Test Riding

[westcoastpara]

Just wondering what people do when selling there bike in relation to test rides.

If you are letting people test ride your bike, do you like to view potential buyers drivers licence etc?

Just trying to gauge responses as im about to sell my bike (the ZZR)

I have read horror stories about bikes being stolen/damaged etc.

Sorry if this has been discussed before, i couldnt find any threads.

thanks guys

[Bendito]

There was a very comprehensive thread by Deej a while ago, but I can't find it

[flashpixx]

here ya go

[Goldmember]

Hi Westcoastpara. I have never sold my bike privately but i would ask for their licence or any identification with a picture and details. Hold on to it while it is being taken for a test drive and make a copy of their licence.

[apples]

I would not, and have not, purchased a bike without test riding it first.

I have only sold two bikes privately and both of them I allowed the people to test ride but only after we established they wanted the bike and had sufficient means to purchase the bike. The first they followed me whilst I rode another bike and the second I waited at their house.

Both times I had the riders licence for the duration of the ride.

[thro]

ask for the $ in advance.

and/or have a mate follow them on another bike.

also, maybe leaving only a few litres of fuel in the tank would be an idea too - so any chance of really doing a runner won't work out very well...

[westcoastpara]

great, thanks for all the advice guys, i appreciate it

[betamax]

When I was in the period of buying a 250 back in July last year, a guy with a black VTR came to my work to show me his bike. I wanted to test ride it but he said no. What I did was I handed over 6000 bucks in cash to him and said you hold on to my cash. If I damage/drop it I will have to buy it. If not you hand me back my money after the test ride. He's cool with that.

[Mirkz]

Worst comes to worst, get a mate on bigger bike that can ride well to shadow the test rider

[crash]

if your really worried get on the back of the bike or take them for a ride (they are pillion) on it or ask for a fair deposit ie: 20%

[MADOGA]

What I did was I handed over 6000 bucks in cash to him and said you hold on to my cash. If I damage/drop it I will have to buy it. If not you hand me back my money after the test ride. He's cool with that.

This is the best/only way to handle a test ride.
If they haven't got the cash to hand over for a test ride they probably cant afford the bike or the repair bill if they drop it

[padfoot]

When I was in the period of buying a 250 back in July last year, a guy with a black VTR came to my work to show me his bike. I wanted to test ride it but he said no. What I did was I handed over 6000 bucks in cash to him and said you hold on to my cash. If I damage/drop it I will have to buy it. If not you hand me back my money after the test ride. He's cool with that.

Pretty much this.

I can understand not wanting to buy without a test ride... However the test ride will only be given as confirmation of purchase in my case.

The bike is sold, assuming it rides fine.

As such, you can leave the cash with me and take the bike out for a spin to make sure it goes alright. If it is a heap of shit and breaks down, and you tell me I'm lying scum (which I would be if I claimed the bike rode fine), then the deal is broken and you'd get your cash back.

But when you get back and confirm that the bike rides fine... I keep the cash and you get the documents.

Seems fair to me.