Selling my bike . . . Test Rides?

**garfield69** · 18th November 2006, 21:04

Hi all, I'm looking at selling my bike privately but I'm not sure about the best way to protect myself (or rather my bike) from potential test riding idiots.
Do I just hope for the best? Is there a legal document I could get them to sign to protect me? Do I just say NO TESTRIDES (and come across as a total dick myself), will my insurance cover any accidents (assuming the rider has a full lisence).

What does everyone here do? Any tips from you experienced lot?
Its a 600cc roadbike so I'll probably be getting people who have just got their full, and although its no demon rocketship its still got enough go to potentially bite an inexperienced rider in the bum.

Would love any help you guys could offer,

Cheers.

**Fatjim** · 18th November 2006, 21:13

You've got several options.

Take the full or negitiated amount as security before the ride. Make sure they know this before offering. also having full insurance will help your peace of mind too.

Also, check their license, and record the no. and the date/time they took it for a ride, otherwise murphy's law will get you a nice fat speed camera ticket.

Bike shops will usually get a form signed, but with the money in your hand and their details you should be sweet.

**hellnback** · 18th November 2006, 21:41

Welcome to the site. Most people won't buy a bike without taking it for a ride (would you...), also if your buying a bike you're obviously a good cunt and wouldn't do anything to fuck off a fellow rider.... hopefully...

**Bartman10** · 18th November 2006, 21:43

Good advise from fatjim. money and licence details. Otherwise ring your insurnace co to find out what the story is...

You've got to let people ride if you think they're serious. I'd never buy a bike without riding it, so when selling a bike I understand that the prospective buyer wants to ride. Just make the rules clear.

Good luck!

**garfield69** · 18th November 2006, 21:53

Thanks for the replys, and also the welcome hellnback, I realise that the "no testrides" rule would not be condusive to getting the bike sold, but I guess its just the thought of putting my baby in someone elses hands, still as they say "you have to let go sometime", and fatjim does have some some good suggestions.
So fingers crossed it will soon be me on the buying end again with a fistfull of dollars.
Cheers again.

**rok-the-boat** · 19th November 2006, 16:50

I let a guy test ride an XR250 and he overreved it and bent a valve. Accordingly, I am quite careful about letting people ride... often, I take them on the back. Otherewise, they can take me on the back. Finally, I'll keep their licence or some such thing.

**jonbuoy** · 19th November 2006, 17:04

Going through the same thing at the moment, I reckon if they are serious about test riding it they should be able to get a covernote from their insurance company. Or say half the value of the bike in cash as a deposit. Also take a note of their drivers licence number and the time and date they took it out.

**hsvboy06** · 20th November 2006, 17:16

Use your discretion - if you didn't promise to allow a testride then you can always say no if the guy looks dodgy. If possible, go with him, either as pillion or on another (borrowed) bike.

My problem with the idea of expecting full payment in cash in your hand before you allow a test ride is that, as the buyer, I don't want to give you all the money until after I've ridden it - it might turn out to be a piece of crap and you might not be willing to give me my money back. Even a 50% deposit might be an issue in my mind. It's a dilemma.

Also, my insurance doesn't cover anyone riding my bike except me...

**NinjaBoy** · 21st November 2006, 23:00

Originally Posted by Fatjim

Take the full or negitiated amount as security before the ride.

Although this would be good... I wouldn't have the full amount or any significant amount of cash on me. I presented a bank cheque the following day when I came to pick up.

But in saying that I haven't been on the selling end of the deal yet... just the buying end.

**cowboyz** · 22nd November 2006, 04:53

As a buyer I agree. I am not walking round with wads of cash. When I go bike shopping I might want to ride 2 or 3 bikes to see what one I like the best. Carrying shitloads of cash is not an option. If you dont want me to ride it then I will take it at face value and decide if the bike has enough merrit to be brought without a testride. I brought my 250 without riding it. the 600 I took for a ride for about 1km. Although you could be like the champion that I got an email back from yesterday.

I sent an email via trademe on a classified for a couple of bikes registering my interest in them saying I want to look and testride them and if they had concerns about me testriding their bike they could follow me on my 600. One guy replied with..
Hi Lance,
No probs, just bring a wad of cash, or leave your bike with me.

Regards

Charles

good o. so I replied with...

excellent. No problem.

few questions though..

1. Who are you? I am looking at a few options for my next bike. I am sure you would be one of many emails I have sent out over the last week.

2. Where are you?

In any case, I am busy this week. Looks like I am going down to the sprints on the weekend so that is the weekend out. next week is not looking good. Maybe in the evening one night might be alright on thurs (30th) or the following week (4-8)

Cheers

and to top it off he replied...

I am replying to your query on:

Yamaha FJ1200 (Classified no. 77389945)

Evenings fine, any weekend OK at this stage, i'm in Eketahuna.

Regards

Charles

excellent. I now either have to ride round and round Eketahuna till I see a FJ1200 parked up a driveway that looks like it is for sale or I could just move on to one of the other 10000 bikes that are for sale.

**S&S** · 22nd November 2006, 05:45

I always get the person that is going to test ride to fill out, date & sign an agreement that if any damage is done to the bike while being test ridden, they agree to pay the asking price in full. I have never had a unhappy test pilot & I've covered my ass from a simple drop of the bike.

S&S

**imdying** · 22nd November 2006, 07:10

Originally Posted by garfield69

Thanks for the replys, and also the welcome hellnback, I realise that the "no testrides" rule would not be condusive to getting the bike sold, but I guess its just the thought of putting my baby in someone elses hands, still as they say "you have to let go sometime", and fatjim does have some some good suggestions.
So fingers crossed it will soon be me on the buying end again with a fistfull of dollars.
Cheers again.

No, stand your ground. I sold my ZX6R on the basis of no money, no test rides. It sold reasonably quickly, and to an out of town buyer (turns out, a member of KB!). I took him for a good distance around the extended block... the bike was obviously well kept and I took him for a decent distance... everyone was happy.

The only person that will be unhappy if they steal it or waste it is you. Don't let them cajole, pressure, or otherwise tempt you into anything other than sitting on it without getting their money. Just don't do it. You're the one who will end up fucked.... then you'll be off to visit my mum at the disputes tribunal

If they have the money to buy it, they can get that money to cover test rides. If they can't, then f em.

**Beemer** · 22nd November 2006, 10:08

I checked my insurance first (was with Protecta then - that's when I found out my excess was 25% of the sum insured!) and found out it would be an additional $500 excess if an unnamed rider had an accident while on my bike - making the excess $5000 - ouch! First guy had ridden one of the same model so didn't want a test ride as he knew he wanted it (but didn't come up with the cash so didn't get it). Second one was a woman who was on a learner's licence so her husband took her out on the back of it. I found out when they came back that they'd switched positions along the road so I would not have been covered if she'd crashed, which really pissed me off. Third guy came and left two of his kids and his car with me while he went for a test ride! I had a good feeling about him, and after chatting for a while when he got back, I had no worries letting him take it out again. The following day he rang me and transferred the money into my account.

I had been quite worried about the test ride situation but I think you have to let someone ride the bike - even if you follow them in their vehicle or on their bike. And trust your gut instincts!

**F5 Dave** · 22nd November 2006, 10:46

I’ve always let people ride my bikes to sell, but have got wiser over the years. Lets face it the ZZR isn’t a 20+k bike. I would never buy a roadbike without riding it. I passed down a 750 because chick wouldn’t let me ride it, bought another of the same the next month.

In the horror story side a friend lost his XR to some chap that turned up with no car or bike. Had one guy show up on his 750 to look at my 250 commutor/hackbike. Kind of knew him from school many years before. He was gone over an hour. Bike was dirty & he returned with a few mates, “Nah don’t want it” Good thing his mates were there. Well for him.

I would now always have to have ID or someone staying there & a vehicle. ‘Bend it you buy it’ is a verbal agreement. No more than 10 min.

When I bought my YZF which was not that old at the time the guy knew a mate of mine but had never seen me before. He said take it for a decent ride so I did. Then he said take it home, heck clean it if you want. Hell’s teeth, I think that was a bit trusting, but it worked -I bought it & still have it 9 years later.