Test ride "rules" when selling a Scura?

[Guest nastav]

Hi,

I am selling my Scura, and have a few people that are going to look at it.

My only real question is what to do when they want a test ride?

Do I let them set off with reckless abandon.....only to never return? no, I hope not.

Deposit?

No test?

Is is their insurance or mine?

Wow I feel dumb, after many months of having the bike for sale (yet not advertising it) I never really thought about it. I guess I thought it would wind up on consignment at the local shop, as I don't have much time to deal with it.

Any advice will be great!

Thanks

shameless plug: bike (with photos in classifieds)

[Dan M]

Hi,

I am selling my Scura, and have a few people that are going to look at it.

My only real question is what to do when they want a test ride?

Do I let them set off with reckless abandon.....only to never return? no, I hope not.

Deposit?

No test?

Is is their insurance or mine?

Wow I feel dumb, after many months of having the bike for sale (yet not advertising it) I never really thought about it. I guess I thought it would wind up on consignment at the local shop, as I don't have much time to deal with it.

Any advice will be great!

Thanks

shameless plug: bike (with photos in classifieds)

 

 

I would not allow a test ride. If he dumps it, you are out. Plain & simple. As an alternative, If he wants to buy it but won't without a test ride, tell him if he buys it, you will give him a set amount of time like half an hour to return it undamaged for a refund if the bike is not as you described. This way you are both protected and it will eliminate those who are not serious buyers.

[Guest ratchethack]

It's a bit of a pickle, ain't it? As long as the title is in your name, you're legally responsible, and your Insurance Co may be expected to act accordingly, should the occasion arise. As the seller, "The Rules" are yours and yours alone. It's times like these when you hafta ask y'erself, "Do I feel LUCKY?" And how do you feel about accepting & holding collateral (ignition keys to wotever it is he might've rode in on, f'er example) from someone you more'n likely just met? If you'd just stolen a vehicle, wot more quick and convenient way to "launder" it anonymously via an "instant exchange"??

 

Now this is just me, but if I don't know the prospective buyer from Adam, "The Rules" are: "No Test Ride". Period. Them's the terms, and I make 'em clear up front. If the prospective buyer knows Guzzi's, and (next large step) knows what he's doing, this shouldn't throw him off too much. If he doesn't know if he likes Guzzi's or not, let him go elsewhere for his education. You don't owe him one at 100% your risk. He should understand and respect your rules just as he should expect anyone unknown to him to honor his rules in the same situation, even if he says or thinks they're entirely different -- it matters not. IMHO, as long as y'er legally in the driver's seat, regardless of who's sitting there, best not trust without any ability to verify. If he needs the reassurance of seeing & hearing it run through the gears (a reasonable enough concern, IMHO), I'd suggest he follow behind you for a rip up the Interstate. If that doesn't do it, there's surely a more knowledgeable and more motivated prospect around the next bend.

 

For me, it's another "quality of life" consideration. I think of it this way -- Any transaction where the risk of having to retain a lawyer is reduced down to as low as it can possibly be reduced is a good transaction.

 

BAA, TJM & YMMV.

 

Sorry y'er selling, but good luck.

[antonio carroccio]

Dunno about the rules Ratch was talking about, but I always have had a test ride before buying the bike.

You can simply ask a deposit. Just look deeply in the eyes of the guy whom is going to buy your bike. Remember this: he is a rider too, just like you are. He knows what it is riding another man's bike.

I would allowd...

[jihem]

Well, if he knows Guzzi, then no ride should really be necessary...

If he doesn't, you can still take him as pillion for a few miles, no ?

 

But a test ride if you don't know the guy ? In my book, never*.

 

*there has been some pretty sophisticated stealing scam where a guy would come, put down a smallish deposit and take the bike for a "small" ride to never come back ...

[stormsedge]

When I sold my '79 SP years ago, it was with no test ride...the guy was a Harley guy and called me about six months later to see if I wanted to buy it back. I did test ride the RM, as I bought it from a guy (also a Harley owner) who had had it in a H-D chopper/consignment shop window for sale, for months. Ran it through the gears once and paid him. He, his wife and mine stood in the chopper shop holding the money...he may not have been as likely to let me ride it if his wife were not so hot to sell it. (btw, I'd gotten the serial number from him earlier and insured it before I rode it). k

[orangeokie]

Anyone that wants a test ride, have them leave a cash deposit with you for the purchase price of the bike. Have them sign a simple written agreement, that if they wreck the bike, they just bought it.

[jsciullo]

If possible I would meet them in a big empty parking lot to give them a chance to ride it around or if you have a seond bike ride a few miles with them. You might also want to talk to your insurance company to make sure that both bike and passenger are covered in case soemthing bad would happen.

Jim in Dublin, OH

[rossoandy]

When I sold my '79 SP years ago, it was with no test ride...the guy was a Harley guy and called me about six months later to see if I wanted to buy it back. I did test ride the RM, as I bought it from a guy (also a Harley owner) who had had it in a H-D chopper/consignment shop window for sale, for months. Ran it through the gears once and paid him. He, his wife and mine stood in the chopper shop holding the money...he may not have been as likely to let me ride it if his wife were not so hot to sell it. (btw, I'd gotten the serial number from him earlier and insured it before I rode it). k

 

Rosso M?, there one on 'youtube'in a HARLEY shop window bein run up! oooer

[Guest nastav]

Thanks Everyone.

 

I guess my "gut" here is this: If they came from this board, and show up on a decent bike, seem decent, etc.

Then I will look into allowing the test ride with some form of deposit.

 

If they are totally random, not that internet makes people less random, then no test rides without cash or something else to secure it.

 

Kinda reminds me of a test ride related story from way back.

 

I remember when I bought my first bike at 18 years old, the guy was pretty much "don't kill yourself", I did not, and bought the bike (a Ninja....I was young and broke...don't hate). When I sold the bike, a kid and his dad wanted to write a check, load the bike and leave. We had agreed upon a Cash transaction. The bank was three blocks away, I suggested they go to the bank, get the cash and come back......they were very reluctant about that, and finally came back from the bank 1 1/2 hours later (three blocks away) with $50.00 less than the agreed upon price. This included $1 bills. Ok, so good thing I did not take that check, they barely had the money.

I take the cash inside and come out with the title and keys, etc. and they pull a old wooden expandable painting scaffolding out of the truck to load it up. I suggested that this did not seem very wise, but they insisted. "how 'bout one of you rides it home (sale included 2 helmets)?" the reply "Neither of us has ridden a Motorcycle before". These guys had BOTH repeatedly asked for test rides, I was under my Dad's insurance at the time ( I was young) and HE was very much against the idea of someone killing themselves on that motorcycle (unless it was me...I guess) during a test ride. They start the bike and proceed to attempt to ride it up the scaffolding. No luck twice, third time the Dad Hauls ass up the thing and at the same time the scaffolding breaks the lower fairing slams into the end of the tailgate. Kid's Dad insists this is somehow my fault and I should go ahead and give them some money back for the damage "I'd" done.......crazy.

 

I guess that anyone serious enough to buy the bike, should be serious enough to put some deposit down.

 

Thanks again for the input. Maybe consignment is not that bad? I hate feeling like you can't trust people, but I guess sometimes you can't put yourself at risk in order to trust someone you don't know.

 

Thanks again

[badmotogoozer]

No test rides without a serious down payment. If they haven't brought any cash with them, they are not serious buyers and can piss off.

 

Your liability insurance should cover any damage he does to the bike, himself or others. (You DO carry at least $1M right!) Check with your insurer just in case.

 

If your Spider senses are tingling for any reason, no test ride.

 

If you DO allow a test ride make sure you SEE their bike license - no license, no insurance. Write it down.

 

good luck!

 

Ryan

[Guest CafeMoto]

No test rides. Period. You've got everything to lose and nothing to gain. If they want a test ride, tell them to go to a dealer. Good luck.

 

Vincent R. Ross

Attorney at Law

[Guest ratchethack]

No test rides. Period. You've got everything to lose and nothing to gain. If they want a test ride, tell them to go to a dealer. Good luck.

 

Vincent R. Ross

Attorney at Law

I think of it this way -- Any transaction where the risk of having to retain a lawyer is reduced down to as low as it can possibly be reduced is a good transaction.

 

BAA, TJM & YMMV.

 

Sorry y'er selling, but good luck.

Err, no offense intended, Counselor.

[Guest CafeMoto]

Err, no offense intended, Counselor.

 

None taken. You're absolutely right.

[dlaing]

If for whatever reason you do let them test ride, ask to see their driver's license, even if they are your hot sister-in-law and set a limitation on time and or miles of test ride.

You don't want them saying, "he never said I could not test ride for two weeks"