As the topic suggests how would you prevent your bike from being stolen if it was advertised for sale.

I am a one owner one rider and wouldnt like to hand over the keys to a buyer to go for a blast and not see the scooter again, I have heard of blokes turning up in a stolen car and leaving the car keys as security, have also heard of a bloke leaving his dog as secuirity only to discover it wasnt his dog. I am sure their are hundreds of ways theives could con you.

Personally the buyer would have to jump on the back and I would take him / her for a ride, then again is that safe. Could always have a mate follow I suppose.

The other thing is I wouldnt like strangers casing out my home.

So the question is what would  you do as I am sure there are many and varied ways of preventing bike theft, looking forward to your opinions. 

Definately something to think about hey. If you have a possible local buyer maybe you could arrange to meet them somewhere to show them the bike

I have only sold one bike to someone I did'nt know. I made him bring his licence (which I held while he rode) his car rego slip in his name and he left his girl friend with me. I Probly would have given him the bike for an hour with her. Very Nice!!!!

My mate is about to put his Streetbob up for sale so we'll be taking some precautions. I have a shed full of gear so no one will be coming here.
Unfortunately my mate has lost his licence which makes it a little inconvenient but we will be meeting any potential buyers somewhere away from home.
I don't agree with test rides, not for new or near new bikes.
But if the guy was to give a deposit and be buying the bike subject to a test ride then I would accompany him on my road king so if he did a runner, he'd be dealing with 450kgs of me and road king trying to run the fucker down.
He'd be handing over a license with a photo for sure as well as a deposit.

Last bike I sold, (BMW) I simply asked for his wallet, complete, no pulling stuff out, I simply said it's my way of proving who you are & that you'll come back, If they baulk at that then start to be concerned. Then pay by cash or direct deposit, no cheques as others have stated, they can be reproduced or stolen.

 

If it's a local buyer, I get them to give me there phone #, then I ring them back. When they want to look at the bike, i arange an off site meeting place to view the bike. When they want a test ride, I'll get there address and take the bike to that address with a mate along.

Never had a problem, but I'll never invite someone over my place to view a potential purchase.

Good luck.

Get a mate who's a good rider, with a fast bike and a full tank to ride along with them. Chances are they wont flog the guts out of your bike while he's there either.

Interesting question.  All the (road) bikes I've purchase have been thru a dealer and a test ride was never a problem.  I did sell a Jap bike privately many years ago, the purchaser was someone I worked with so I thought a test ride would be no problem... that was until he rang me over an hour later from the hospital.  Fortunately (for me) he did end up paying the original asking price and (for him) his injuries were not life threatening.  I never did see the bike again, he talked about repairing it (mostly damage to the rickman full fairing) but I suspect that as it was his first foray into bikes he (or his wife) may have got cold feet.  Pity, as for a rice burner it was one very nice bike. 

Woops, one missed word (now corrected) changes the tone signifiicantly,thanks FLAN, well spotted. Yes they were NOT life threatening.  A fair bit of skin and bruises but no broken bones thankfully.

In Vic if you want a REVS check (called something else, but they'll know what you want) it will cost you ($25?)- unless you tell them that you don't want a printed copy. I've had a few staff not mention the "free" way of doing it.

Other states (not Vic) can use: http://www.revs.nsw.gov.au/

there are easy ways to change the numbers on a bank cheque go to the bank get one for 14.00 can then change it if you know how, always best to take cash unless you can confirm the cheque with the bank. revs is a good thing to but dont help you with rebirths because revs only works on the numbers you give it ok with revs it will tell you its a rewriiten off bike if it is but only if it was written off in the same state as you reved it in.

So looks like CASH only, I have heard of fake bank cheques, I have even seen an EFT reversal (believe it or not) and forget about  personal chqs, so thats the money side of it taken care of.

Places to meet can be a problem so I figure the seller and a couple of mates meet the purchaser off site, could be the local BP or Bank but somewhere there is a few cameras.

The exchange takes place after the buyer and seller have agreed on the price and its as is where is condition, no free rides,  Bike doesnt get put onto a trailer until CASH is in hand. After this, paperwork is done and seller and buyer part on good terms.

Seller then immediately goes to local HD dealer and places order if not already done so for brand new scooter

 

If you have your bike insured for "agreed value" and it is stolen, will the insurance pay you out, taking into account sell the bike cash is in the hand, insurance payouts take a while, but if you are concerned, up your policy when you advertise the bike.
still take the precautions stated in other posts,

Just a thought

I sold my Softail privately, to a stranger. First met him away from my home. When he was sure and we agreed on the price he agreed to pay cash. When he turned up he had 2 other mates with him. We exchanged cash for bike and filled out the rego papers. They were what people would call bikie types, but as we know these people can be some of the nicest people to know anyway. Deal done without him riding the bike. He followed me home and could see that the bike was in excellent condition. All service details were for him to see.

Never saw the bike again, but I did get a speeding ticket from the bike a week later, appears that he was speeding the night he bought the bike. Now I know why you record the time of sale on the rego form. Just had to fill out an affidavit and return to transport mob.
I still have his phone number, and have one original part I forgot to give to him, the standard pipe bracket.......guess he doesn't need it yet.