Selling a bike privately?

[NZM0NK3Y]

Thanks for the generous offers - was pretty tempted by the burger rings but was really hanging out for 2 large jars of UK Marmite and a Guinness 4 pack

[Moi]

... was really hanging out for 2 large jars of UK Marmite and a Guinness 4 pack

That's out of my league...

I'd go with Mossy's suggestion - sensible start price on TradeMe and viewing only or you start it and ride it to demonstrate it.

[Let us know when it goes on TradeMe... so Big Dog can make a sensible offer of Marmite - yuck!]

[Big Dog]

Oh, I can get you UK marmite.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Akzle]

y'all pussies with your marmite shit. you want the hard stuff? i've got some bovril i can hook you up with. pin of that and you're in lala land for days mate!

[G4L4XY]

Hey all,

You see the term "no test rides without cash in hand" on trademe auctions. Do potential buyers hand over 5, 10, 20k while they test ride your bike? If they don't have the cash do you let them test ride your bike?

I've only sold 1 bike before so I don't have this experience.

Thanks in advance

[Scubbo]

take their phone/wallet/carkeys and a photo of their drivers license -- if they don't have car (or with a second person who is not willing to stay with you while they go test) then don't let them ride.

positively check the drivers license ID too --- and the attitude test helps a lot / chat for a bit to get a feel of the person etc --- this will all minimise the risk / loss of $$$$

but there is always a risk

[tigertim20]

This topic has been done a few times, and youll get various responses

ive never asked for, or been asked to hand over cash for a test ride. As for taking a photo of licences - well, a lot of people simply wont do that as a photo of ones licence can be used for a number of nefarious purposes.

My preference is generally if they look like a shady cunt, they're not taking my bike anywhere - go with your gut.
I prefer an exchange of keys and names, and I ask to sight their licence so I know who they are, and I know if Im covered insurance wise if they drop it on a test ride (the you break it you buy it rule is great in theory, but a cunt to actually enforce)

You can normally tell if someone is legit or not, for starters, people that actually bother to ask a few questions, and make the time to come and take a look, are usually genuinely looking to buy something.

I cant imagine many people go to view a bike with the full asking price in cash on them (though I have once or twice for lower-priced stuff) but another option is to ask for a deposit equivalent to your insurance excess in case something happens.

I think most people take it all on good faith and go with their gut.

[Metastable]

I'm not too keen on test rides, unless I know who they are. I'll take them on a ride, I will ride around in front of them. If they are truly interested in buying the bike, we go to their bank, they take out a draft, hand it over to me. I give them the keys. They test ride the bike. If they like it, they keep it, if they don't I hand over the draft.

All parties are protected.

[Maha]

Ask to take a photo of their license at the very least, if that makes them uncomfortable then they can just stand there and look at it.

[neels]

As for taking a photo of licences - well, a lot of people simply wont do that as a photo of ones licence can be used for a number of nefarious purposes.

Ask to take a photo of their license at the very least, if that makes them uncomfortable then they can just stand there and look at it.

And there are the two extremes right there.

I subscribe to the go with your gut theory, and to be honest if I'm selling bottom end of the market crap I'm more concerned with people taking an interest in the other stuff in my driveway, and they never get to see the contents of my garage.

I'm never going to hand over a few thou in cash just for a test ride, but I would expect someone to allow me to photograph their licence before they go for a ride, and have in the past had them sign an agreement that they are allowed the car/bike for 1/2 an hour for a test drive/ride and after that it's deemed stolen.

A couple of years ago my brother sold his bike, the guy gave him the licence details and the asking price in cash and told him if he didn't come back from the test ride consider it sold, last seen heading out the driveway and never saw him again.

[Burnie]

I get the seller to prove he/she has the funds to pay and sign a form stating they are taking it for a ride and will pay up in the event of an incident.

If a vehicle is left, it is in sight, not allowed to leave etc (people have pitched up then "shot up the road", no car, no bike). If I really had my doubts, I have previously met the guy at a neutral place in the city, with a mate in a car in tow. Bikes aren't registered to my house either.

Upon sale, I also get them to sign a short form saying they have purchased the bike and paid for it in full, this is to cover me in the event they don't complete the transfer of ownership forms in a timely manner.

I have always handled the change of ownership papers myself - buying and selling. That way I know that they get done .


Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk

[G4L4XY]

So I guess the cash in hand thing isn't well practiced by the sounds of it.

Thanks for the input and sorry for the duplicate post. I got some reputation, no idea if it was good or bad haha.

[Voltaire]

So I guess the cash in hand thing isn't well practiced by the sounds of it.

Thanks for the input and sorry for the duplicate post. I got some reputation, no idea if it was good or bad haha.

I've sold two older Ducati's and my Sons Toyota levin in the last year, all were taken for a test ride/drive based on said gut feeling.

The guy who took the Levin for a test gave it a good thrashing my Son said, but he had left his Mum as security......

What I find hard at the lower end of the market is the vehicle breaking down soon after the sale, I adopt a full refund if returned as purchased

and that works as the buyer is usually " in love" with said vehicle. Learned that trick off Haldanes a few years ago

If using TM, I go for Classified as I can't be arsed with " sup bro, swp u sickas mazda 323 wif mags 4 it" texts, real buyers will call you and

turn up to view at agreed time.

I've also used TM Safe Trader too, thats good for long distance sales.

[Maha]

My wife thinks I am too trusting when it comes to people test riding any bike I sell.
A guy and his mum turned up to look at the Yamaha I had for sale.

When I sold the 98' YZF600 in 2006 a 'buyer' offered me $7,000 when he first saw it. I think the TM reserve was $7000. He Then he offered $7500 a short time later but I wanted the auction to finish. Then he said ''I'll pay $8000 right now''...the highest bidder on TM was $6900 I think...I told the guy that but he said he didn't care, $8000 was what he wanted to pay, Money was in my back account that over night so I took it up to him to him the next day.

Similar story when I sold my Triumph Sprint, wanted $7500. Buyer left me with a god awful BMW of sorts, Anne said ''what if he doesn't come back''... He did and paid $8000.