Selling Bikes to New Riders.

[corndog67]

Just barely more power than a Ninja 250.   But the Ninja 250 is a bunch lighter and probably faster.


I think a lot of it has to do with who the new rider is.   The guy that I got the Blackbird from was an early 20's college student, pretty sharp guy, that was afraid of it and didn't crash it in the couple of years that he owned it.   I know guys that you can't cut loose on a moped because they are f_cking morons that shouldn't be allowed to own a sharp object.  Every situation is different. 

But still yet, if you've got the cash, I'll sell it to you.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Every situation is different. 

But still yet, if you've got the cash, I'll sell it to you.

In that case, wouldn't it mean every situation is *not* different?

[mojo]

The guy that I got the Blackbird from was an early 20's college student, pretty sharp guy, that was afraid of it and didn't crash it in the couple of years that he owned it.

I think if the new rider has respect for what the bike is capable of, you would be a lot better off than selling the bike to someone who just wants to know how fast it will go.

[brickdogg]

The thing about a new rider is that they can have a catastrophic accident on any bike, be it a ninja 250 or a hayabusa. I think it is less about the previous experience and more about their future potential.

With that being said, if they want something bad enough, and they have it in their head it is what they need or want or can't live without, they are going to get it, with or without you.

Best I think you can do is sell it and move on, don't think about the person or try to find out how they are doing.

Good Luck.

[DoubleEagle]

I think I would inquire as to the person's riding history ,talk bikes for a little while so that I knew they were not talking out their butt so to speak and then make them aware of the potential of my bike.

At that point I feel I have done my duty if they sound like they are experienced.

If they sound like they are very inexperienced, then I would try to steer them toward a more suitable bike for a beginner with the idea that it was in their best interest.

Dolph     

[weemonster]

Like the original poster says they're adults.

If they are stupid enough to think that they can handle a blackbird as their first bike then let them find out the hard way.

Your system over there in the states seem crazy compared the one here in the UK.

What you can ride depends on your age.
if you pass your test on a 500cc bike then you can ride anything you like.
But you have to be over 21
anyone can sit their test on a 125 and then be restricetd to 33hp for 2 years.
but under 2's dont have a choice its 2 years at 33hp
Thats just the practical test.

Before  you get out on the road at all you need to do CBT  Compulsory Basic Training.
This just teaches you how to start stop and go round corners and changing gear etc and how to brake. without falling off. This course lasts a day.
Then you need to do the theory test and hazard perception test. which you sit at the same time a
Once you have passed all those then you can go out on a 125 on your own or if youre old enough on the 500 with an instructor.


you can ride the 125 for up to 3 years before you need to take the test.

once upon a time you could ride the 125 for ever on Learners L plates without taking the test but they were the ones who died the most so they changed the law.

[WhiteStripe]

Licensing here is a joke.  I originally got my license 10 years ago because we had to ride dirst bikes 3 miles down a public back road to get to the trails we rode.

I took the test on a Harley Sportster that i had about 7 minutes of riding time on in a praking lot around the corner from the DMV.  Two figure 8s, stand up sit down, run through the hand signals and off you go to the highway...

There is NO WAY i could have ridden that bike home safely, but i was legal.

[NorDog]

Back in my Navy days in the mid 80's a friend had to go to Florida for dive school.  He asked if I would store his early 70's Sportster for him.  "Sure" I said.

He also wanted me to put it up for sale.

So this squid (US Navy type) decides he want's to buy it.  He had never ridden before.  I explained that he should get some MSF training.  Also, it was rush hour and he was going to ride from El Cajon to South San Diego.  He had no gear at all.  No gloves, no helment, nothing.  His friend had a truck and I suggested he put the bike in the truck.  The sun was going down and the temp was dropping fast.  His T Shirt wasn't going to provide any protection at all, least of all from the cold.

The Squid said, "No, I want to ride it home."

The bike was kick start only and I had to start it for him.  I suggested a number of times that he truck the bike home; learning to ride in rush hour, in the dark, in the cold, without gear, was not a good idea.

He would have none of it.

He pulled away from the curb, pinned the throttle, and arced across four lanes of heavy surface street traffic (without getting hit; miraculously) and TBoned a parked car on the other side of the street.

He went over the bars and did a "ski jump" up and over the windshield of the car.

The forks were bent in, and the upper triple clamp was snapped off at the steering stem.  The top of the gas tank was dented where his "naughty bits" impacted while he was on his way over the handlebars.

I feel I did my part: I warned him numerous times, and I had the cash in my pocket.

FTR: with the possible exception of his "boys" his only injuries were scrapped nuckles and elbows.

[cyrus buelton]

^

That might be the funniest story I have heard in a while. what a dumbass.



Not my business to play Mommy. Your decision on what you buy.

[moto-zen]

FTR: with the possible exception of his "boys" his only injuries were scrapped nuckles and elbows.

That was retribution for destroying a perfectly good bike. And, intervention to make sure he didn't pass those genes on to a new generation of cycle destroying ingrates.

[ToyDragon]

I sold my Ninja 250R to a new rider a few years ago.  Seemed like a real responsible guy though, trailer'd it home and everything. 

[Privateer]

$$$ is money.

Think of it this way, do most dealers discriminate against experience or maturity? 

If selling a bike or not is on the line, you'll bet your ass that they'll sell.

how things are and how they should be seldom coincide.

I have an e-quaintance who works at a local dealer and he tells me horror stories about teaching guys how to ride in the parking lot after they've signed the papers.  Even so much as "this one's the brake, that one's the clutch."  That said, he is conflicted on that topic.  He recognizes the absurdity of the situation, but his boss would fire him in a hot minute if he didn't sell a bike based on rider (in)experience.

[corndog67]

That was retribution for destroying a perfectly good bike. And, intervention to make sure he didn't pass those genes on to a new generation of cycle destroying ingrates.

It was a Sportster, it wasn't a perfectly good bike. 

[NorDog]

It was a Sportster, it wasn't a perfectly good bike. 

 

Yeah, I was waiting for that; took less than 12 hours.   

Funny thing is, it was a flawed bike even by Sportster standards, yet both me and my friend who sold it think back on it as one of the most fun bikes we've ever ridden, and it was a total clunker, but fun as hell to ride.  [moto]

[corndog67]

Yeah, I was waiting for that; took less than 12 hours.   

  [moto]

Well, I would have been quicker on the draw, but I had to work today.