Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:05 am
not sure where you are located and the laws in your area, but you may want to make sure the bike has been fully titled and registered. also ask if there are any liens on the bike. jot down the VIN and get a carfax style of report to see if it has been written off or if there are any liens against the vehicle. Depending on your jurisdiction, if he sells the bike to you he is in effect transferring the loans to you as well since the bike would be technically owned by the lender.
ask to have him start it up, and if he doesn't allow you to test ride it get him to ride it up and down the block so you can at least see that it moves and such.
if you can, bring along a buddy who knows more about bikes than you do to give it a look see, or ask if you can get the vehicle inspected and split the cost with the seller (or eat the cost as part of the purchase price)
Depending on how good a judge of character you are, after asking all these questions you should have a decent idea on what kind of guy the seller is (unless he is a good conman) but still get some hard data like a title search done before you hand over money.
ask to have him start it up, and if he doesn't allow you to test ride it get him to ride it up and down the block so you can at least see that it moves and such.
if you can, bring along a buddy who knows more about bikes than you do to give it a look see, or ask if you can get the vehicle inspected and split the cost with the seller (or eat the cost as part of the purchase price)
Depending on how good a judge of character you are, after asking all these questions you should have a decent idea on what kind of guy the seller is (unless he is a good conman) but still get some hard data like a title search done before you hand over money.