Test Rides when Selling a Bike??

[Darin Jordan]

As I am weighing the decision as to whether or not to part with my bike, I was curious as to how people handle buyers and Test Rides??

Seems to me that you are taking a decent risk in letting a potential buyer just take a joy ride on your bike. Liability, damage to your property, etc...

At the same time, if I'm buying a bike, I'm surely going to want to ride it first.

When selling a bike, how do you all manage this aspect??

 

[Vmass]

Great topic. If I am selling a bike, it is certainly on a case by case basis. I have let most people who have asked for a test ride to do so. One in particular I laughed and said not a chance in hell, and he returned a few days later and bought the bike.

I can't remember the last bike I test rode before buying. In fact, I may have never ridden a bike prior to purchasing and never regretted it.

 

[TxGSrider]

I have always test ridden bikes before I bought them, but I can sure understand the hesitation in letting a stranger ride your bike.

 

[Guest]

I never buy a bike unless I've done a few wheelies and burn outs on it first. LOL

 

[ddaniels]

I've always test ridden except for the 2001 Bandit which I bought from a guy in Detroit. He met me in Bolling Green Ohio and we moved it from his trailer to the bed of my truck and I took it home. No regrets on that one.

 

[Hinermad]

I bought my current bike without a test ride, mainly because it was unregistered and the seller lived on a busy street just down the block from a police station. It started and ran, which was all I was after. I knew from the age and general condition it'd need some work, and I was fine with that. But if was looking for a bike I could ride the day I registered it, I'd insist on a test ride.

 

[Jedz123]

I never buy a bike unless I've done a few wheelies and burn outs on it first. LOL

Hahaha 2nd that!

I do let folks test ride bikes if they want and I will accompany them with one of my other machines. I always have full coverage on all my bikes so if an accident happens I'm covered but I tell folks, you can ride but I need to see the cash they have on hand to cover the expense of the bike just in case. I've never had an issue.

I test rode both Harley's. I didn't test ride any of the bike before that... I bought the TUX right off the showroom floor. I try to do Demo rides of the bikes I'm interested in.

I'll likely buy my next brand new bike without test riding that specific Motorcycle but ride the demo. I test rode my buddies Brand new T120 and LOVE IT. The Z900 is wicked and the RS feels allot like the T120 but with more HP. I already have a meeting set to talk with my local Kawasaki dealer when I get back to VT...

My 2 cents... Test rides are great.

 

[aclaytonb]

I've only ever ridden bikes at the stealership. Everything else I've acquired over the years were non-runners so...

Never let people ride outside of the neighborhood for a test.

 

[bobgroger]

If you get to a point where you let them go on a test ride, insist on taking a picture of them and their license with your phone in case they don't return....

 

[Gorminrider]

It's a judgement call for sure. I don't sell many but they are always "working bikes". I have done, "Show up on a bike and I will let you ride it up and down the block". New riders may show up with the friend who is teaching them. Another time, I accompanied a fellow on local sheltered sideroads without any traffic first...Really, I think a ride up and down the block is enough if you offer a gentleman's agrreement that any issue he has riding home (any lie you told him!) will be addressed.
But I guess this presupposes you only deal with noble spirits. Here in BC, I think it is best to get a days worth of "Demonstration insurance" rather than allowing them to ride on your insurance as it might put your rates up if there is a problem.

 

[chuck hahn]

I knew a guy whose policy was I hold the cash while you take a ride. This would seem like wise insurance right??? Well yes and no. Good policy if ALL the hundreds are real and not the first one or two you look at. Took him for 1200.00 and 6 month later the bike was found down on the Mexico border beat to death and still in his name.

Guys got the bike to run some drugs probably and abandoned it once they blew it up.

 

[trevor]

I have bought the following bikes in the last 6 years with no test ride...and they were all ride worthy


1983 gs1100e
1984 gs11550e
1988 gsxr750
2003 WR400f
1981 gs1100e
1982 550 Katana
1990 DR650
2016 DR650
2012 K1300R (Brand new...dealer ordered it...never even sat on one. lol)
1980 GS1000S (shipped from the US)

Bikes I have test ridden

1980 GS750e (first bike I bought in 27 years)
1991 Bandit 400f (Wife's)

Test rides imo are not necessary.

 

[chuck hahn]

My policy is they stand and watch as I run it up and down my street for them to see its solid.

 

[Jedz123]

I sell about 7 bikes a year... I get maybe 2 test rides tops a year... Never had a poor experience. Generally I sell motorcycles to motorcycle riders... So I almost always get along with the folks just fine.

 

[Gorminrider]

Here's a question: Would you buy a car without a test-drive? Bikes are simpler for sure but still...
The test ride of my GS400 revealed a problem that the seller was probably un-aware of. It was a simple fix-we worked it out in the price. So, conversely, it may follow that I get a better price from a buyer when they ride the bike. Perhaps it is harder for them to dicker when they've ridden it.
But like many, I've bought more broken bikes than running ones and the question of a ride doesn't come up.

 

[earlfor]

There is the liability question. I've had test riders return having dropped the bike and it's all bent and rashed up. Not one of them would pay for their damages to be fixed. If they run over someone, will your insurance cover a lawsuit and do you want to deal with that anyway. There is always another buyer coming if this one is a no sale. As a standard practice, I no longer allow test rides unless, the buyer has a motorcycle endorsement, shows up riding a motorcycle comparable to what I am selling and my impression of the buyer is they are a experienced, competent rider.
I came to this conclusion after two consecutive prospective buyers of two motorcycles I was selling crashed both bikes and I was left with the bills as the buyer walked away.

 

[GSXR7ED]

Both bikes I purchased were without riding them. Worked out for me.

As for you, Earl...sorry bro!

Jedz, you seem to have good fortune with your bike experiences.


Ed

 

[Steve]

The last bike we sold was my son's 850. The buyer was interested and apparently experienced. I invited him to take a test ride in the neighborhood behind us, he politely refused, saying he did not have insurance. I asked if he would mind riding on the back while I took him for a ride. He accepted, we went for about a 5-mile ride. When we got back, he started pulling out the 100-dollar bills for the full asking price and asked where the closest DMV office was. We have one less than 1/2 mile away. By the time we got there, he showed me a document on his phone where he had arranged insurance for his ride home. We transferred the title, he got his new plates, he rode home. :encouragement:

About 3 weeks later, he asked me for some details about the bike, including pictures. Apparently somebody thought that they needed the bike more than he did, and stole it while he was in class.

.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

I have let the people who insisted on riding it, if I had confidence in them. One guy brought an experienced buddy to ride it. Another guy had the same model and was buying for his son. Both payed in full before the ride.
Motorcycles are quite unforgiving to newbee mistakes.
A friend of mine watched a test rider put his 300cc Honda in gear, promptly crash and break her leg!

 

[eddypeck]

My worst experience was buying a used FZR1000, seller wasn't happy to let me test ride but said he'd take me pillion... big mistake, guy was a nut case and I've never been so scared. I'd rather buy untested than have that experience again.

But on the whole I think most of the bikes (but not all) I've bought I'd been allowed to test ride. I've not been so keen to hand over the keys when I sell though, I guess I have double standards.