Finally have the NC30 on Bike Trader and in the local rag. Will be sad to see it go.

What's the general approach to letting people take it for a test ride, should they choose to. I've never bought/sold a bike privately before, and it's a bit different with a car, since you can go with 'em!

Is it just not the done thing or if they're insured and stuff do you take something valuable as collateral (wife? child?) and cross yer fingers?

Any thoughts/suggestions/insults welcome as always.

Good point, I have just bought my other half a new bike and when i went to view it the guy just gave me the keys and said see what you think. i got the train down there and turned up at his house in a taxi, could have been anyone. just go careful and good luck with getting the price your after!!!

1. They need to be insured to ride other bikes. IF they are not, both of you are comitting an offence, not just them.

2. The only acceptable security for a test ride is the full asking price in cash. Don't whatever you do accept anything else as you have no way of knowing that they actually belong to them and will come back. I have taken someone for a ride a pillion before but only after he showed some id (a police warrant card!).

well, the boyf says he'd never let anyone take a bike of his for a test run, but he'd take them on the back and show them what it could do. If they were still brave enough to buy the bike then all well and good

we discussed this for ages as it goes... (well, minutes actually ) cause I said well surely if they show you drivers license and insurance and give you at least a holding deposit then surely youll be ok?
And he just replied - well if they ride off with your bike and you dont see it again ..........

ermmm, HTH

errmm, arent they supposed to take you in a car??

And how would him taking me for a ride in a car show him how the bike he wanted to buy performed?

Agree 100% with Ian - 1 is the only legal way, and 2 is the only way to protect yourself. Mind you... I guess a clever crook could always leave funny money with you!

Johnny

It was the - he showed some I.D ( police warrant card) bit
I got carried away imagining you being asked to accompany an officer to the police station but their car breaking down, so you having to ride to the station with the arresting officer as pillion.

Having just sold the Sporty I stated in the advert "No test rides" I did this to stop tyre kickers, to save having to sort and check insurance and I did not want to mess around with cash deposits. The first guy to view the bike bought it and never even asked for a test.

Its really your choice but it is a risk that you could loose the bike.

as a general rule, test ride once he/she puts the full amount of cash for the bike in your hand..oh and beware of forged notes and dodgy cheques.

When I've bought bikes in the past, I've handed over the amount of cash I'm prepared to offer for the bike, and if the sale is agreed I've asked the seller to be prepared to buy the bike back if I come back in an hour saying I hate it. Kind of like an extended test ride, but I don't have to bring the bike back if I like it.

The way I see it, it's not reasonable for a seller to expect me to unconditionally buy the bike without riding it, but it would be equally unreasonable of me to expect them to trust me with their pride and joy. Err, if you see what I mean...

I've only ever sold one bike (having bought three) and that was to someone I knew and trusted, but I think the above is a reasonable way to approach it.

I can see the sense in that, but the signing over of the V5 (done before you ride away from the seller) would make a "buy back" very difficult/messy.