When you sell a bike, do you allow test rides?

[Botch]

I may be selling my FZ this spring. When I looked at the BMW I ended up buying last spring, after looking it over I asked if I could take it for a short test spin, and the third-party seller, at first, didn't want to allow it (he changed his mind as I started to walk away). I didn't test-ride my FZ when I bought it in '07, as I didn't know how to ride a motorcycle then
So, is it common to allow, or not allow, test rides for potential buyers? I will check with my State Farm agent before putting it up for sale, but just curious as to what's common.
Thanks!

 

[mrphotoman]

only if they have cash in hand usually. i have made exceptions when it is a mature person that is definitely going to buy. if it is someone younger or one of those idiots that troll craigslist just to test ride bikes then absolutely not.

 

[FIZZER6]

It's a bit of a crap-shoot with test rides. Some buyers may just be looking around and not even serious about your bike and just want to ride a few different bikes before buying. In any case you always stand the chance of an inexperienced rider crashing your bike and then it's still your problem!

When I bought my cruiser the owner let me take it on a test ride, but I showed up to look at it riding my FZ6 to make him feel more comfortable about the test ride and he didn't even hesitate to let me ride a bike worth $8,000 on the spot.

If I were in your shoes I'd be more willing to let another rider test ride if he showed up on a bike or at least had a motorcycle license that was held for at least 1 year, even better would be give me $1,000 cash. I'll give it back to you when you give me my motorcycle back in one piece, lol.

 

[tejkowskit]

With cash in hand and the person having a motorcycle license I would allow a test ride. When I sold my first bike the buyer didnt have his class m, so his friend who did test rode it. If I were seriously looking to buy a bike and the seller denied me a test ride it would be a deal breaker; I would not buy it.

 

[payneib]

only if they have cash in hand usually. i have made exceptions when it is a mature person that is definitely going to buy. if it is someone younger or one of those idiots that troll craigslist just to test ride bikes then absolutely not.

This^^^^

With the money in my hand, you can do what you like. You drop it, you bought it. Them arriving on a bike is a nice to have, but I wouldn't accept that as collateral. You dont know if it's stolen or not.

There's too many stories, like my mates, of guys going for test ride and not coming back.

 

[FIZZER6]

Them arriving on a bike is a nice to have, but I wouldn't accept that as collateral. You dont know if it's stolen or not.

There's too many stories, like my mates, of guys going for test ride and not coming back.

Very good point! Cash in hand then or no rides.

 

[iwannaride]

only if they have cash in hand usually. i have made exceptions when it is a mature person that is definitely going to buy. if it is someone younger or one of those idiots that troll craigslist just to test ride bikes then absolutely not.

Cash is king. When I bought my FZ6 I didn't have have the cash as I was waiting for my other bike to sell, so I let the PO ride it up and down the street. When I came back a few days later with cash in hand and ready to buy, then I took it for a spin.

Even with cash, I would decide based on how serious/mature of a buyer is looking at the bike.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Depends...the cash in hand thing would not apply for certain riders.

If a rider can provide a valid insurance coverage for a motorcycle along with a valid M endorsement, then it should be covered under their policy in the event they crashed and damaged my bike. So if it were Botch, I would not require cash in hand.

My motorcycle insurance covers me to ride any motorcycle, yours if I borrowed it or even a demo, or rental. Now if I were to drive a car, different story, I have zero insurance.

I have purchased three used street bikes, and never been asked for cash in hand when I test rode the bike.

 

[darius]

Depends...the cash in hand thing would not apply for certain riders.

If a rider can provide a valid insurance coverage for a motorcycle along with a valid M endorsement, then it should be covered under their policy in the event they crashed and damaged my bike. So if it were Botch, I would not require cash in hand.

My motorcycle insurance covers me to ride any motorcycle, yours if I borrowed it or even a demo, or rental. Now if I were to drive a car, different story, I have zero insurance.

I have purchased three used street bikes, and never been asked for cash in hand when I test rode the bike.

Insured to ride anyone's motorcycle? Wow. Make sure the owner doesn't cut the brake lines after you tell them that..

 

[Nelly]

I ask for proof of insurance and a deposit. This way you weedle out the non serious buyers and cover yourself. If I go to look for a bike I have my insurance, deposit and license to hand.
As stated above if I was declined a test ride I would be suspicious that all was not as it was depicted to be.
Nelly :thumbup:

 

[FinalImpact]

Insurance or not - Not my headache when my hand is full of cash. You're riding it only when full payment is in my hand. Done. Anything after that is just unfortunate if they dump it.

Why sign up for that when you're trying to sell the thing and you + bike both have a clean record. just not worth it IMO.

 

[I JET]

As others have said it really does depend on the person buying it. I will and have in the past asked for full payment in cash before the test ride (because the buyer was young and in-experienced. I was happy to hand it back to him if he brought the bike back in one piece and didn't want to buy it. He did buy it though.

When I sold my beema last year, the guy buying it was much older than me, an experience rider and was known though a friend of a friend. I was happy to hand the keys over and told him to take it out for decent ride for a couple of hours. He ended up buying it with out test riding it.

 

[marke14]

Full cash in-hand = test ride. In my book at least. If they don't have it, or aren't willing to part with it, I will ride it around for them.

Even when I bought a track bike from a guy I sort of knew - from this board in fact - he told me, cash in hand/test ride OK. He didn't know me well at that point and I don't blame him.

Bikes are unique in that you can't just hop in the passenger seat and go for a ride. Or on the flipside, you can't easily take someone for a test ride with you driving. When I sold my Civic, I took the guy on a test ride and did some sudden acceleration, braking, turns, ran the heater and A/C, turned up the radio, and even showed him the engine running w/ the hood up so he could listen to the valvetrain, etc.

Good luck!

 

[Flat_FZ6]

There's only one way you're riding my motorcycle and that's if you give me our agreed price in cash first. This has been my experience for all four bikes I've bought, and the three I've sold.

 

[agf]

My experiences from both perspectives.
When I went to buy my vtr250, Ist seller said "you drop it you buy it" so it was with that understanding I took it for a quick run around the local streets. To compare I took the 2nd sellers bike for a 30 min. ride, escorted by him on his new bike with the same pre ride warning.
I bought the first one but only after the seller asked
me to take it for another ride, just to be sure I really wanted it. This time he escorted me for half hour ride. I had left my car and trailer in his drive so I guess he figured I wasn't about to do a runner.
When I bought the FZ( brand new), I still owned the VTR and I had hope to trade it in but there was an encumberance on it, but the dealer knew all my details and that of the bike.
He basically asked me to sign and insurance agreement with a $500 excess liability clause. I was happy with that on a nw bike test ride. Needless to sy I signed on the line and they said they would still take the vtr as a trade in with a value of $2500 up to a month after my purchase of the FZ. Sadly that didint work out.

So when the encumberance cleared after 6 months I told a guy(Chris), that parked next to me everyday that I had the honda for sale. he had a mate (Steve) looking for a bike. They came around, Chris knows his bikes so he looked it over, asked if a test ride was an option. I said to them that if Steve was happy to buy it if Chris dropped it, a ride was an option. Chris came back told Steve to buy it or he,Chris, would.
I keep in touch with Steve, he has upgraded since, but he loved that vtr as his first bike.

so I figure as a seller, being up front about ride conditions with the buyer and having a suitable guarantee, (cash or knowledge of them) and as a buyer myself, I wouldnt buy anything I couldnt spend at least half an hour riding

 

[SweaterDude]

It's a bit of a crap-shoot with test rides. Some buyers may just be looking around and not even serious about your bike and just want to ride a few different bikes before buying. In any case you always stand the chance of an inexperienced rider crashing your bike and then it's still your problem!

When I bought my cruiser the owner let me take it on a test ride, but I showed up to look at it riding my FZ6 to make him feel more comfortable about the test ride and he didn't even hesitate to let me ride a bike worth $8,000 on the spot.

If I were in your shoes I'd be more willing to let another rider test ride if he showed up on a bike or at least had a motorcycle license that was held for at least 1 year, even better would be give me $1,000 cash. I'll give it back to you when you give me my motorcycle back in one piece, lol.

$1000?? um......NO! the full asking price is to be in my hands for a test ride. PERIOD. I don't care what you currently ride, how long you've been riding, how much you beg, etc. Unless i know you personally AND know first hand of your capabilities on a bike (in good faith) would I allow a test ride without cash in hand. I know plenty who have held licenses much longer than I, who ride much larger bikes, etc. that, quite frankly, can't ride worth a sh*t.

 

[nitroheadz28]

When I bought my FZ 2 weeks ago, my only riding experience was from the MSF. The owner didn't even ask for cash when we got to the test ride portion, but I still left it with him out of courtesy. I let my experienced friend ride it first, then I took it for a ride after stalling it twice turning it around in the driveway . For reference I'm 22 so it wasn't an age thing, maybe he just trusted me.

Personally if I was selling, absolutely no ride without cash in hand. This tells me the buyer is serious, and my ass is covered if something happens.

 

[Botch]

Well, after reading all these responses I understand why my Beemer seller was nervous! (would've been kind've scary to hand over $13,000 to a total stranger too, even if I did have "his bike")

Sounds like I'll be asking for cash in hand; thanks much for all the replies, folks! :thumbup:

 

[long101]

I would never buy a bike without test riding it. At the same token, I wouldn't let anyone test ride my bike without collateral and proof of M license.

I bought my FZ last year and it was my first bike, only other time I road was during the MSF class. I showed up without a helmet (guy said he was giving away a helmet with bike) and wearing jeans and a hoodie, so I'm sure he may have been a bit apprehensive.

I gave the bike a once over, started it up, and sat on it. We came to a price, I gave him cash, and I took it for a spin before we signed anything. I would love every motorcycle transaction to go this way, but there are too many lunatics on both sides (buying and selling).

I'm not planning on selling my FZ now, but am dreading having to go down that road. I would prefer to take a lower sale price and sell it to someone on a forum I know, or a friend.

 

[Plymothian]

Always full asking price in my hand before a test ride, regardless of what age they are. If they are an office manager and have won a "Mr Sensible award" 3 times, this will not help you if someone hits them and wrecks your bike.

In the UK I think it's standard practice to have a "you drop it, you bought it" policy. Also worth noting that you should put a definite time/distance restriction so they don't take it on a 300 mile test ride!