do regarding test rides? I'm selling a smaller bike, so I'll no doubt attract some Learner riders.

 

What is protocol when allowing an inexperienced rider take your bike out for a ride?

Do you keep their license?

Copy their license?

Not allow a test ride if the rider has no license?

Mention that IF the stack your bike, they're gonna pay for it / or pay your insurance excess?

Just shut up and let them do whatever they're gonna do?

Please let me know what you would choose to do in this situation!

 

 

 

 

Hold their license, tell em if they bin it they buy it. Try and qualify the joy riders before they throw a leg over, but just remain cool.

They are coming to Suss out your bike, they ain't coming over for dinner.

Their licence and car keys as an absolute minimum. Offer to take them as a pillion?

 i would only take them for a double nobody ride's my bike ,  when he buy's it he can ride it as much as he likes , what happens if he crunches the gears  brings it back & says no thanks , or  worse   ask him if you can ride he's girl friend & crunch her gears

Definitely don't give out your address, my brother in law did this and a week later some bastard stole his bike from his shed , no insurance , no bike and still had the debt.
No test rides unless you leave the cash in your hand .
Another guy I know let a guy ride his bike , the guy binned it within one minute , lucky the guy paid up
Mate you can't be too careful these days

Yeah. Agree with others. Show them papers to let them know it's all serviced and working fine. If they want a test drive tell them to go to the dealership and try one.

I always ask them to leave the asking pice in cash . If they are a genuine buyer they will not mind , if they are joy riders then they will leave disappointed and if someone crashes your bike then you already got the cash .

If they are genuinely interested and are keen to ride it; take a holding deposit......................$2k, enough to cover any potential damage. Take it in cash, most people will have enough common sense to ensure it returns safely if they actually have something riding on it!

Alternatively, send them to a dealership or have the discussion prior.

Full cash price and in my hand and you can test ride, plus a valid licence.

You guys are awesome.
So I'm not alone in considering that someone might bin the bike. I was wondering if i was being a little paranoid.

Thanks all!

Ive never allowed test rides on bikes Ive sold ,

one low speed drop and it can cost 5-10k to fix and just not worth the BS

If they want a test ride they can go to a dealer,
If they want to see if it works they can watch or at worst pillion.

Hear it running, check the oil, a good visual inspection, maybe do a compression test if the ask REALLY nicely, but that's it. No ride until the cash is handed over.

OK...So I had a guy come and check out my bike tonight after work. Came on all hot and heavy over the phone saying that he was in the area, and wants to check out my bike. That he'll wait until I get home to see it.
He's a learner. I thought "Ah what the hell, I'll do it".
He turns up and I start the bike for him so he can see that its in fine running order. I start the bike for him, and he asks (While bike is still running) to see the service history...

-At this point I have to add that he's a learner...and self confessed that he doesn't know anything about bikes - so not sure what he was looking for in the service history?

..So I walk 12 steps and pick up the paperwork, turn around and..
HE's sitting on the bike! Puts it in gear and rides out my driveway and onto my road!!

This guy is like lightning! He does a wonky loop, (With no hand on the front brake, and both legs splayed out in front like some motocross superstar, crossed with a drunken squid. He comes back in my drive. I take deep breaths, and keep calm as all the blood leaves my face. I let it slide, and finish the viewing.
When he goes to leave.. turns out he wasn't so serious about buying the bike after all -surprise surprise

- I said "By the way... NEVER ride another persons bike without asking. Ordinarily, you'd have been clubbed to death before you reached the letterbox. I'm serious! It's not cool. "

He just looked at me and grinned like a dolt.

Sheesh!!

My mate had his bike stolen in the very same set of circumstances. He even had the guys mobile number but it proved to be a stolen phone. You dont happen to live in Newcastle area do you? This sounds remarkably similar m/o

Nah, I'm south of Melbourne. On the dry bit, just before the wet bit. But not by much.

Nah, I'm south of Melbourne. On the dry bit, just before the wet bit. But not by much.

When I recently purchased my beast, I had the agreed cash, plus offered my car key, plus asked if the owner minded if I took it for a test ride. All up a very good example of how reasonable trust worth decent folk can act.

If he hadn't agreed to the test ride, I still would have bought it and respected his call.

Hey New Kid, Did you find your bike on bikepoint website? I think I recognise your avatar. Nice bike with the 2 into 1. Very nice indeed!

Go right into his face and start screaming, as soon as he put a hand on you to push you back put him on his arse. Next time take the keys and warn them not to touch the bike till you get back.

You just gotta be careful. Warn the potential buyer when he rings that he will need a fair wad of cash and a valid license if he wants a ride.

I have heard horror stories of guys lobbing up in a car which was left behind as security. Nek minnit, no bike and a stolen car on your verge! Insurance wouldn't pay up, said he gave the keys to the bloke..?

If they look shonky, they probably are. Don't trust 'em...