Would you purchase a bike sight unseen?

[samboss260]

Thought that I would post this here, as it does not directly relate to GS bikes only.

Would you purchase a bike over the internet sight unseen, and just have it delivered by a truck to your door?

If yes, have you done it? Any stories?

And what would the $$ limit be?

 

[marvinsc]

I did via Ebay in 2005. It was a 1980
GS850G. The pics looks great and the seller's feedback was outstanding. I did not have it delivered, I drove upwards of 600 miles towing a trailer to get it. It was as advertised and I got most of my money back when I sold it 2 years later.

 

[tkent02]

I have, its worked out OK so far.

 

[Guest]

I have, off E-bay.
Remember this, they all look better in photographs.

 

[jbthomp]

I would be more likely to if it was on ebay rather than craigslist or anywhere else. That way at least you could check the seller's feedback and hopefully keep yourself from getting ripped off.

 

[twotimeGSr]

I purchased from Craigslist. Photo was decent and low miles on bike. I towed a trailer to the upper p in Michigan and pulled it back. It started in a rain storm, I rode it about a hundred feet, shut it off and paid cash. Glad I did it.

 

[Gold01ca]

Bought one off ebay, drove 12 hrs. to pick it up.
No regrets.

 

[Kiwi Canuck]

Remember this, they all look better in photographs.

I have bought two 1980 GS1000S's online, one off a Classic Bike site and the other off Craigslist.
First one from Montreal was not as described, photos looked better than in person, but the real problem was the seller who was the original owner of the bike, made it sound like it was as close to mint as can be. It was far from it, I figure I over paid by about $2,000.

2nd one from Boise Idaho, I flew down and rode it home, was better than expected, and awesome people to deal with.

If I buy anymore bikes long distance, I will either go there myself to see it in person, or have a local member go check it out for me.

 

[Guest]

I have, its worked out OK so far.

Me, as well.

 

[salty_monk]

I bought one off ADVrider on that kind of deal. Lots of pics, some research & a much newer bike though....

 

[trevor]

I bought my 750 over the phone. Had to take a ferry to go get it and a night in a motel. Wasn't disappointed. Paid him what he was asking too.

Not the same thing but I bought my new BMW without being able to see or ride it either. Definitely no regrets there.

 

[Guest]

I've bought my last 4 bikes like that .
An '87 BMW K100 - recommended by someone I trusted - good thing
A GS1000S bought through a secondhand bike magazine - good thing
A '77 GS750E bought from a GSR member (in America) - good thing
An '82 GS1000G bought from a GSR member (in America) - still haven't seen it (will do next week) - I have absolutely no doubt it will be a very good thing .

I suppose there are lying , thieving mongrels out there but , I haven't come across one yet .

Cheers , Simon .

 

[GregT]

Personally, no i haven't - and wouldn't.

But i have a customer who is an expert at getting bargains off our trademe site here in NZ. He sees something he'd like and waits till it's not sold - if it's not relisted immediately, he'll wait a couple of days and email the seller. "How much do you REALLY want for it ?"....

He has bought two absolute beauties like this - and for silly money too.

An FZR600 which when i looked at it had everything - from racekit cams and rods to an ohlins shock and Yosh pipe...He's sold it now but it was an absolute weapon in pre 89 racing here. won pre 89 at Wyndham - part of the Burt Munro challenge - 3 years running. But on the listing it just looked like a standard road bike....

Recently a mid 90's 750 ducati - with a lot of 900 bits on it. again silly money - and low mileage. So original it even had the odd Ducati hose clamps still on it

several others too.

 

[Vmass]

I have purchased many bikes over the internet. Some I have shipped and others I have picked up.

Only one time have I been disappointed/screwed. I bought a CB1100F in CA and had it shipped to MA. It was the middle of the winter and I just tucked it away when it arrived. A few months later I was tinkering with it and discovered it had a 900F engine in it..........I was a little angry. The seller insisted he had no idea and we came to a mutually agreed upon settlement.

I ended up selling it to a guy who drove down from Canada to pick it up.

One bad deal is no deterrent for me.

You really limit your options with local buying.

 

[bbjumper]

I bought an 84 V45 Saber last year with 1250mi. On it from a dealer in MI. The deal was well documented and the guy I got it from was great to work with. Love these deals when your pleasantly surprised. I wouldn't hesitate to work with him again..

 

[samboss260]

The is a bike, non-jap, that is over 21 hours drive away and a bit hard to get to, ie either 21 hour drive or long flight plus 4 hour drive. So it will cost me at least $1,200 to get to inspect it. Price is very good, but just toying with the idea of buying it sight unseen.

Dunno... It's in the back of my mind. And it is a 2004 Ducati.

 

[viperg]

Yes, I just purchased this late winter a 79 GS1000SN in CA from the original owner. He actually interviewed me first to pre-qualify me as a buyer. Not did I have the money, but why did I want the bike? When he asked me; "why do you want to own a GS1000SN?" I knew I had a good seller and the bike turned out far better than he described. We did several face time live video conversations for the bike inspection, start up and test ride along with a number of high res pics. I found a shipper 10 miles from the sellers house and had the bike delivered 4 days later.

 

[Chris G]

Bought both my bikes that way, it's all about getting to know the seller first, I spend as much time sussing the seller out as I do the bike, that way there should be no surprises.

 

[850 Combat]

I have purchased 4 1000G, 1, 1100G, 2 1000E, and 3 850G sight unseen. All were as expected. I purchased 2 RD400, and an RD350 sight unseen, and my 650 Seca was also sight unseen. I have purchased 2 Lotus Elites sight unseen. One was bogus. I have purchased numerous dual sports sight unseen. One of my RDs was worse than expected. One of my dual sports, a DT400, had a blown head gasket. I bought my Scirocco sight unseen too.

You can tell a lot from talking to the seller. I won't buy from someone who doesn't trust me over the phone for instance. I like to know why they are selling, why they are selling, how much they used it, etc. I don't like to buy from people who don't know anything about what they are selling, but if the money is right, I will. I bought a house sight unseen. That was a bad idea, but I still like the place.

 

[samboss260]

Thanks guys. Interesting thoughts......

Still don't know about this particular bike though.