letting buyer test ride your bike?

EazyDuz · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Karma :

Do you allow this?
I see plenty of adverts saying full asking price in hand before test riding, but wouldn't that be hard to enforce?
So far I've sold 2 bikes and let both test ride them. The first one the guy bombed it up and down the street with no helmet, ended up buying the bike.
Second one pulled away off the drive and came about half a metre from a raised curb, wobbled and straightened it out in time, also bought it.
Just what can you do if they do bin it?
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chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

bikertomm · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jul 2010 Karma :

Pretty much what Chris-Red said..

IMO you also need a covering letter that states they have arranged insurance, have a relevant licence etc & are insured for the purpose.

And that they are riding it from (TIME/Date) incase of any speed cameras etc.

Also test rides under the condition that if it is dropped the bike is bought for full asking price.

Signed : Mr test rider.

They drop it, they pay for it. No test rides without full cash in hand.

Thumbs Up

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duhawkz · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Karma :

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

I was allowed a test ride for a private sale once. Didn't hand over cash, seller asked to keep hold of my driving licence and passport (asked to provide before I got there).

However, it was a BMW and as we all know, only real gentlemen ride BMWs (it's a no cads allowed club old boy).
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JP7 · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Karma :

I was fortunate the last time I sold a bike because the guy turned up without any gear to see it on his way home from work. He sat on it, and bought it. I am pretty careful when selling, I ask for cash in my hand and proof that they're insured for it before they go out.

The last time I bought a bike, I left my car key with the chap instead of a pile of cash. It wouldn't have helped the guy if I'd binned it, but he at least knew I wouldn't nick it.

Baffler186 · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 May 2013 Karma :

When I bought my CBF125, the bloke (who was a bike mechanic) let me take it for a test ride without any cash in hand, no ID, nothing. And on top of that it was a very icy November morning! This was silly on his part - if I binned it I could have just run off.

When selling bikes, I've let people ride them round the block, with asking price in my hand. Never bothered with signed waivers or anything.
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Doomsnite · Traffic Copper Joined: 19 Nov 2013 Karma :

Last guy i bought from wanted the keys to my £4k car for a £1k bike... Erm, no you can hold the cash thanks!
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EazyDuz · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Karma :

_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

The guy I sold the CR125 to demanded a test ride when he showed up.

I told him that the advert stated no test rides & that if it was that much of an issue I'd happily keep the bike. Thumbs Up

Still bought it.
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Llama-Farmer · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jan 2012 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

The Disapproving Brit · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Sep 2008 Karma :

SQL · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Aug 2012 Karma :

Registration number? Rolling Eyes

Llama-Farmer · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jan 2012 Karma :

Amber Phoenix · Traffic Copper Joined: 01 Feb 2013 Karma :

Last bike I bought, the chap gave me a ride as pillion. Seemed a good compromise. Eliminated a whole pile of risk for the seller, saved me hassle of pulling all the cash out on first visit, and I still got a pretty good idea of how well it ran.
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andys675 · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Karma :

it depends on how the conversation goes, and confideence in the buyer, I had a fruit cake indian kid turn up to look at my R6, no helmet, no money, plenty of bullshit, I refused him a ride, every time i went back in the house I armed the immobiliser, locked the steering and took the keys, he eventually wanted to ride it down the drive to some garages, I knew he was going to try and ride off on it so I told him no, he said his sister would come over with the money and his helmet if he was happy with the ride, I said no feckin way, he then asked me how he was going to get home, I said call your sister to collect you, which she couldn't so I took him to the end of the street pointed towards the train station and told him to walk there, feck off and don't come back, and pointed out that the bike didn't live at the house and was garaged elsewhere in case he intended coming back for it at 3am
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chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Diggs · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Karma :

Tricky one - depends on how 'upstanding' the potential buyer looks. If he is a southerner with a 4x4, thick neck, tatoos and bling I wouldn't let him. If however he is local and leaves his licence plus sister/mum/grandma behind with you to discuss Bakeoff whilst he has a go, fair enough...

Its always a risk.
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Wonko The Sane · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jan 2013 Karma :

Went with someone to look at and buy a bike, was left stood chatting with the owner while my mate test rode it, nothing left with the owner while he took it for a test.

Took my instructor with me to buy my bike as I'd never really ridden anything bigger than a 125 and I was under restriction

Again, nothing left with owner other than me standing chatting.
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The Disapproving Brit · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Sep 2008 Karma :

Polarbear · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :

I would normally say 'cash in hand' but it depends on the buyer.

The bloke who bought my Explorer got out of his car and said, 'Ah my new bike, can I have a test ride? I'll leave the missus here with the cash!'

I just knew he was going to buy it. He did. Didn't even haggle and paid what I had asked for.
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Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

-Matt- · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :

Personally I don't let anyone test anything. They can look at the bike, documentation, ask questions - but from there its upto them. Even cash in hand I wouldn't want to risk the aggro of someone dropping, crashing, getting pulled over; then coming back starting some attempt to say it was a mechanical fault with the bike and any number of other excuses to start argueing about 'refunds'. Then theres the whole letting them ride un-insured business to potentially cause more problems.

Shifted by last two bikes fairly easily with ad's saying no test rides.