Buying an out of state bike off of craigslist

[mikehong]

hi everyone,

i wanted to get some advice. i am looking to buy a motorcycle off of craigslist. the seller is in the miami area and i am in the nyc area. i've spoken on the phone with him a few times and he seems like a reasonable guy. the thing is i don't really have anyone i trust in the miami area and i can't take the time off work right now to fly down to miami. i read a post here (or on another ducati forum) a while back which had a member's strategy to buying a bike over the internet using just pictures and phone calls. i can't seem to find it but i can remember "most" of it. as such, using my spotty memory, i have attempted to come up with a process. the goal here is to minimize the exposure to risk on both sides. i would appreciate the forum's input any additional bites of wisdom and knowledge that might improve this.

assuming the price is agreed upon, the vin check is clean and the pre-sales inspection by a qualified mechanic is good to go,

1) enter into a sales agreement signed by both parties
2) seller sends buyer notarized bill of sale and copy of id
3) buyer wires half of the money to seller
4) seller ships bike and other accessories to buyer
5) buyer wires remainder of price
6) seller sends signed title

the buyer is exposed after the first wire but i was wondering if the buyer could get some kind of theft insurance on the bike with the sales agreement and the notarized bill of sale.

[xsephirot]

I bought my bike sight unseen. No buyer will ship a bike with only half a payment. What I did was send payment over paypal, he mailed me the bill of sale and title the very next day, and I had a bid on uship so the shipper also checked out the bike and made sure everything was in order and all the vin numbers matched. I didn't bother with a PPI but you can request one from the buyer on your cost I would assume.

[justinrhenry]

Agreed it will be hard to find a seller willing to ship without full payment.

I've bought numerous bikes and cars online, mostly on ebay, but also craigslist.  you send the money, you arrange for shipping (if you can't pick it up yourself), and you wait patiently.  A seller willing to jump through your hoops would be awesome, but i haven't found one.   

[1KDS]

fly and ride!

[billschusteriv]

Agreed with other points mentioned above. 

I bought my 900SS off eBay and ended up flying to Chicago and riding the bike back to Albany, NY.

After the auction ended, we overnighted the signed title and bank check to each other.

I had the bike registered in my name and plates in hand before flying out.

Once I arrived, buyer would not give me the keys until the bank check cleared (or was verified to clear) by his bank.  A few phone calls to his bank later and I was on the road.



BlackBerry 9300. Tapatalk. FTW.

[R0CKETMAN]

Never wire money

I'd fly down and inspect. Work out local dealer to handle storing and/or shipping of the bike. When you spend 10k plus it's good to check it out in person. Way too many CL scams....

[geoffduc]

I drive part-time for a large ducati store over here in the UK and alot of the bikes that I deliver and sometimes collect are purchased sight un seen, I've picked up some beautiful condition bikes from private sales (like new) and delivered bikes again to customers in as new condition without any problems.

Personally I think that most bikers are very genuine and honest people and wouldn't want to be ripped off or rip off another fellow biker, perhaps I'm alittle naive but it always seems to work out fine.

BTW...I must add that thankfully its not my money...

Geoff...