Test rides for private sales

I've got my bike advertised for sale, but I'm curious to know how to
handle the inevitable 'can I take her for a spin mate?' types. Is there
some legally binding document I can insist they sign before they ride
it, stating that if they damage it, they own it?

 

No , but if you make a witnessed verbal and hold their first-born ,
wallet + keys and genitals you stand a chance.

 

Yes. A signed transfer of registration form and a receipt for the full
amount paid up front.

Don't allow test rides. At a pinch, take 'em on the pillion.

 

Insist on seeing their license.. hold it as collateral till they bring
the bike back. You probably have a camera in your phone, or a digital
camera handy. Tell them to smile. Note the rego/make/model of
whatever vehicle they arrive in.

Read your insurance policy. Some insurers will not cover you for theft
if you willingly hand the keys to someone and they ride into the sunset
unless they have given you their driver's license and you reasonably
believed it to be legitimate.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

Personally - If I was denied a test ride, I wouldnt buy the bike -
Pillioning wouldnt be good enough (unless the seller was the pillion)

The last 2 bikes I have bought, I put a grand down (and my licence) for the
seller to hold until I returned, this showed I wasnt just a joyrider, but a
potential serious buyer. We also had a verbal agreement both times that if
the bike was damaged upon return, its sold.

If your really worried, perhaps you can use a small tape recorder and record
a verbal agreement? or better yet video tape one.

I would also tell the test rider you are giving him permission to ride the
bike for XX minutes - any longer and the bike will be reported stolen.

We had a guy take a car at our yard for a test drive - we rang police over
an hour later to report it stolen and were told we really should of set a
time frame on the test drive and then police could of treated it as a stolen
vehicle properly - as it was, a few hours could be seen as a "reasonable"
amount of time to test drive somthing unless an agreement was in place first
about how long they can take. (the car did arrive back about half an hour
after we rang police, and yup he bought it)

 

He didn't say no test ride. He said no test ride unless they are
prepared to leave a security deposit equal to the value of the
motorcycle. Not a totally unreasonable request. Deters the joyriders too.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

Won't help much if they drop/prang it and refuse to cough up for the damage.

The car they arrive in could be on a test drive from a local car dealer,
or stolen...

 

Well unless they walked there they have other means of transport ..
they can leave those keys and you have some security sorta

 

Hey, MrWombat !

 

In aus.motorcycles on Tue, 06 Feb 2007 14:13:12 +1000

There are 2 problems with test rides, theft and damage.

Hold their driver's licence to deal with the theft - make sure the
picture looks vaguely like them and that they are licenced to ride the
bike.

Damage is a harder one. I wouldn't have the money on me when I went
for a test ride, I'd only get the bank cheque when I was sure I wanted
the bike. So that's no chop.

Best you can do is tell them on the phone "well, bring $500 with you
as a deposit and sign this bit of paper that says you understand you
are only allowed to ride the bike cos you said you'd pay for any
damage".

Most people would, but be prepared to get a bastard. SO you have to be
prepared to go through small claims and fight for the money.

Go on gut feel about the buyer. If they feel OK then they probably
are. A successful conman won't trigger your instincts but won't be
about damaging the bike instead they'll steal it.

Probably a couple of nights later, the night you told them you were
off with your mates as you were casually chatting....

Zebee

 

In aus.motorcycles on 6 Feb 2007 00:32:01 -0800

leaving a stolen vehicle as security is a common dodge. Steal one and
then use it to scam a faster one or one with a bigger bullbar for ram
raids.

Zebee

 

I take a photocopy of the drivers licence and do a search on the ownership
of the address on the licence, if they own the house and have lived there
for some time I think they are a good risk, I also ensure the bike has only
a few litres of fuel and the bike I am following with is fully fuelled.

Always ask the question before a test ride. If the ride is satisfactory are
you ready to buy and what will you be offering. Essentially do the deal
before the ride.

Boxer

 

You will be looking at a Gold Wing then.

Boxer

 

That's what insurance is for. You only need to chase them for the excess.

If they're going to steal your bike you only need to satisfy your
insurance company that you took all necessary precautions to verify the
identity of the test rider.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

There was a scam running a few years ago where thieves, pretending to be prospective buyers, would leave their dog behind as
security.

Only problem was the dog was either not theirs or at least not one they cared about.

 

provided they will cover you for test rides , some wont

thats if they cover you

 

since when did the WRX come with a bull bar
\

 

Hey hey! Did you manage to get your bike back yet?

 

But this doesn't satisfy Doug's paranoia rule either. If I was going to
forge a driver's license, I'd probably pick a name and address that
matched a random person out of the phone book for a touch of
authenticity. That's going to give about 70% chance of passing your
home ownership test.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

Does that work with wives as well?

Boxer