How do I sell my bike? Security question.

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SNM

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Anybody got tips/ advice on how to sell a motorbike?
Would you allow a stranger to test ride?
Surely nobody would buy a bike unless they've been allowed to test ride it first?
In the event of an accident, who claims from the insurance?
Does anybody have any interesting buying/selling stories?
Cheers,SM.
 
When I sell any bike I always ask them to leave the CASH with me as a garentee they come back and that they must be insured or if they have an accident they buy the bike(but get them to sign a note to that effect).
Dont let them leave their car with you as it could be nicked even if they have the keys.
If they bring a cheque they have a test ride as pillion (no argument! again I tell them this when they ring for the bike).

The above has worked for me twice and any honest buyer wouldnt mind the above.

Also if they buy the bike by cheque they din't get it untill the money is in the bank. luckily it has only been cash so far.
 
SNM said:
Anybody got tips/ advice on how to sell a motorbike?
Would you allow a stranger to test ride?
Surely nobody would buy a bike unless they've been allowed to test ride it first?
In the event of an accident, who claims from the insurance?
Does anybody have any interesting buying/selling stories?
Cheers,SM.
Click to expand...

1 - Business is business - don't fall for any flannel - be a hard business man and drive a hard bargain

2 - Get the buyer to give you a Banker's Draft - it's a guarantee of payment.

3 - Absolutely no test ride - bugger's will run off with it or crash it - ride the bike up and down for him/her

4 - Don't part with the bike's documentation until you are absolutely happy with the transaction

Regards

Bob.
 
If it gets to the point of a test drive/ride, get the name and address of the buyer in advance. Insist that they produce their driving licence AND insurance.

Check the D/Lic address against that given in advance.

Check that the insurance details match and that it covers the tester.

This should not put off any reasonable buyer but it will deter the tyre kicker/joy rider/time waster types.

If asked why the insurance is a pre-requisite point out that if you allow them to ride the bike without the correct D/Lic and insurance you will get the same penalty under the Use, Cause and Permit sections of the relevent legislation as they would if it goes wrong. (The law places the onus on you to ensure that anyone who uses your car/bike is licenced and insured. There is no defense by saying he told me he was covered etc.).

I've done this for years and it has never put anyone off if it is explained in advance.
 
I did buy a bike without a test ride!

Had a ride on the back and I didn't like not having a proper go, but the guy was clear, he had read too many horror stories to let me out. I had to agree with him in the end. I don't blame him.

In the end I gave him the bankers draft and agreed that if I had problems with how it rode, I'd bring the bike straight back within 15 minutes and he would tear up the draft. Obviously I only had his word for it, but I knew where he lived and he seemed a good guy. As the bike rode fine, I never tested the issue.

Also be careful letting your address out, its useful information for a tealeaf to know that there's a shiny bike in that lock up, doubly so if you have told him that there is no alarm!
J
 
Take a photograph of any prospective buyer as soon as they turn up at your door!

Greg
 
There is a scam which some unscrupilous sods use. It was covered in Motorcycle News a few months ago, but I am surprised that there is not more mention of it on this site.

I assumed that once the cheque had cleared, the money was safe - not so! If you accept a cheque (waiting for the sum due to appear in your bank account, before you release the bike) the bank can still deduct the money from your account months later. :eek: So the amount appearing in your account fives you FA guarantee that it wont suddenly disappear from you account, leaving you without a bike or the cash. I was so shocked when I read this, that I cut it out. Apparently what you need to do is, after the amount appears in your account check with your bank that the funds are "clear for drawing" - I forget the exact wording, but will look it up.
 
I'm just selling my 650CS as we speak.

Re Cheque scam, confirm with your bank but its 7 days after it cashed that they can claim its still stolen. Bank transfers are safer (in progress as we speak) but don't rely on bankers drafts as they've been proven to be a bit sus, again, wait till its cleared.

Test rides, No way unless you've got cleared funds (cash isn't safe until its banked and verified its not fraud. Even with insurance I still wouldn't be happy as who's to say thats its real aswell!! If its a bona-fide buyer then they won't mind these conditions. Going on the back?? jesus, I don't trust anyone with the controls except my old man and even then I prefer not to!!!

Take it easy and good luck.

B

:D
 
Be ruthless

It doesn't necessary help you sell the bike but do NO test rides without the money in your pocket so to speak. If you allow someone to take the test ride with you as pillion you are at risk of being elbowed off.

Take nothing in exchange, cars, kids, wives etc. Cold hard cash every time.

Get them to sign a disclaimer stating they have insurance and will forfeit the cash if the bike is thrown down the road. Might not be worth the paper its written on but its a bloody good start.

Like I say this appears harsh and unhelpful but its better than losing your hard-earned.

Sh!t happens. Trust no-one!
 
All sounds like good advice to me.
Why not just part exchange the bugger and save yourself all the hassle:D Unless you are going to get A LOT more selling it privately.
 
I've just sold my R1100rt to fund my 12GS, although i'd been offered a decent part ex(by bmw standards) i answered a BMW club ad where a bloke was looking for a good r1100rt, no cash up front so he was treated to 8 miles on the pillion, he was happy, i got £350 more than the part ex offered and he transferred cash into my account which i was able to immediately draw on, never accept a cheque it just isnt a secure way of being paid, bankers drafts can be forged as can most other payment methods, direct money transfer into a little used account is best and draw it out asap, just so that you know it's real, never acept a cheque where the buyer gives you to much and asks for cash in return for the surplus amount, if they do you're being scammed. :D
 
I just sold a VFR to a chap from Ireland over the Internet.

I had a price to trade in against the GS but I advertised it on Ebay to see if I could improve on what I was offered from the dealer. It didn't make reserve but within an hour of the auction ending I got an email from this guy wanting to know how much I was asking for it etc. I explained the situation to him, I was guaranteed a price the following week from the dealer and if he wanted the VFR he had a week to either come and get the bike or get the money to me. In the end he transferred the money by paypal and I had to hold the bike for him until he could fly into Aberdeen to pick the bike up. 3 weeks in total after I had the money.

I would say this would not be the norm, and it could have backfired on the buyer if I was the dishonest type. In the end he came over and picked up the bike last weekend and took it back to Ireland on the Sunday.

The start of a very good friendship.
:)
 
beware bankers drafts, i except them only in banking hours, get the branch telephone number to ring and confirm its a genuine draft, drawn from that branch - building society cheque, with withdrawel book in their name ( tell them to ring you when they have the cheque and are just about to leave, then you tell them to bring the book with them, gives them no time to forge/copy etc ) -- can't do that now i've posted it here !

I've had some weird experiences with people selling bikes over the years .

:D :D
 
Everything that was said above, but also gut feeling......


I think I tend to be a pretty good judge of character......in some cases its almost got me into trouble after refusing to trust someone or go that bit extra for them that I do for some others.....but I'll stick by my gut feeling.

There's an old line I really like as well.....it's perhaps not too relevant while we're talking about bikes and the sort of money they entail, but it still rings true....

'If you lend a friend a tenner and never see him again, it was a good investment.'

Nuff said.
 
Steptoe said:
beware bankers drafts, i except them only in banking hours, get the branch telephone number to ring and confirm its a genuine draft, drawn from that branch - building society cheque, with withdrawel book in their name ( tell them to ring you when they have the cheque and are just about to leave, then you tell them to bring the book with them, gives them no time to forge/copy etc ) -- can't do that now i've posted it here !

I've had some weird experiences with people selling bikes over the years .

:D :D
Click to expand...

That is exactly what I did when I sold my last bike. Everything went just fine. As long as you can phone the buyer bank branch to confirm the draft, everything should be fine. Don't get the phone number from the buyer ;)
 
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