Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Test ride a motorcycle for private seller

Selling a motorcycle and wondered how folks would go about letting someone test ride it. I already have an idea of how to handle it but one of y'all might have a better idea so throwing it out for discussion.



2017 Suzuki TU250X if anyone in SW Idaho is interested.

You ride it and let him watch.

I would only let them test ride it if they had their endorsement, a helmet and put cash in hand. If they don't meet that criteria then they can watch a demonstration.

This.

In other news, I posted this on the local Craigslist and literally within two minutes I got a text from an "English as second language" scammer. I politely declined his offer...

I've sold 4, maybe 5, Harleys as a private seller and never once let someone test ride it first.

Sit on it, sure. Fire 'er up, okay. Test ride, nope.

Never had a complaint.

I sold mine on CL as well and dumped a lot of emails before I found a buyer.

It can be done...

Good luck.

I'm pretty sure that there are scammers who use software to automatically send emails to all CL ads. The wording is usually similar and most often refers to the item as 'the item', not to what it is.

I write "calls only" into my ads. That lets me know that if I get a text, I delete it.

I wouldn't buy without test ride (who dosen't test drive a car)?
If arrangements need to be agreed upon first, no problem !

My brother was selling a Honda Nighthawk 650 back in 1985. Some guy came to look at it and asked about a test ride. He told my brother that he wanted to ride it to the Smokey Mountains from Central Ohio as a test. My brother laughed at him and went inside the house and closed the door in his face. We still laugh about it from time to time.

Ron

Drain the tank and only put a cup of fuel back in.

One bike I sold the guy rode on the back with me another I let him ride while I held the cash in my pocket essentially insurance in case he wrecked.

Same here.

Let them hold your DL.

That wouldn't work on a Honda Trail 90/110, or any bike with a reserve tank.

BIL lost a car to a test drive. Guy never came back. LOL (Colo Springs)

I sold a few. Made sure they were licensed then told them to take it for a ride. Was never worried about them stealing it because they showed up in a car. If two guys showed up I asked for the keys to their vehicle until the rider returned.
I would NEVER buy a used bike without a test ride.

Yep. Have a grandson learned this lesson the hard way. To the tune of $4500…

This, cash in my hand is the top requirement.

If you go to a dealer ship, you don't get to ride it, unless they have a demo, but that still isn't the bike your buying. Like said, you can set on it, hear it run but a ride...nope. If it was a close friend that I knew and knows how to ride, maybe. Total stranger, nope.

Test ride = stolen bike. No way Jose !

With a motorcycle endorsement, me holding the payment and a good vibe they can test ride it.

On a car or truck I always rode with.

When I sold my Harley, I did it on consignment with a local dealer. I jacked up the price to cover that cost. Did not want any asshats coming to my house.

Dealer called me 2 days later and said come get your money, bike has sold.

I think folks are willing to pay a little more when a dealer sells it. No negotiating on price too. The showroom lights help the sale

Like a few others have said.
Licensed to ride it.
And hold onto some form of ID from the person.
Or even holding onto the payment from em.
Dunno...
Ya gotta have some type of assurance.
Still kinda opened up to accident or injury schit in ways.


But like many others have said
I wouldn't buy a vehicle with 0 test drive either.

Being a judge of character/ appearance quickly also comes into play in varied ways also.

Just seen this.
Sums it up....
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Every Bike I bought at a dealership included a test ride.

L I K E

too many perps out there lookin fur a free ride

Buddy down the street has a trailer ready to load it up

Right there with you, skeen

reading this is funny.... I am currently shopping for a scooter.... 650cc-900cc is what I am looking for...

This is how my buying will go down if you are a seller.

First, it will be just what I am looking for. I will exchange e-mails with the seller to make sure he is the seller and has clean title in hand...

Then we will agree on the price. The price has to be worked out before I will even drive to look at it.

When I get to the buyer.... I will ask to see the title, look at the tire ware to make sure it matches the miles on the bike. I will check the oil. Ask to start the motor and put it in gear to make sure clutch is good.

If it all checks out.... no heckling... no kicking the dirt.... no test drive... look for a flat spot to count out the bills. Make sure the title is signed. shake hands. and load up. 

Drive safe.

No ride til I have your cash in my hand. That’s pretty standard around here.

This ^^^. Get the full price cash in hand and let them ride it. If they wreck it, you keep the cash and they now own it. If they don't like it and haven't damaged it, give them the cash back.

I went to look at a bike one time and the guy wouldn’t let me ride it. I gave him the cash he was asking for the bike, and he still wouldn’t let me ride it. He asked what if I wrecked it? I told him to sign the back of the title and hand it to my wife who was standing there with us. I doubt he ever did sell that bike.

The last bike I sold, I held the cash and his drivers license. His buddy was waiting with me as he rode.

He asked, "what do I do If I get stopped" no license

I replied "what are you going to do to get stopped on a test ride?"

He bought the bike, ZRX 1200R