Ducati Monster Forum

Seeing lots of used Ducati models I'm interested in lately on eBay, but mostly out of state. 

I've never done an online vehicle purchase via eBay, let alone an out of state, haven't seen it up close purchase.

Anyone here have any success or advice for used Ducs via eBay?  Anyone use their vehicle inspection report service prior to purchase?

try to get a look at it.  if you can't go out and see it... maybee some relatives?

i wouldnt buy from a seller who isnt willing to take a shitload of pics and post them up.

We found my 2004 S4R on eBay- The person had taken lots of pics and it was (luckily) only 4 hours drive away. We did not make final payment until looking it over in person. Got an awesome deal on it... only had 300 miles to boot!

Some great deals can be found on eBay but I would recommend getting at least a look and also touching base with the seller. You can tell a lot by the way a seller responds or ignores your questions. Above all else- do your research- if you know what you are looking for and ask intelligent questions about the product you are much more likely to get exactly what you are paying for.

Just my two cents...

Years back I bought my '94 M900 off eBay sight unseen.

The seller took the time to write a volume of an e-mail regarding my questions (and obviously was quite literate, I might add), complete with tons of pics of everything I asked for. He said if it wasn't everything he said it was I didn't have to take it when I got there. I had total confidence in bidding.

It turned out great. Any serious seller should accommodate.

Thanks for the comments. Good points.

I looked at one just today that was posted by an auto dealership in Texas.  Same bike could be found by looking at their dealership website, tons of pictures, seems legit.

The thing that worries me is buying something I can't walk out the door with in person.  If for some reason things are not exactly as pictured when I get it, and I've already paid to have it shipped here etc., it would be a hassle to deal with that after everything is already paid and the dealer is out of state.

I'm sure it's done every day, but I've only bought motorcycles from local dealers. This time though, I'm looking to buy used, low miles, and am only seeing what I want out of state so far, so I'm trying to gauge the risk in doing the eBay route.

I wouldn't be able to go there in person first, and from eBay site it appears the recommendation is to do the payment via eBay site, rather than "outside", to avoid scammers, but I'm unclear what that means or what kind of protection that offers if the bike gets shipped here and for some reason it doesn't run well or doesn't look like the pictures etc.

I plan to call the seller as they are a listed dealer, but still wondering how risky it is being that I can't be there in person, and whether or not it's worth the $100 for the eBay recommended vehicle inspection service offered to check it out for me.

Bought a slightly binned '98 M900 off Ebay out of Tennessee (I'm in California).  Seller wrote back quickly, had good pics, price was right, bike had nice aftermarket equipment, yadda-yadda-yadda...  Fast-forward 2 weeks and the bike arrives.  Both motor mount bolts were banana-shaped, the cases were cracked to hell-and-back and the frame was tweaked HARD.

None of that was in the description.  Emailed back angrily several times.  Never got anything out of it.  WON'T do it again on a whole bike w/o someone I trust putting eyes on it.




but that's just me and my $.02.

+1 on having someone you know check it out. Past that, no issues.

Is it this one?  ;D
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pocket-bike_W0QQitemZ320488832645QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_motorcycles?hash=item4a9e9f7e85#v4-25 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pocket-bike_W0QQitemZ320488832645QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_motorcycles?hash=item4a9e9f7e85#v4-25)

1999 M900 cromo
2001 M900 cromo
2004 Escalade ESV
Klein Mantra Pro mt bike.

all purchased through ebay.  only one I had a problem with was the mt bike....didnt come with pedals or a chain.

i've bought 3 cars and 4 motorcycles on ebay without seeing any of them in person.  i've shipped most of them from other states.  i've never been disappointed.  just make sure there are LOTS of pictures and lots of information.  videos are cool too.  Then make sure to expect to find things they didn't mention (just like you will with any used vehicle).

also, try www.uship.com (http://) for shipping.  people bid on your shipment, so you're guaranteed to get a killer price.  just remember you get what you pay for.

2 out of the 4 bikes i bought had turn signals super glued back onto the bike, including my monster.  play the odds and ask if they've done that.  then tell them to stop being cheap bastards and just buy a new turn signal. 

above all else, ask if you can do a third party cash-hold situation.  Back when I played paintball regularly (2000+ rds a weekend) I would only do a no-sight sale if a third party shop took my money, their gun, check everything out, then sent the money/gun their respective ways.

I would get a contract (faxed, signed, faxed, other party signed, faxed) agreeing to a reputable motorcycle shop to check the bike beforehand.

In the end, there is a reason why the person is selling their used bike.  Maybe because they need money (best case), maybe because something is fishy (bad), or the whole thing is ready to blow (worst).  It's your money, you can decide if the risk is worth the saving.

I bought my 800 from eBay, 600 miles for $4500

Years ago I bought my M900 off ebay sight unseen.

Worked out great.

My advice is get on the phone with the seller.  You'll be able to tell if they're a turd when you talk to them.

Good scheisters are good because they can make you believe them when they're full of shite.  I've bought off ebay before, but always with a trusted local person putting eyes on the offered prize.

I also correspond with the Ducati "Big List", where I've made lots of friends all across the country who are willing to go out and look these kinds of things over.  The "Big List" is an old fashioned email list rather than a proper forum, but it has lots of traffic and lots of folks who know their Ducatis.  You can register at www.ducati.net (http://).  There are also lists for bevel driven Ducatis (if you like antique hardware), and Pantahs (which covers belt drive two-valvers) that I know of.  I use a dedicated gmail account to receive these so I can read them at my leisure, as they usually generate dozens of emails each day.

If you find a bike in the Albuquerque or Santa Fe areas I'd be happy to take a look at 'em for ya and send an accurate appraisal with pics.

Reckon we should ask the admins to start a board for folks needing help with long distance inspections?  I guess one could always post up a "Need a Bike Inspected in Timbuktu" thread on the general, huh?  You might also jump on the local club boards and ask for help if there's an active club in the area where you need an inspection made.

My 2 cents,

Cloner
ABQ, NM

My suggestion would be exactly that:  Find the local board to where the bike is located.  Post up and see if you can't get a DMF'er to look at the bike and take pics for you.  If it's a Monster, chances are that we'll know what to look for and what to avoid.

I was going to suggest that as well.  I was looking for a wrecked 999 for a project a little while back and I asked in the local forum here and someone went and took a look at the bike I was interested in for me.  Invaluable help from a dis-interested third party.

 [thumbsup] great points everyone, thanks! Once again this forum proves to kick azz. 

eBay also lists a third party vehicle inspection service for $99, so that seems like another possible option if I can't go local or find someone in a state where I find a bike.

just wanted to say thanks for starting this thread.  i am in the same position and had the exact same questions.  good luck and hope we both find what we're looking for!  [thumbsup]

when i bought my first car off ebay i tried to hire an escrow company to hold the money, but ultimately i think it made the seller more skeptical than anything.  i ended up not using the escrow company, which saved me cash, and everything worked out fine.

you guys are some skeptical mother funkers.  if everyone followed your rules nothing would ever get sold on ebay. 

just make sure you get all of your questions answered and have a little faith in the safeguards ebay has built into their system. 

Sweety dearest, you could have called - i'd have gone to look at it

I used to be naive, too....but then I got make the beast with two backsed and neither ebay nor paypal would help.  Trust yourself and a few close friends.  Never trust anyone who's selling something occasionally on ebay.  They're generally not looking out for you and they don't care about a long term relationship with either you or ebay.

End of lesson, Mr. Henry.

I bought my S2R1000 on ebay last summer. I had already had contact with the seller on Craigslist before it was listed on Ebay so I was able to ask the same questions without the seller knowing I had already had contact with them. Everything sounded good so I bid $1500 less than she was asking on CL. It met the reserve and no one else bid (oops). I had to explain to the wife that I just bought another motorcycle. I sent $200 Paypal to get her to meet me a hundred miles closer and then drove 400 miles each way to pick it up.
Yes, there were a couple things that hadn't made it into the add like the seat cowl being scratched/cracked and no red key (do your homework) but I can spend hours in the shop just looking at the bike from different angles and wiping it down.

I'll do it again.

I bought my bike sight unseen on a complete whim / "in the moment" off ebay with no third party involved. I can't say I would recommend it (I was worried I screwed up and it was stressful until the bike arrived)... but it worked out just fine for me. Bike was and is absolutely perfect.

So check this...
 
I saw a low mile used model bike I want for sale at a dealership this week, and made a fair offer based on the many same or lower miles selling on eBay and CL, and considering I'd have to pay shipping for out of state deal. 

The dealer tried to claim that bikes with low miles from out of state couldn't be registered in CA.

WTF?! I've never heard such.  I've poked around and didn't see any evidence that this is true, anyone know otherwise?

It needs to be over a certain age/number of miles.


Someone here probably knows specifics, but they may have been telling you something accurately.

I guess it's true...if it's 7500 miles or less it's "new" and CA won't let you register it.  Wow, that's some BS. Wonder if it's always enforced.  Crap.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr29.htm (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr29.htm)

If the bike in question is CARB (50 state) emission certified and has the appropriate stickers you can register it. 

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr29.htm (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr29.htm)

That pertains to new vehicles as far as I can tell.

"California law considers any vehicle with less than 7,500 miles on the odometer when acquired by a California resident or business to be a new vehicle. This holds true whether or not the vehicle has been registered in another state. If you acquire a new vehicle from another state, you may not subsequently drive it to accumulate over 7,500 miles to circumvent the law. DMV cannot accept an application to register the vehicle, and you cannot register or operate the vehicle in California."

OK...the thread title threw me off.

I have a 10K mile 49 state vehicle...

what now?

No clue....but,


I'll check if you wanna move  ;D

but it won't snow...or be cold...

and there'll be all...those...

people.

I'm good.

I read that entire page, and to me it says anything with 7500 miles or less is considered "new", and if it's "new" CA won't let you register it. 

For kicks I'll call the DMV and see what they say, but it reads pretty clear, but seems ridiculous if true. 

Makes me wonder how chopper type custom builders out of state, say NV, advertise their bikes are CA emission compliant.  Even if so, how could they get registered here. 

Very odd.

Ducatis shipped to the US are 50 state compliant out of the factory, that is why all Us Ducatis have an EVAP canister.  Again, they will want to see the sticker that says the bike is compliant.

where's the lesson in this?  who said anything about wanting a long term relationship with someone selling something on ebay?  i've gotten screwed a couple times on ebay, but only a couple and have had a couple hundred transactions, mostly buying. 

Most people selling things on ebay want an easy, smooth transaction.  It's the buyers that are unreasonable, overly demanding, and generally clueless.

I bought my 2007, 695 Monster off of Ebay 6 months ago. Had 3700 miles on it. Paid $5200. It was a Repo. When I got it I was very happy with it. A found a couple of things that were not shown, but in fairness the repo company may not have known. The Red key was not included and the handlebars were a bit tweeked. I bought a new handlebar for $80 and replaced it myself. Still a good deal and I would do it again without too much concern. Absolutely love the bike.

The bike came from Wisconsin. I took it to AAA to get it registered. No problems at all. Registration was $150. I have found that it is a lot easier to register my vehicles at AAA here in SoCal. That's the reason I joined.  Most of the time the lines at DMV are outrageous and they are more picky as to what they require. AAA needed the engine number to register it. She looked the bike over and picked a number off the frame. Was it the engine number? I really don't know but they registered it  ;D