View Full Version : Need advice for selling a motorcycle on CL.
hghclsswhitetrsh
05-16-2014, 10:45
So I'm selling my motorcycle on Craigslist and need some help. I've heard and read of the horror stories of people stealing motorcycles when selling to private party. My neighbor said to tell the potential buyer no cash, no test ride. Well most people don't have $9,000 sitting around to go test ride with. So anyways any advice I can use to protect myself from being ripped off would be greatly appreciated!
Car keys, license and cash deposit is how I worked it. It also weeded out some of the flakes.
No test rides without cash in hand. I have a bill of sale that includes a provision to allow the buyer a 30 minute right to return the bike for a refund, provided it is in exactly the same condition as at the time of sale. If they are financing through their bank, meet them there during normal business hours, and have the bank make the cashier's check out to you. I can send you a copy of the bill of sale, which also includes a liability release and disclaimer of all warranties.
hghclsswhitetrsh
05-16-2014, 11:15
Pm sent tfogger.
SouthPaw
05-16-2014, 11:19
I've always been the type, no test rides with out cash in hand and have to have a valid motorcycle license. Most of my bikes have been worth less than $7,500 but everyone seems to have the cash if they are looking for a bike. Keep in mind, it is craigslist, and there are more weirdo's than you can ever imagine.
colorider
05-16-2014, 11:24
I have bought and sold a lot of motorcycles on CL. I do what Tfog does. Also I make sure I have their car keys. If they show up w another person, I keep a very sharp eye on that person while the other guy is taking a test ride. I do not allow that person to sit in the car and wait. Every time the buyer has understood my "policy ".
Take it to High Country Harley an have them sell it on consignment. A Harley that isn't a Sportster at that price will move quick. Then you don't have to deal with it.
I have had a couple idiots that I let test drive a couple of my bike's go past me trying to pop wheelies, I won't do that again. Last dude I let ride bitch while I took him for a ride. GLWS!
Last dude I let ride bitch while I took him for a ride.
I bet that looked cute. Two grown ass men in a bike.
Pm sent tfogger.
You have mail.
I bet that looked cute. Two grown ass men in a bike.
Adorable [Coffee]
BPTactical
05-16-2014, 12:49
I bet that looked cute. Two grown ass men in a bike.
Does the proverbial "Monkey/Football" visual come through on this???
colorider
05-16-2014, 13:10
I have had a few friends sell their bikes with this place in Lakewood. They had very good experiences and the bikes sold fast and for a good price.
http://www.motorado.com/
Chad4000
05-16-2014, 13:13
Cash in hand or no test rides man. .... Have to do it like that. . I did hold 3000 of a 5000 asking price once and dudes wife stayed back while he test rode
ruthabagah
05-16-2014, 13:22
Cash in hands is a must! And proof of insurance. A gal tried to pull a fast one on me when I sold a bike a while back. She was kind of short and almost crashed on my driveway....Twice. Each time I did catch her before the bike tiped over. After the second attempt I told her no more and she left. 2 days later she called and told me that she injured her ankle on my bike, needed some x ray and that she had no insurance..... I told her to f-off and that since my driveway is under video surveillance I had a proof she didn't fell..... Never heard of her again.
I've sold many motorcycles to private parties. No test rides without cash in hand. If its a large sum of money then I'll start it up for them, I'll drive it up and down the front of my street. If they like it then we meet at their bank… I've never "lost" a sale because someone wasn't able to ride the motorcycle before buying it.. But my bikes are usually extremely well maintained...
I have had a few friends sell their bikes with this place in Lakewood. They had very good experiences and the bikes sold fast and for a good price.
http://www.motorado.com/
Yeah, Ron's good people. If you're inclined to do consignment, he's your huckleberry.
Does the proverbial "Monkey/Football" visual come through on this???
I get that just picturing Dave on a bike. [Coffee]
hghclsswhitetrsh
05-16-2014, 16:50
Does the proverbial "Monkey/Football" visual come through on this???
Says the dude with "Wilson" tattooed on his forehead. Damn I think my 6mm wait time went from 4 to 6 weeks. Fml.
Big Wall
05-16-2014, 17:34
No test rides without cash in hand. I have a bill of sale that includes a provision to allow the buyer a 30 minute right to return the bike for a refund, provided it is in exactly the same condition as at the time of sale. If they are financing through their bank, meet them there during normal business hours, and have the bank make the cashier's check out to you. I can send you a copy of the bill of sale, which also includes a liability release and disclaimer of all warranties.
This exactly what I did when I sold my Hayabusa.
wctriumph
05-16-2014, 18:45
So I'm selling my motorcycle on Craigslist and need some help. I've heard and read of the horror stories of people stealing motorcycles when selling to private party. My neighbor said to tell the potential buyer no cash, no test ride. Well most people don't have $9,000 sitting around to go test ride with. So anyways any advice I can use to protect myself from being ripped off would be greatly appreciated!
Bullshit on the not having and cash. If someone is interested they will have cash. Only show in the daylight, you must have cash in hand and hold their DL which MUST have a MC endorsement on it if they want to ride it. In this way you will weed out the lookyloos. Make them come to you on your ground and carry your gun on your hip. Look, if your bike is in good shape and doesn't any repairs, a buyer may not need a test ride. They have cash in hand or they are not serious. If by chance they are serious and are going to finance it, meet them at their bank and do the transaction there and have bank check in hand before they ride it. They crash it, even a tip over in the parking lot or your driveway, they bought it and tell the buyer that up front.
One other thing, if the buyer shows up at your place and three or four guys get out, insist that the tag alongs go back and sit in the car. It doesn't take three or four guys to buy a motorcycle. You can PM me with your phone number and we can talk about how to handle something like this.
Yep, cash in hand or no ride. And with a motorcycle, verify there is an endorsement on their license.
Be weary of guys being willing to give you their car keys as ransom when they go ride. I've seen multiple cases where the vehicle was already stolen and the POS rides away with the bike and you are left there with a vehicle that the asshat already stole.
And just because you have somebody's keys doesn't mean a damn thing. Unless you have the title to their vehicle with their signature on it...well you could easily be in deep with the cops if the guy says you we threatened him or were stealing his vehicle because he had an accident on your bike or whatever happened.
cash money in hand or no ride. No exceptions. Don't need a title for cash, don't need keys, don't need a thing.
SideShow Bob
05-16-2014, 20:14
Cash in hand or no test rides man. .... Have to do it like that. . I did hold 3000 of a 5000 asking price once and dudes wife stayed back while he test rode
Did he ever return for his wife ? Get a Motorcycle and get rid of the wife, all for $3K, what a bargain.........[LOL]
sportbikeco
05-16-2014, 20:27
Price it right and they will show up with the money.
Cash in hand for a test ride.
Chad4000
05-17-2014, 03:45
Did he ever return for his wife ? Get a Motorcycle and get rid of the wife, all for $3K, what a bargain.........[LOL]
She was cute too lol
ruthabagah
05-17-2014, 06:45
She was cute too lol
I am sure you wished the guy wouldnt come back
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