Selling Motorcycle - test ride?

[cashflyer]

I know there are a lot of motorcycle enthusiasts here, and at least one guy with a motorcycle sales website.

My father had some surgeries last year that left him no longer comfortable riding his motorcycle. He has decided to sell it, and I brought it to my house over the weekend to start the task of cleaning and polishing.

It's a really good bike, a Kawa 1600 Nomad. Luckily (?) he had it serviced, tuned up, new tires and brakes - all done last year when he thought he was going to get back to riding. So, no major work to be done. It just needs a good detailing.


Anyway - to my point.....

Because riders come in all skill levels, and some riders over-estimate their skills, I wanted to ask it if is normal for a person to take your bike for a "test-ride" in a private sale? Or would I just be opening the door for liability and loss?

[pavulon]

Many people will want full purchase price in hand before test rides are allowed. This way you're covered if it's crashed or simply never comes back.

[David]

I've always test road and always allowed test rides, but I do talk to the person for a while before I offer to let them ride it. And make sure I hold their keys

[JavaBrewer]

Tough one. I sold 2 motorcycles in the last 5 years and neither were test rode by the buyer. They didn't ask but I would have agreed if they did. Ultimately though it comes down to my perception of the buyer.

[Eric Hahl]

I always ask for a test ride. Never been turned down. I would however, probably decline test rides to certain people. Yeah, don't judge a book by its cover...right.

[ckelly78z]

I test rode both my Honda XR 200, and my Kawasaki KLR 250 before buying used.

[LakeCleElum]

Sold many over the years. Most want a ride.nsometimes I go on another bike. Had a young guy do a minor crash and comes walking back. His dad sez. Well you know what that means: "You just bought it"

[speeder]

Wow...really depends on the bike and mostly the prospective buyer. It would be a case-by-case basis. I've definitely sold bikes w/o a test ride and bought them long distance, etc.

One factor would be whether the bike is insured and if it only covers me riding or (?) I know that if I loan someone my car, it's still insured.

[cashflyer]

Thanks for the feedback, guys.
I'll certainly have to check the insurance policy and coverage!

It is a 1600cc cruiser bike... kind of bulky and heavy if the prospective buyer is only used to 500cc racers, etc.



Another question... as I am inspecting it and making a plan for detailing, I noticed that the chrome is starting to fleck off of the Kuryakyn handgrips. Should I spend the money to replace these before offering it for sale, are is this an item that does not affect selling value?

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Thanks for the feedback, guys.
I'll certainly have to check the insurance policy and coverage!

It is a 1600cc cruiser bike... kind of bulky and heavy if the prospective buyer is only used to 500cc racers, etc.



Another question... as I am inspecting it and making a plan for detailing, I noticed that the chrome is starting to fleck off of the Kuryakyn handgrips. Should I spend the money to replace these before offering it for sale, are is this an item that does not affect selling value?

Offer to deduct the cost of handgrips from your price.

[Arizona_928]

full purchase price cash before riding off. I have sold a few bikes, and prospective buyers always show up with cash. I give the key, and off they go. They comeback, and I give back the cash. They either buy it, or they walk back to their truck.

I never let a test ride without cash $$. especially when selling sports bikes.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Offer to deduct the cost of handgrips from your price.

if they catch it.

[Laneco]

Keep full coverage on your bike, check for an endorsement and then they need to show at least some cash-in-hand.

We have always bought used motorbikes and test ridden every one of them before buying. We have bought every bike we have ridden. At the time we've asked for a test ride, we've already made the decision to buy the bike provided it runs properly.

Hope that helps.

angela

[908/930]

I never have allowed a test ride, if they want bring it to a shop of there choice for a inspection, or will take them for a boot on it, go through all gears or whatever they want.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Another question... as I am inspecting it and making a plan for detailing, I noticed that the chrome is starting to fleck off of the Kuryakyn handgrips. Should I spend the money to replace these before offering it for sale, are is this an item that does not affect selling value?

Leave them something to haggle over.

If you're willing to eat the cost now then better to eat it later and let them feel good that they negotiated you down.

[on2wheels52]

Depends if they drove in or rode in

[VincentVega]

I was trying to sell my first bike and a guy shows up on a bike to see it. I figure he's ok and off he goes. He blew through a stop sign ~200 yards from the house and it scared the chit out of me. I've bought a few bikes since then and road some and not others. Be 100% on your insurance and make sure you have their info/license if you do give them the keys.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Leave them something to haggle over.

Good point.

I didn't want to throw money at a problem unless it really is a problem that would cost us on the final negotiated price. I like the idea of giving them something to negotiate for.

And as porschekid stated, they may not catch it (or may not care).

[epbrown]

Funny timing - I'm reading a thread on a Honda forum where people are posting about crashes they've had during test rides at dealerships. Makes you think. One recurring theme? Most of the crashes are on cruisers like your dad's, by people unused to the weight and the fact these bikes can't lean as much as other types.

As for me - I've never test ridden a bike. What I do is ask to watch the owner ride it (not an option here, I guess). I think that gives me a more objective/detached view of the bike running, and eliminates the risk of me crashing on someone's bike and 1) hurting myself (one of the above stories, the guy broke his collar bone), 2) risking injury on what could be a dodgy bike and 3) feeling obligated to by a bike I had so much trouble riding I crashed it.

What I do request is to sit on them, as I'm 6'1" and bike manufacturers seem based in Lilliput or Munchkinland or something.

I hope the bike's going back to your dad when the detailing is done. I really hate the "I'm selling it for" deals.

[patz]

Cash, Ass or grass. No free rides.