Do you let people test ride your Monster?

[dropstharockalot]

I'm the guy that ruined it for everyone...

I found my current M900 on Craigslist.  I contacted the seller, got directions, and showed up as arranged.  The bike was outside in the driveway and appeared to be very much as advertised, and when the seller started it up it turned right over and ran like a top.  I was sold at that point, but when the seller offered a ride I couldn't resist.

So, in perfect squid fashion, I hop on this performance machine wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes.  I head out for a nice slow spin through his subdivision, and naturally, underestimate both the accel and decel of the bike.  I pull away from a three-way stop too quickly, panic when I realize I'm pointed at a mailbox, try to lean to go around and grab a huge fistful of front Brembo...

And I lowside on my test ride.

I bang the crap out of the tank and put the requisite doughnut-sized ding in the right flank, snap off the bar-end mirror, scuff the pegs, bar, and cans, cut the bejeebers out of my hand and wrist on the gravel, bruise the crap out of my knee and elbow, ring my own bell when I bounce my nugget off the pavement, and have to push the bike back to the sellers house. After the seller got me some paper towels for my wounds, the conversation went like this:

Me: “Well, we’ve got three options.  You can kick my ass, I can pay to fix the damage, or I can buy the bike and make it my problem.
Seller: “ I’m not gonna fight with you.  The damage is about $1,800, plus the time it will take for me to get it ready for sale.  If you wanted to buy it, I wouldn’t be too worried about  coming down from $2900… I figure I could take $2500.”
Me: “Good, there’s no way I could pay you the whole $2,900 you’re asking – someone’s obviously dropped this bike.”

So get the money up front.

[scott_araujo]

Funny story.  Even funnier when I read the 'mods' in your signature:

'96 M900
Stage One - K&N filter -open airbox - cored pipes -
Thrashed paint - dented tank
Oberon bar-ends (adios, bulky Napoleons!)

Scott

[cyrus buelton]

I wouldn't.


Dealers have a bit more protection. You sign a contract, give them insurance, etc.

They will come after you.

[triangleforge]

As a buyer, the sellers of the four bikes I've bought over the years let me take them out for test rides with nothing more than a handshake. Maybe I've got an honest face? I appreciated it, but didn't really expect it. And it was fun with the Monster to ride back into the seller's driveway with three other prospective buyers lined up, lift the visor & say "Sorry, boys, this one's sold."   

Before I had an M endorsement, I hauled along a licensed friend to test ride a handful of prospective first bikes, and again didn't encounter any questions -- a good thing, too, because one fairly nice, very inexpensive SV650 turned out to have either a tweaked frame or a bent fork that wasn't evident by visual inspection. Since then, I've done the same test riding drill for a couple of friends before they were M licensed.

As a seller, I have to admit I'd have real trouble being that trusting. My first bike (yeah, a Buell Blast) was bought sight-unseen for my full asking price by a guy for his girlfriend -- on the stipulation that I ride it up to him, which turned out to be 150 miles, at night, in a rainstorm, on a superslab highway. On a Buell Blast. I guess I did sell a Yamaha XT350 and let the buyer ride it first without anything changing hands, but it was pre-beaten and wasn't that big a risk. With either of the Ducatis, I imagine I'd ask for cash up front.

For those who do cash AND a bill of sale before anyone rides, do you do all your price negotiation beforehand, or does that come after a test ride, and if the latter, do you revise the bill of sale accordingly?

[mstevens]

I've bought 3 used Monsters. None of them would have come home with me if I couldn't have test-ridden them. I rode some others, including one that looked good and was a great price, that I didn't like after the ride.

I recently sold my 620. Both serious lookers were women. Both had endorsements but no bikes of their own. Both came with a guy who rode (one an Aprilia Tuono, the other a Hypermotard). In my judgment, the test riders seemed capable and likely to be careful. The eventual buyer also brought her sister, who rides a 620. Nobody crashed the bike. They left hostages at my house so I knew they weren't simply going to disappear.

I had decided I wouldn't let anyone ride who wasn't familiar with Ducatis (I figured the Aprilia was similar enough), who was young (both test riders were in their late 30's/early 40's), inexperienced, showed up alone, or gave me bad vibes (as vague as that is). I put the bike up on the rear stand when people came so they could sit on it, start it, run through the gears, etc.

The test ride sold the bike. The buyer's brother-in-law came back gushing about how he'd expected a bike 4 years old to feel "less tight."

I was probably just lucky. I really don't know what I could have done if someone had driven into the granite post at the end of my driveway.

[ab]

Leaving someone with you while the other is test riding doesn't really mean much.  I mean you can't really keep them hostage if the test rider takes off.  All they have to do is dial for  .  As for the bike, they can simply deny that. That would simply be kidnapping and you would be in a whole lot of trouble.

Ok, I admit that I am reaching here.

hmmmm   

[somegirl]

When I sold my starter bike (Suzuki GS500F) I had a few people come and look at it, only one asked about a test ride.  One other person asked to watch me ride it.

The one guy brought an experienced buddy along, I decided that they seemed trustworthy enough and held onto the rider's driver's license and car keys while he rode.  He came back after a few minutes, gave it a thumbs-up and told the other guy to buy it.  The buyer didn't feel comfortable taking it on the freeway and bridges (his first bike) so I delivered it for him a few days later.

Some of the other people that came by I would have turned down for a test ride if they had asked (unless they gave me cash in hand first), I just didn't get a good vibe from them.

[cyrus buelton]

now that I think about it........I did let someone test ride my first bike, 73 Honda 350.


I took his driver's license and car keys.

[Scotzman]

now that I think about it........I did let someone test ride my first bike, 73 Honda 350.


I took his driver's license and car keys.

See, that's a fair trade. If he crashes your bike, you get his car(hopefully not a beater).