Helpful tips for potential bike buyers

[Rogerborg]

Let's say your seller had posted a very detailed ad listing everything about the bike, its history, current condition and flaws. Assume that it's a very low mileage example in excellent mechanical condition, with long MOT and tax and a fair asking price.

You could:

#1 loltxt "is bike sold" without so much as the courtesy of a name on it.

#2 Turn up with your scowling Mate Who Knows About Bikes. Say up front that you're not buying tonight. Then your Mate Who Knows About Bikes could jut his chin out and ask why the throttle cable is rotating ("Er, that's the heated grip cable"), and how the seller can prove the low mileage. When referred to the manufacturing date on the front tyre matching the bike's registration date, scoff "What does that prove?". When gently prompted "...well, how many miles has that original tyre done from new?" get a petted lip and start pointing out all the cosmetic flaws that were clearly noted in the advert. Then ask "How much are you really wanting?" and be told "You're not the one buying, and that's not an offer" and get a full on sulk, while the actual buyer doesn't get a word in. Eventually both leave to say you'll think about it but won't be back in touch before the weekend.

#3 Carefully read the advert, do your homework on the bike, ask a few pertinent questions in a lucid, friendly, polite email, turn up exactly on time, carefully check the documentation and that everything is as described and works as it should, without assuming that the seller is a lying scamming twunt. Go away to think about it, and then get in touch again the next morning to offer to pay a substantial deposit immediately by direct bank transfer if the bike can be held for a week.

Which of those buyers do you think will get the bike?

One down, two to go. Stay strong.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Stowelly]

#4 view the bike in the same way as number 3, come back that night and sabotage it in some way, then come back the next day and buy it for the reduced price because it is faulty

[DrSnoosnoo]

GPz sale? Perhaps direct people to this forum and tell them your avatar, surely they could get an assumption of your personality from here, so they can research the bike and the honesty of the seller.

You shouldn't have to do that because I'm sure you don't greet potential buyers in your tracksuit, best Nike trainers and cap to say, "yeah it's just too fast for me .... init".

When I read adverts the second I read it's fast... My cursor seems to automatically move to the top right corner of the monitor!
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Walloper]

#5 Take the cash. look at the bike, decide if it is as posted, Pay the feckin guy and GTF with the bike.

Never phaph.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[The Disapproving Brit]

[Lady Phoenix]

[j00pY]

I just sold my bike privately, and I couldn't get over the number of people who would ask questions about the bike that I wrote in the description.

Also the amount of idiots who felt like as they can't afford what I was asking, that I should just give it to them for what they want to pay for it as they are *insert excuse here* and that I should somehow subsidise them.

The most memorable potential buyer said that he had just passed his test, and didn't have much money left for a few months. How about he paid £400 less than I was asking and he wouldn't take the fairing lowers, but as I 'seemed a mechanically minded type' I should ebay them to make back the £400. C***

Next time I'll just take less as a trade in at a dealers, and save myself all that hassle.

[Old Git Racing]

I like it when they say I'll give you £xxx in cash now. What did they think I wanted, xxx 'kin carrots in a fortnight. All this never pay what they're asking is shit. Come to buy one off me and it's at the price its up for or just don't buy it. Sometimes they say no thanks then but ring up later saying they could pay that for it after all. Sorry mate already sold it.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[map]

[Walloper]

The hassle is all part of the game.

It's not whether you win or lose but how you play the game.

Or somfing..
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[map]

[johnsmith222]

[Walloper]

[jetski]

[stinkwheel]

In fairness. Assuming the seller is a lying twunt is the only way to approach buying a motorcycle.

They will lie direct to your face in response to a direct and specific question such as "Are there any cracks in the plastics?". "Nah mate it's really tidy.".

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/VFR/CIMG0624.jpg
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/VFR/CIMG0635.jpg

or "Does it look like it's been crashed at all?" "No sign of it having been down the road mate."
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/VFR/CIMG0645.jpg
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/VFR/CIMG0646.jpg
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[jetski]

I brought a mate along with me when buying my first bike as I didn't know enough about them and didn't want to get shafted. he was very thorough and it got a bit uncomfortable after a while (checking over the bike, not the shafting). the bike was all in order and it was a good price so I didn't haggle. everybody wins
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woo look at me, I'm a signature

[Rogerborg]

Fair play, but if you bring a Mate Who Knows About Bikes, it helps if he actually Knows About Bikes.

Anyway, yes, I'd prefer cash-in-hand, and that's how I've bought.

But a deposit-in-bank is fine if the seller's jib is cut very much to my liking. We've already bonded over the inherent superiority of POSIX based operating systems, so I'm calling that sudo sell me a bike.

Anyway, Man With A Man With A Van has hauled the Lifan away, so that's two down, one to go. Or maybe keep, it's a plucky little fellow.

Buying them, I like. Selling them, urgh... I'm calling that wine o'clock, and the phone's going off for the night. And reeeeelax.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Fowlersrs]

I do know what u mean, it's the excuses as to why u should accept less than the asking price before they've even seen the bike in the flesh. I've got someone coming to pick up my triumph tomorrow and I've already had the "will u take 2k because that's the top end of my budget and that's all I've got bollocks.

I'm asking 2.2k and I just said to him look, the bikes worth 2.2k u come see for yourself with the extra 200 quid and then tell me it's only worth 2k. I don't care how u get the money, but that's the price.

To be fair since we got that straight he's been brilliant, I guess people just take a chance on u being desperate to sell!

[Rogerborg]

[bazza]

"Is there any way you could move a bit on the price?"

"Oh, absolutely."

"OK, how much?"

"I'll keep adding another £50 to the price for every minute of my time you keep wasting. So, one last time, that's the price, do you want it - yes or no?"
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"That's it. You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college."
'98 Ducati 750SS, '08 Suzuki GSX650F ©2004-2014, Bazza's Harmless Banter