Would you Buy a Bike you Haven't Seen?

[LearnerLEGAL]

I've been shopping for my first big bike and have seen a Yamaha XSR700 on Superbike Factory. Now they are based in Manchester and I am in London. I've already test ridden an XSR so know that I like it, Superbike Factory have sent me a detailed blemish report with images. Being from a reputable retailer, it comes with a warranty etc and because they made a mistake with me earlier causing some real time wasting, have offered free delivery.
I know in theory it's not wise to buy a bike you haven't seen..but...are there some scenarios where it can be ok? And is this one of those scenarios?
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Will do this later...at some point...maybe

[Sister Sledge]

'they made a mistake with me earlier causing some real time wasting'

Does that not answer your question? Sure they're now offering free delivery but is it truly free delivery or is the price slightly raised to allow that to be swallowed up?
OK start again. Suppose they hadn't wasted your time and you were simply a customer sniffing around and looking at the bike, they'd basically know you were interested. They might well have offered that free delivery in the first place to seal the sale of it anyway. What I'm trying to say is perhaps prices are slightly higher and they already offer free delivery as a bargaining tool..

Your money but as with anything like a vehicle purchase it pays to take off those roses tinted spectacles and not trust any of the people selling the machine to you.
Be interesting to see what others think here..
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CCM 404 DS

[ThunderGuts]

Distance selling Regs would apply if you bought remotely; yes it'd be a faff, but you'd ultimately be covered I think;

https://www.hants.gov.uk/business/tradingstandards/consumeradvice/goodsandservices/distanceordering

I'd suggest asking every conceivable question, including some cover-alls, e.g. "Is there anything I should know about the condition or history of this bike" etc.

I'd also Google Maps / streetview the dealer to confirm their true location etc.
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TG.

[Easy-X]

If you can't physically check over the bike yourself then a) it has to be dirt cheap and b) don't expect to go straight on the road with it regardless of its MoT status.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[linuxyeti]

I've bought bikes unseen before, so far not had any problems, it's how I bought my Bullet 350 that I ended up keeping at least 6 years. It was fine, and, that was a private sale. Same again with my new HPS125 toy, bought that unseen, and again it's fine. Both had plenty of pics to send, and, with the HPS even a video
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Beware what photos you upload, or link to on here, especially if you have family members on them

[Polarbear]

I bought a second hand divvy for my wife from a dealer sight unseen. Plenty of pictures and a long chat over the phone and I took a chance, it was fine.

However there are some unscrupulous bastards out there so it certainly isn't risk free.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[P.]

Yes, but not from leolion.

[pinkyfloyd]

I got my current z800 from KH motorcycles somewhere up narf without going to visit first. They delivered, plenty of pics and lots of phone calls. I honestly cant fault the bike. It has a slight dink in the exhaust and a tiny chip out of one of the side panels but I knew that from the pictures when I bought it.

They even done follow up calls a week later to make sure I was still happy.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[RAYK47]

Personally I would not as even if I had ridden a similar bike I would want to ride the actual one to make sure it rides, sounds and feels right

[stevo as b4]

Depends on the vehicle tbh. If I was after something very rare or specific yes I would and have bought vehicles in-seen. Some things are so hard to find that you don't get to piss around agonising over or its gone.

If I wanted a modern bike like your XSR then unless I lived very remote or had no access to local vehicles or there was no market for them in my area, then sure I'd want to see the bike first. There must be 2000,3000 new and used XSR700's in the UK, so I don't see why you can't go and see any of them?

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

I;ve done it - w/ mixed results. But, on the one occasion when it went quite badly wrong, I didn't end up out of pocket iirc. Close call though. Had to get a bit heavy w/ the seller.

Would I do it again? Eh - may be not. Depends. What kind of bike? How does the seller seem on the phone? What are the photos like? What's the quantity and quality of paperwork, service history w/ the bike, etc. A lot of variables.

I think I'd advise against it, unless you're quite experienced at purchasing big expensive things, and are able to frighten people quite easily. ; - )
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Smok3y666]

Last 2 bikes I brought were unseen. First was a 1997 Fireblade that I got maybe 10 years ago from eBay. Traveled from Stoke to somewhere in North Yorks and rode it back no insurance. That bike retired about 3 or 4 years ago and got into a state of cost too much money to put right for a least so I sold it on few months back. Recently after the break I brought a ZX6R from Matlock again from eBay. Maybe I just got lucky? Full history and standard except for an end can. Was very happy with both.

[stevo as b4]

[Bellypopper]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[B5234FT]

Living up north, I've never viewed a bike before agreeing to buy and I've done it with very few cars either. Generally the stuff that matters you can see in pictures if the seller is motivated, and what you can't see will catch you out later even if you've viewed it.

That said I buy older stuff generally so a full service and replacing some bits is par for the course.

[LearnerLEGAL]

[LearnerLEGAL]

So glad I went to see the bike. It had obviously been left out in weather, lots of corrosion, dry rusty chain and god knows what else I would have found when I got it home as it clearly hadn't had it's next clocked service. Ended up seeing a bike in Wolverhampton, took a spin over and fell in love. The guy selling it was a true gent and I had a good feeling about him right away so trusted everything he said and it turned into a very easy buy. Rode it back home on a 5 hour trip. What a way to break the bike in. All's well that ends well.

Thank you all for your advice and experience, as always much appreciation to the community.
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Will do this later...at some point...maybe

[thx1138]

yeah couple of times I've done it, always for cheapo bikes £500 or less, never had any real problems - but I've always bought bikes with quite lengthy descriptions that point out all the flaws, or chatted online to the seller

[Bhud]

If it's a project, then yes. Project bikes always seem to be further afield than a 70-odd mile radius of London.

[stinkwheel]

Done it several times without issues. However the last two i bought were FUCKING lemons. A VFR750 that had been flipped and a "Barnfindchopperbobbercaferacer" Enfield consisting of parts of at least 3 different motorcycles up to 60 years apart in manufacture date that had been loosely assembled into a rough motorcycle shape by a monkey with a stilson then rattle-canned black.

Luckily I had enough spares to rebuild the first properly and I only wanted the frame and some cycle parts off the second
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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.

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

On the rare occasion I buy any vehicle (I run them into the ground) I decide on a particular model/year/colour/mileage/price so I'm quite limited; if I find one I'm having it. This gives me no wiggle room. When I wanted something bigger than a 600 I decided I wanted a blue 2002-3 R1 (because they're purdy and in the right price range) in original condition. This proved difficult until I spotted one on eBay 250 miles away which looked otherwise perfect. I tried to ignore it and the sale ended, but then it was reposted. I put in a late, drunken bid (at a fair price) and won. I thought I could pay a deposit via PayPal but it took the full amount. Oh, shit! When I asked for the registration to check the bike's status it came back as a Chinese scooter. Oh, shit! The seller said his wife had put the wrong letter into the reg details. Yeah, right! However, I got a lift to the seller's house and everything was spot on, in fact he was more concerned that I could handle an R1 until I emerged from his bathroom fully kitted-up in my worn gear like a proper biker. The bike has been exactly what I wanted. So, would I buy a bike I hadn't seen? I did, and it was fine. Still a risk though.

[gwernybwch]

[Evotion]

I bought a bike last week that I had neither seen or heard.

Well, in the flesh.

I picked it up the next day.
It is as good as it looks.
However, I was not prepared for the noise from an unbuffled aftermarket exhaust and had mush worse hearing for 24 hours once I got home with it.