"Test" riders

[KYCHERRY]

Here's what can happen when you let someone test ride your bike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CG5HozkvAc

LOL. Beat me to it...

 

[Jonnio]

When I sold my last bikes I had two modes - if you rolled in on a bike and were serious I would let you test ride. If you didn't have a bike but were serious, with an endorsement and gear, we would go up to the nearby school parking lot and you could shift it through a couple gears and see that it was as advertised. In the end though, the guy that bought my last one was not yet licensed and paid full price without even seeing it drive up the road. It's really just a judgement call on a person by person basis, but I am like the others that said there is no way I am giving you that amount of cash without a signed title and some prior proof that the bike is what you say it is.

 

[HotRodZilla]

I got $20 that's almost exactly what happened in California.

 

[SierraFJR]

Guess I'm one of the strange ones out there....All of the bikes I have purchased over the years, I'm the one that insists on a signed document for the sale prior to taking a test ride. If I get far enough with the bike that I want a test ride I intend to buy it. At that point I'm looking for mechanical or drivability issues. I have always made a satisfactory test ride a contingent of the sale. I've never had a seller refuse. If I did I would walk away. We negotiate the purchase price up front and I put the requested method of payment in their hands prior to the ride. I indicate in the document that if the bike is not returned in the same condition as it left (ie..not wadded up) I own it. I also make it clear that any issues found during the test ride will be up for negotiation and if that cannot be resolved to mutual satisfaction then I have the right to rescind the sale with a full refund. I've only had one deal unfold that way as the owner was not willing to resolve a minor issue that was found during the ride, so I walked away with my cash. When I sell a bike, I do so the same way. It protects both parties as much as can be reasonably done in a private party transaction..... and weeds out the tire kickers and joy riders.

 

[stevec677]

Many years ago, I was looking to buy a used Honda CR250R dirtbike from a dealer. He wouldn't let me ride it, but he took it out in the field next to the dealership and ran it thru it's paces. When he came back I was convinced I wanted the bike, but he had so much fun he didn't want to sell it. Finally the business side of him came thru and I took the bike home.

 

[Leskid]

+1 on gut feel

+10 on showing up on bike of similar size / power

I won't buy a bike before trying it out. Last Saturday, a guy in Moncton NB met me 1/2 way between there and Montreal (~400kms each) so I could try his '06 GSX-R 1000. I obviously wasn't taking it home without a cursory inspection and 5-10 minutes in the saddle. I showed up in my car with my buddy so he could drive the car home. His wif asked me if I had ridden before to which I replied "where's the clutch pedal one of these things". He laughed. She didn't.

But, as per other people's suggestions, I passed his wife an envelope full of hundreds before going for a little cruise and signing the papers. He was nice enough to let me ride it home on his plate / insurance.

On a side note, 450kms on a gixxer 1000 is not as comfortable as on the FJR.... who knew?