Selling a bike you've never ridden...

[bikefail]

Hey folks, this is my first post but have been reading for a long time. I have a (I think) rather unique problem.

Basically, last Easter I bought a bike (an Er6f), having never ridden in my life. This was somewhat presumptive of me, given what followed was not me taking the DAS, but me taking a job that takes up all my time, and having a daughter which has meant my wife is now totally opposed.

So I have sitting in the Garage a 2007 ER6F (blue) that I've never been on. How the smeg do I sell the dang thing - given I don't know if it works / is safe to ride (I do start the engine and check the battery so I know it runs). I bought it from a garage and it was serviced before it was delivered but I obviously want to sell it for as much as possible. What would you suggest? Sell it like a normal bike with the warning its not been ridden in 12 months? and if so would you let people test ride without paying first? I paid £2750 for it serviced and delivered. Has a moderate mileage (20k) as was a commuter but in great shape.

Any advice much appreciated.

Chris.

[CaNsA]

Get someone else to ride it or tell your misses to STFU cos you have uber life insurance

[fozzym]

Well I'm assuming you have let the MOT run out?? Why not get a local bike garage to come pick it up give it a light service and MOT and take it for a run to see if everything is ok.

If all is well you'll have a bike ready to be sold. You could even sell it to a dealer.

I'd say its worth about £1800-2000 if its a very good nick.

[J.M.]

+1 to telling the missus to STFU. If you want to ride then you ride. Why let someone else make life decisions for you?

As for selling it, you shouldn't. But I would just be honest in the advert and say "I've never ridden the bike since buying it, because I never completed my DAS. Sold as seen."

Test rides are only given once you have the full (or agreed) price in cash in your hand. They must show you their insurance first, and you must check their policy documentation to ensure that their policy lets them ride your bike without it being insured (because you aren't insured on it at the moment). Make sure they know that if they damage it, at all, then they've bought it.

Edit:
As above, the bike will need MOT+Tax for a test ride.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Handsome]

Be honest in the advert that you've never ridden it due to xyz, BUT, get someone to ride it at the very least as it'd be all to easy for a prospective buyer to try and con you with " Well the brakes are vague, the tyres have no feel, there's a knocking at the front end, there's a rattle at the back, there's blah blah blah " seeing as you've never ridden it yourself you can't really argue even though you knows there's a 99% chance they're trying it on...

Get someone you know or someone from here that's local to you to at least try it out, on a private road of course due to you having no insurance on it

Failing that see if the place you bought it from would be interested in buying it back, just don't expect back what you payed for it, might be worth a shot though...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[Rogerborg]

I hope having a kid didn't stretch your vagina too much.

Sell it like any other bike, there's loads of unridden bikes around. Don't lie, but you don't have to volunteer too much information.

It will sell more easily with an MOT on it, so do consider asking local MOT places if they can do a pick up / delivery.

Presumably it's SORN? You could take out short term insurance and tax it, but no tax wouldn't bother me, it'd just be the first thing I'd do after buying.

As for test rides, if it's not all legal you can offer it on a "30 minute money back guarantee" basis - cash in your hand, sign a bill of sale, the bike belongs to the new owner, it's up to them what they do with it. They can bring in back in 30 minutes for either a full refund or the new keeper slip.

Slap it in For Sale here, it looks tidy enough, someone might have a sniff. Or tell us where you are, you may get someone nearby who'll give it a going over.
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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I'll give you £800 for it.
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[Recluso]

Consider getting it serviced before you sell? You might find your local garage is willing to pick it up if you explain the situation. Heck, they might even offer you a reasonable deal to take it off your hands.

I'm inclined to agree that you should ride if that's what you really want to do. But, having a brother in a similar situation (he wants to learn but wife doesn't want him to), I can sympathise that you have to consider whether it's worth the arguments that having your way might cause.

Good luck bro, hope it's a happy ending and you don't have to sell.


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'Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.'
Honda PS125i > Yamaha YBR125 > Yamaha XJ6 Diversion > Yamaha Tracer 900

[bikefail]

Hi - it's insured and also has a valid MOT.... I may be a failwit but not that bad!

Thanks for the advice so far! I live just off the M25 Junction 11 so if someone is local and would be up for having a look at it that would be grand.

Cheers,

Chris.

[bikefail]

Also....

One way or another Im going to do my DAS this year or next, then I'm going to buy an R1. Wife be damned.

[mossi123uk]

reading threads like this make me feel like i chose the right women
she is pregnant and encouraged me to do my direct access and get a bike !

[_Troy_]

[instigator]

I'm guessing you're in Weybridge? I live in Ashford, just close to Staines. I can help but not sure in which way...

Either way, I reckon if you put it on ebay for £1750, it would sell for that and whether its been ridden or not over the last 12 months wouldn't really matter. The parts which count against it are mileage and the year (it's an 'earlier' one). Checking eBay history on er6's, they dont' tend to keep thir value that well at all, unlike their Versys counterpart which is slightly better.

Test rides are allowable if they put the full cash deposit in your hand and show proof of insurance. No less than this. I usually ask for a passport too as proof of ID.

[shooter]

I'd probably have bought this off you if you'd posted 2 weeks ago! I work in Ottershaw, I can have a look if you're nearby. I'm no expert though.