Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: sloow on April 26, 2006, 06:40:03 PM
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I'm afraid I am short of cash and have to sell my Bandit 600. I am wanting advice on how to properly conduct a test ride. Do you just hand over the keys, and let the potential buyer sail off into the sunset. What is reasonable / safe to ask?
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Personally, if they don't have a license, then no test ride. Tell them "I'll ride it around the block and show you it runs".
If they have the money and want to haul it off, take payment and give them the bike/title. They can do whatever they want after that, as long as they loaded and left your property and you have payment.
I really discourage test rides. If they want to argue, I say 'go to a dealership and see if they will let you test ride. I had to buy the bike without a test ride from them.' Most riders know this already. If they don't, they shouldn't be asking for a test ride to begin with... Unless you get off to watching them drop your bike at the end of the driveway before they paid for it.
I'm sure others have varying opinions, thats just the way I do it. Discourage test rides. But do start the bike, ride the bike in front of them, and show them al the ins and outs of starting etc...
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I dont like allowing test rides either. I usually get out of the problem by saying that if there was an accident, my insurance is void unless I am the rider of the bike.
Blue
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There are only a handful of people who are allowed to ride my pride and joy. My mechanic, and even then I specify to the shop that only the Head Mechanic or Owner is to ride it. My wife is allowed to ride it (I kind of have to do that as the payments come out of her pay not mine) and a couple of close friends (usually I'm riding their bike at the time).
As for selling a bike and letting a complete stranger ride it, the only way I'll do it is if they show me the colour of their money and agree that if they break it they bought it.
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They line the palm of your hand with the full amount, if they bring it back all in good order, they may have it back if they wish not to purchase the bike.... This one also sorts the tyrekickers out.
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A wife who pays for your bike,sweet jesus there realy is a god.Does she have a sister.
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A wife who pays for your bike,sweet jesus there realy is a god.Does she have a sister.
Just to set the record straight, while the payments for MY bike come out of HER pay, the payments for HER bike come out of MY pay....
Don't ask, long story....
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They line the palm of your hand with the full amount, if they bring it back all in good order, they may have it back if they wish not to purchase the bike.... This one also sorts the tyrekickers out.
+1 :bigok:
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NO test rides unless you have the full amount you're selling for in your hand FIRST! You are at great liability as well if they fall or hurt themselves. As adults they should understand when you say, "My insurance doesn't cover that".
I never expect, nor ask for a test ride because of this, unless the OWNER himself suggests or insists. That has happened to me as well.
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If you're worried about the liabilty - and who isn't in these suit-happy days - you can sell them the bike by taking their money and writing them a bill of sale, let them take it out for a ride and if they're happy when they come back, sign the title over to them.
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I think sometimes offering a test ride is okay. I recently sold my Bandit to an experienced, 40+ year old rider. He and I spoke several times on the phone and I was pretty sure of his interest in the bike. I sent him several pictures and a one page info sheet describing it.
When he came to my house to see it he brought his S.O. along -- the bike was for her afterall. She was able to reach the ground readily and liked the riding position, but said she didn't want to ride due to lack of experience on a large bike. Her boyfriend did ask though and after seeing his license and motorcycle endorsement I agreed. She stayed behind and we talked while he went for a ride.
When he returned he agreed to buy the bike for the price I was asking. He gave me a check and said I should take it to his bank for clearance and he'd pick up the bike later in the week. I still had the bike in the garage, he had the title transfer documents and the check cleared the next business day.
My point is that the prospective buyer should be evaluated before any test ride -- in this case I felt assured of his interest and sincerity even before he visited to see the bike. His age was a factor as was his reason for looking -- a bike for his girlfriend.
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I sold two bikes last year and had to really think things over, especially with the Gixxer 1100. Luckily, I live in a large cul de sac so they couldn't just ride off. I did let each buyer take a spin as they were both clean looking and were endorsed. Otherwise, I'd say no.
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I AGREE WITH MOST OF YOUR POST.....
BUT I WILL LET A PERSON TEST RIDE THE BIKE, EVEN IF THEY ARE YOUNG.....
I EVALUATE EACH PERSON, I CHECK THEIR LICENSE, I SOMETIMES ASK FOR A DEPOSIT OR PAYMENT IN FULL.....
I ALWAYS TAKE THEM TO A LARGE "EMPTY" PARKING LOT, ( I HAVE A GOVERNMENT BUILDING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS BEEN VACANT FOR SEVERAL YEARS).....
THE REALITY IS, GIVING A TEST RIDE IS AN UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT IN MOST CASES, PEOPLE DON'T "WINDOW SHOP" FOR BANDITS, THEY ARE USUALLY SERIOUS BUYERS.
I think sometimes offering a test ride is okay. I recently sold my Bandit to an experienced, 40+ year old rider. He and I spoke several times on the phone and I was pretty sure of his interest in the bike. I sent him several pictures and a one page info sheet describing it.
When he came to my house to see it he brought his S.O. along -- the bike was for her afterall. She was able to reach the ground readily and liked the riding position, but said she didn't want to ride due to lack of experience on a large bike. Her boyfriend did ask though and after seeing his license and motorcycle endorsement I agreed. She stayed behind and we talked while he went for a ride.
When he returned he agreed to buy the bike for the price I was asking. He gave me a check and said I should take it to his bank for clearance and he'd pick up the bike later in the week. I still had the bike in the garage, he had the title transfer documents and the check cleared the next business day.
My point is that the prospective buyer should be evaluated before any test ride -- in this case I felt assured of his interest and sincerity even before he visited to see the bike. His age was a factor as was his reason for looking -- a bike for his girlfriend.
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My stealership wouldn't allow me to take ANY bike for a ride and I was disappointed - thought I would finally get a chance to ride a M50, a Weestrom, a SV650 Naked as well as the Bandit...they were all within a couple hundred bucks of each other. What an afternoon that would have been! More fun than a date with Ellen Degeneres!! :wink:
Decision came down to the fact the Bandit felt better sitting on it(!); that plus my research, also the Bandit WAS the best deal.
Does sound kinda stupid, doesn't it? Can you imagine buying a car without test driving it?
So no prospective buyer gets a ride except behind me.
Jim
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Same here J.
All the delaers I've dealt with have said no, but I've always bought new, never bought a used bike.
I think the main difference everyone is missing here is: Buying new from a dealer and buying used from an individual are Two different animals, two completely differnt ways of buying/selling. I mean face it,. what's the chance of going to a dealer and they only have one bike in the place. Just like: what's the chance of going to an individual for sale bike and he has an entire showroom full of brand new bikes stuffed in his garage. Two differnt sales. two different animals.
Just my .02 HO...
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LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT A DEALERSHIP THAT NOT ONLY LETS YOU TEST DRIVE THE BIKES, BUT ACTUALLY ENCOURAGES IT.....
THAT IS "BOB'S BMW" IN JESSUP MARYLAND.....
I WAS TOLD BY THE BMW FACTORY REP THAT WE COULD TEST RIDE THE BMW MOTORCYCLES AND THAT BOB'S BMW IN MY AREA WAS THE PLACE TO GO.....
I WAS VERY SKEPTICAL, BUT MY SON AND I DECIDED TO GO AND CHECK IT OUT.....
WE WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, LOOKED AROUND, NO HIGH PRESSURE SALES PEOPLE, NO HASSLE.....
WHEN I REQUESTED TO TEST RIDE THE 1200S, THE SALES PERSON DIRECTED ME TO A PARTICULAR STAFF MEMBER.....
AFTER I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE STAFF MEMBER, HE HANDED ME A FORM, EXPLAINED THAT THE TEST RIDE WOULD REQUIRE A DEPOSIT OF $2,000.00 (CASH OR CREDIT CARD) AND THAT THE DEPOSIT WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY REFUNDED UPON RETURN OF THE MOTORCYCLE IN THE SAME CONDITION AS IT WAS RECEIVED.....
I THEN TOLD HIM THAT BOTH MY SON (22 YEARS OLD) AND I WOULD LIKE TO TEST RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE.....
HE STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED A $2,000.00 DEPOSIT FOR EACH BIKE.....
I HANDED HIM MY CREDIT CARD, SIGNED THE FORM AND THE CREDIT CARD RECEIPT.....(BY THE WAY, HE DECIDED TO ONLY CHARGE ONE DEPOSIT INSTEAD OF TWO).....
HE THEN BROUGHT TWO BMW 1200S MOTORCYCLES UP FRONT, SHOWED US THE CONTROLS AND TOLD US ABOUT THE FEATURES; THEN ASKED IF WE HAD ANY QUESTIONS.....ANSWERED OUR QUESTIONS, AND OFF WE WENT.....
AFTER A NICE TEST RIDE, AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW THE BIKE WILL HANDLE IN THE REAL WORLD, WE RETURNED TO BOB'S.....
WE WERE ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY OTHER BIKES THAT WE WANTED TO TEST RIDE, TO COMPARE.....
WE DIDN'T RIDE ANY OTHER BIKES, BUT IT WAS NICE OF THEM TO OFFER.....
I WAS GIVEN A RECEIPT FOR THE DEPOSIT REFUND, AND THEY OFFERED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD.....
THE STAFF MEMBER TOLD US THAT WE COULD THINK ABOUT THE BIKE AND COME BACK AND TEST RIDE A DIFFERENT BIKE OR EVEN TEST RIDE THE SAME BIKE AGAIN.....
WE THANKED HIM, AND WE WENT OUTSIDE TO GET BACK ON OUR BIKES.....
I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS THIS UNUSUAL MOTORCYCLE PARKED NEXT TO MINE.....
WHEN I ASKED THE GUY ABOUT THE BIKE THAT HE WAS RIDING, HE TOLD ME ABOUT THE BIKE AND IN THAT CONVERSATION, I TOLD HIM THAT WE CAME TO BOB'S BECAUSE THE FACTORY REP RECOMMENDED THAT WE COME IN AND TEST RIDE THE BIKE THAT WE WERE INTERESTED IN.....
I WENT ON TO TELL HIM HOW NICE THE PEOPLE WERE AND HOW WE ENJOYED THE TEST RIDE AND THAT IF I DECIDED TO PURCHASE THE BMW MOTORCYCLE, I WOULD CERTAINLY COME TO BOB'S.....
AFTER SAYING ALL OF THAT, I FOUND OUT THAT THE GUY THAT I WAS TALKING TO WAS "BOB".....
YOU CAN KIND OF GUESS THE REST OF THE CONVERSATION.....
I TOLD YOU ALL OF THIS, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE REAL DEALERSHIPS OUT THERE, THAT WILL ACTUALLY PROVIDE YOU WITH A TEST RIDE.....
I AM SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT BUYING THE BMW 1200S THIS WINTER.....
My stealership wouldn't allow me to take ANY bike for a ride and I was disappointed - thought I would finally get a chance to ride a M50, a Weestrom, a SV650 Naked as well as the Bandit...they were all within a couple hundred bucks of each other. What an afternoon that would have been! More fun than a date with Ellen Degeneres!! :wink:
Decision came down to the fact the Bandit felt better sitting on it(!); that plus my research, also the Bandit WAS the best deal.
Does sound kinda stupid, doesn't it? Can you imagine buying a car without test driving it?
So no prospective buyer gets a ride except behind me.
Jim
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That's pretty darn cool, Getfurious ! Bob sounds like an excellent dealer to buy a bike from, you found a good one... a rider too... :motorsmile:
And now I know why you chose Getfurious as your username...
BECAUSE YOU YELLED IN BOLD CAPS THE ENTIRE POST ! :lol:
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FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOME OF YOU OBSESS ABOUT BOLD AND CAPS.....
JUST BECAUSE YOU LABEL IT AS YELLING, DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUE.....
IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO DOES NOT LIKE BOLD AND CAPS, THEN JUST SKIP READING THAT POST AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.....
NOT EVERYBODY WHO TYPES IN CAPS IS YELLING, EVEN IF YOU ASSUME THAT THEY ARE.....
THIS IS YELLING!....THIS IS NOT YELLING.....SEE THE DIFFERENCE?
AND NOW I KNOW WHY YOU CHOSE mike AS YOUR USERNAME.....BECAUSE YOU NEED SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT....."open mike night"..... :crybaby:
THANKS FOR READING THE POST; NOW I AM DONE WITH THIS ISSUE.....
That's pretty darn cool, Getfurious ! Bob sounds like an excellent dealer to buy a bike from, you found a good one... a rider too... :motorsmile:
And now I know why you chose Getfurious as your username...
BECAUSE YOU YELLED IN BOLD CAPS THE ENTIRE POST ! :lol:
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Yeah, I never quite understood the bold, or caps means yelling thing either.
I will say that I have never been turned down for a test ride at any motorcycle dealer ever, nor have I had to make a deposit. I have, had copies of my license and insurance card made, but that is it.
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Yeah, I never quite understood the bold, or caps means yelling thing either...
I've heard that for years, off topic though this may be, and it appears to be something that geeks decided back in the old Bulletin Board Service days, when you didn't really have an Internet, but your computer would dial in to a specific site if you had their phone number.
We all have our pet peeves, I guess. :wink:
Mine are anti-American, anti-Christian, and anti-military posters. Not normally on this site, thank goodness.
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Out of common courtesy, I was trying to help you, Getfurious.
Use of proper "Netiquette" will help you communicate better on bulletin boards, chat rooms, and email.
I see you've already learned how to "flame".
I use Mike as my username becuase it is my real name. There is no reason for me to hide behind a handle.
Forget that I complimented your dealer story, or tried to help you as a fellow member. So much for being friendly, you obviously have no interest in it. Don't worry, I won't be responding to your posts anymore.
Mike :roll:
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for my old eyes the larger type helps.
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Why we are on the subject...How bout posting the quote first see we can refererance what you are YELLING about? :stickpoke:
:thanks:
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FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOME OF YOU OBSESS ABOUT BOLD AND CAPS.....
JUST BECAUSE YOU LABEL IT AS YELLING, DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUE.....
IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO DOES NOT LIKE BOLD AND CAPS, THEN JUST SKIP READING THAT POST AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.....
NOT EVERYBODY WHO TYPES IN CAPS IS YELLING, EVEN IF YOU ASSUME THAT THEY ARE.....
THIS IS YELLING!....THIS IS NOT YELLING.....SEE THE DIFFERENCE?
AND NOW I KNOW WHY YOU CHOSE mike AS YOUR USERNAME.....BECAUSE YOU NEED SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT....."open mike night"..... :crybaby:
THANKS FOR READING THE POST; NOW I AM DONE WITH THIS ISSUE.....
That's pretty darn cool, Getfurious ! Bob sounds like an excellent dealer to buy a bike from, you found a good one... a rider too... :motorsmile:
And now I know why you chose Getfurious as your username...
BECAUSE YOU YELLED IN BOLD CAPS THE ENTIRE POST ! :lol:
How else are you going to express you are??? Like this??? Geez more crap i got to get B4 i lv 4 BOSS!!!! ON THE AM OF THE 11th :banana: :banana: :banana: :motorsmile: :motorsmile: :motorsmile: :grin: :grin: :bigok: :bigok: :clap: :clap:
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It's funny we're onto this as i was just going to post about it. Is it just me or what but when a guy posts all in italics it always seems he's about three minutes from a nervous breakdown? It makes quite a difference in the readers reaction, I think...anybody else?
jim
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Dammit Jim- (Just like I was speaking to Captain Kirk)
HOW am I going to catch your post count if you keep following me around?
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NOW NOW!!! Some of us aren't that swuft on this here stuff! Can't we all just get along#@$$@##@ I don't need NO STINKING trainin class on PC "Netiquette" to B on Banditalley!! :monkeymoon: :monkeymoon: :beers: :motorsmile: :motorsmile:
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B HAPPY!!! MArKeT'S KIcKIN A$$ TODAY!!!!! yes this is a HO post
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WOW! I'M FINDING THIS THREAD TO BE REALLY INFORMATIVE! THANKS, GUYS!
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WOW! I'M FINDING THIS THREAD TO BE REALLY INFORMATIVE! THANKS, GUYS!
YOU NEED TO SWITCH TO A DECAF!
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Back on topic, it seems test rides are pretty common at most BMW dealerships. HD dealerships, too. The majority of the other brands I've dealt with around here do not give test rides on new bikes, but will on used ones. Seems part of it is because oftentimes the bikes on the floor have not been prepped for delivery and don't have all their vital fluids - or at least no gas.
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I bought mine used from an individual but what did you guys do when you bought yours new? I couldn't imagine not testing to see if it fits ya and such.
I certainly understand the liability but what if you end up hating the bike. (Not possible with a Bandit of course)
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I have talked to a couple of dealer sales people in my area who told me they have done deals where they have sold bikes with a "subject to" test ride. Basically they write up the deal, then you test ride the bike with the clause that if you hate it, you can back out of the sale.
I always take advantage of the dealer demo rides, so let's just say I have rode my next purchase a few times!
Personally I have allowed some test rides on bikes I have sold, but the majority of the time I tell potential buyers that I have no insurance on the bike, & can't allow them to take it on the road.
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Sat on a bike I was interested in. Salesman said do you want to take it for a test ride. We are talking brand new 2006 oooooo on the speedo. Took bike for test ride and now picking it up tomorrow. Would never purchase without test ride first. That is the norm here in NZ.