Hey all, any thoughts on how you can protect yourself when putting a bike up for sale? I'm thinking in terms of offering potential buyers test rides. What if they lay it down, crash into something, etc.? I want to protect myself both from a liability and loss of value standpoint. It seems overkill to make someone sign a written contract before offering them a test ride. Is there anything in the law that protects the seller in these cases?
Thanks!
The only bike I ever sold that I let someone ride beforehand was to someone I already knew. It was a given that if he dropped it he paid asking price.
Its very rare that someone lets you test ride a bike before buying. Of the 6 or so bikes I ever bought, only one was test ridden. I was able to start the engine on the rest, but that was it.
I was only allowed to test ride mine after money had changed hands. I'll do the same when/if I sell it.
Seriously? I have test ridden every bike I've purchased, and allowed test rides on those I sold. If possible, I like to go for a ride with the person (I take a different bike). Just make sure you've both got the same idea about what happens if they damage it, and don't let anyone ride it if they give you a bad feeling or seem to be full of E36 M3.
No test rides! Don't like it don't buy it. All sales are final "as is".
I don't misrepresent what I sell and I won't be responsible for what you do to it once you leave with it.
There is no way to protect yourself from what another does.
I'd do a test ride if you pay me first so it's your bike if you tear it or yourself up.
I haven't sold a bike in the past 15 years, but my dad has always suggested the, "If you are serious enough to want a test ride, buy it and I'll buy it back for full price within half an hour as long as it is in the same condition." school of selling used bikes. Sketchballs need not apply; I think he offers it in person to those putting off ok vibes.
Hrm, I've always test ridden the bikes I've bought from private parties before any money changed hands. I like the idea of buy it/buy back but I think convincing people to do that will be difficult. Thanks for the input guys!
ae86andkp61 wrote: I haven't sold a bike in the past 15 years, but my dad has always suggested the, "If you are serious enough to want a test ride, buy it and I'll buy it back for full price within half an hour as long as it is in the same condition." school of selling used bikes. Sketchballs need not apply; I think he offers it in person to those putting off ok vibes.
I like this idea.
I have never bought a bike without riding it first. I was never asked to put down the money first either. My last purchase was late last year.
I've never denied a test ride except for one time. A late teen college girl wanted to buy my Ninja 250. She had never ridden before so I just couldn't allow it. Her idea was that she wanted to make sure she could ride it before she bought it. She left looking very sad, but I know I made the right decision.
I think this thread has altered my thinking on the subject though. I rather doubt ever again allowing a test ride without cash in handl
I didn't test ride my first bike, but that was because
I've test ridden all my other ones, I wouldn't buy a bike without riding it first. Too hard to know if the ergonomics will work, if I like the way it rides etc.
For instance a friend let me ride his BMW F800GSA. I was all hot over that bike before I rode it, thought it was going to be my next bike. Guess what? I rode it and hated it!
Totally worth riding the bikes before money changes hands.
Cash in hand, then you can test it. Come back unscathed and you get your cash back if you don't buy it.
I only let buyer who talk about bikes and rides they've done test ride bikes. When I sold my wife's bike 2 years back kid said he did not have a permit or lic and had only ridden a dirt bike a few times. he asked to test ride I said no....he said he'd not buy it with out knowing it went in to all gears etc.....gave him a helmet he rode bitch around the block. Two days later three guys loaded it in to a truck and they used 1 strap over the seat to hold it in the bed of the truck. I cryed as they pulled out of the drive way. poor bike only had 3000 miles on it and only one small scratch on the tank from keys missing the gas cap lock. BUT his cash was green...and we left for Nova Scotia then next weekend for a ride.
I've always test ridden the bikes I've bought, and allowed test rides unless the party in question didn't have a motorcycle endorsement.
Regarding the cash-in-hand thing, it would make me think twice if I called someone off craigslist, arranged to look at their bike, and said, "Oh, by the way, you need to have several thousand dollars in cash in your pocket if you want a test ride."
Maybe it's because of where I work, but that sounds to me like step one in an armed robbery.
Never bought a bike without a test ride and never will. Sold quite a few the same way, but always required a valid MC license.
When I sold mine last month, I held the cash and bs'ed with his friend when the guy took it for a ride. But, I sold it to someone from a closed Facebook motorcycle group where everyone knew someone else.
Yeah, I always wondered about those ads that have "NO TESTS RIDES WITHOUT CASH IN MY HAND!" and how much success they have with that.....as a buyer, I would worry about handing someone thousands of dollars, cash, without a receipt while they still have the title. I do like the idea posted about they bought it, and you'll buy it back within half an hour for the same condition/price.
I've bought a bunch of bikes, and never had a problem with getting test rides. That being said, I try to do my part by showing my motorcycle endorsement, insurance, and usually try to show up on one of my nicer bikes as long as the weather's good so they know it's not my first ride ever on their bike.
I wont even let friends(the friend I bought it from excluded) ride my 10r.....needless to say, it would be a signed BOS guidelining the agreement and cash in my pocket if they had to test ride it. Otherwise, you hop on your bike, I'll hop on mine. End of story.
I refused to let anyone test ride the SV when I sold it years ago, didn't phase anyone interested.
I would not let somebody test ride a motorcycle unless you give me the full asking price as a deposit.
I've decided to put my Road King up for sale, but this thread isn't helping me in deciding how to handle test rides 
.
I've never had a problem with anybody letting me test ride their bike when buying and I pretty much would expect the same from any buyer who'd buy from me, but then again I don't want to get stuck with a bent bike.
What about selling a bike on ebay?
I have refused test rides without deposits, insurance and a helmet. I keep insurance on my bikes. someone test rides it and they drop it, chances are, my insurance will have to cover it and if they do, my insurance will probably go up in the future.
everyone is different. You can tell that there are some people that should not ride your bike unless they have a 100% deposit. Then there are some people that you feel you can trust 100%, but they can still slip on some gravel or get hit by another car during a test ride. Chances are they are going to be in a unfamiliar area, on a unfamiliar bike, not concentrating 100% on their surroundings as they are going to be listening for engine noises, braking performance and looking at a new set of gauges.
What is more important, making sure you are protected from a loss (regardless of the small chance) or making the sale easier? If the bike is as represented and the price is fair, I don’t see any issue. Hell, I was denied a test ride of a used Buell at a local Harley shop even though I showed up on a nice bike with full gear, was over 30 years old and had a valid endorsement and insurance. They wanted to put a $2,000 deposit on my credit card before they let me try the bike out.
In reply to Rusnak_322:
They probably would have then complained that you made it leak oil and took life off the clutch/tires......
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