Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I have never sold a vehicle of mine, much less a motorcycle. Unfortunatly my wife is now unemployed and I am going to have to sell one of my motorcycles to help with income.

Is there a faq for how to sell a motorcycle on this site?

One of my concerns is how to handle a test ride. Would a prospective buyer want to take ride? How do I handle it? Do I let him have at it and let him come back whenever he wants? Do I let him sit on the back while I do the riding?

Any comments or advice would be appreciated.

Personally when I sold mine I required that the buyer either had a cashier's check or cash in hand, plus a valid M/C license.

I'm going thru this right now as a matter of fact. Have found a co-worker that wants to buy my '03 Sportster, so haven't had the need to advertise. At the very least make sure they have a Motorcycle validation on their license. My potential buyer has ridden off an on for years and spent last summer riding his cousin's V-Rod, now he wants his own. The wknd after Easter he'll be riding it and I'll be wingman on my Dyna, so at the very least I'll be right there...so if your buyer seems legit, follow him on your other bike.

For test rides I've heard that you should make sure they have left something of more value than the bike at your place. Say they drove - they shouldn't go for a test ride without leaving their car at your place.

There are some problems that I don't understand.

I think MC insurance and it doesn't cover anybody riding your bike, just you riding your bike.

So, if they crash it test riding it - it could be everybody's problem.

When I sold my Kawasaki... The person came over and I just let him take the bike out - let him borrow my helmet.

Probably not the smartest thing on my part - I didn't ask his experience level or anything - and I didn't check his MC endorsement. He said he had it...

Ahhh well no harm no foul, I suppose. Things worked out, but I shouldn't have counted on that.

RhadamYgg

Good points there by Rhadam. Some sellers don't care if you ride their bikes, others won't let you ride at all. I have also heard of sellers riding up and down the street a few times so the the buyer can listen to the engine. I don't think it's unreasonable to keep someone's license while they test ride the bike. A test ride should be around the block once or twice and no more than 10 minutes or so. I think it's really what you are comfortable with. At least with their license in hand you know where they live if something happens.

I left my license and key for my Jeep with the owner of the motorcycle. Most of the Craigslist ads say you have to have the cash in hand and a license with an endorsement. I am pretty sure that is the way I would do it. You could also make up a release of liability form (or steal one from a local dealership).

Wrider wrote:Personally when I sold mine I required that the buyer either had a cashier's check or cash in hand, plus a valid M/C license.

I wouldn't even allow cashier's checks due to the scams that have happened. Cash only, green folding money!! None of our bikes is worth more than $6K, it's not an unreasonable amount of cash to carry.

If someone wanted to test ride a bike I have for sale, they would hand over the money (in cash, no MOs or checks of any kind) first. No exceptions.

That's entirely reasonable.

When I've sold bikes, I've required the potential buyer to have a current m/c license and cash in hand. First bike I sold the guy left his truck, keys, and cash while he test rode it. Second bike the guy just shrugged and bought it without a test ride...but I made sure he understood there would be no riding unless I had the cash up front, and if he wrecked it, he bought it. Nicely of course...you don't want to irritate someone who might be handing you lots of money.

I would want $3-4 thousand cash in my hand in case the tester dropped the bike.

I don't think people come to steal the bike but if they did, I'm insured and would have the $4K to cover any costs in replacing the bike.