letting buyer test ride your bike?

[EazyDuz]

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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To shreds you say? Tss tss tss

[chris-red]

[iooi]

[bikertomm]

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.


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[duhawkz]

[map]

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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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[JP7]

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]

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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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[Doomsnite]

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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Triumph Street Triple-R
Sold: Honda Hornet CB600F-Y / Yamaha YBR125

[EazyDuz]

[_Iain_]

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.

Still bought it.
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[Llama-Farmer]

[Rogerborg]

[The Disapproving Brit]

[SQL]

Registration number?

[Llama-Farmer]

[Amber Phoenix]

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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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[andys675]

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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Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[chris-red]

[Diggs]

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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Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[Wonko The Sane]

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]

[Polarbear]

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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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Rogerborg]

[-Matt-]

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.