TEST RIDES

[oldguyinTX]

I have a question for those of you here that have sold their Spyder privately, not traded it in or sold it to a dealer. When you had a prospective buyer, did you allow them to test ride your Spyder? And if so, what assurances did you have that the person was familiar with or qualified to ride a Spyder? Did they come prepared with money to cover the purchase price, and did you hold onto the money while they test rode the bike? Did you ride with them, or follow/lead them in a car? Did you make a copy of their driver's license and check to see if they had a motorcycle endorsement? I'm sure that there are other questions to be asked, but at the moment, I can't think of any.

Any insight from the community would really be appreciated. Thanks a lot.

 

[Ex-Rocket]

I personally would not allow a buyer to test ride my Spyder unless I had the full purchase price in my hands. Plus I would make them give me their driver license and make sure the photo on the license matches the person trying to buy the bike. You can't be too careful these days.

 

[Chupaca]

Interesting....

Guess some investigating would be in order. Myself I would send them to a dealer to test ryde ... I would give them a ryde on mine so they could see that it rydes well with no issues. They can do the whole visual inspection and static testing but not road testing. I would think most would have done some advance work before going to a private seller....:dontknow:

 

[Bob Denman]

It's one of those situations, where you've got to "listen to your gut'... :dontknow:

 

[SpyderAnn01]

The lady who bought my RT rode it down the street and back. We had enough background info on her and her husband that i wasn’t concerned. I don’t know how I’d feel about letting a total unknown ride it though.

 

[JacCh]

check with your insurance to make sure they would be covered riding your
Spyder.

 

[ARtraveler]

Having sold many motorcycles in the past, I am not one to let an "unknown" person jump on my ride and take it down the street.

I am very happy to take them for a ride on the vehicle and answer any questions they have.

In the unlikely event they crash it in the test drive, be prepared to litigate to get your damages back.

Also, with Spyder, you are probably more likely to get people who have never ridden. Remember the news person that totaled the Spyder when they were giving test rides on the new Spyders in 2008.

If a test ride is a deal breaker, so let it be. :yes:

 

[Bob Denman]

Just in case you're thinking it: this DOES happen in real life too! :shocked:

 

[spydernatic]

Sold my 2012 RT limited to a guy in Alabama we met halfway at a gas station he said he needs to test drive my bike I was extremely worried but agreed he jumped on the bike and took off after some time his wife started to look nervous and said she needs to go look for him and off she went leaving me with no bike and no cash.........no just joking seriously though I did meet a guy that we had been talking over the phone about the bike and I trusted my "gut" we did meet halfway at a gas station ...but I did not give him a test ride as he told me he had test rode a 2011 ( I know it was not my bike and all bikes are different but he was OK with that)) and after what I had told me about my bike and he saw the condition it was in he handed me the cash we counted it out in his car it was all there and he took off on the bike and me in my car with my wife.
LUCKY yes ...maybe...trusted my GUT absolutely.

 

[Mazo EMS2]

Well, the best possible thing to do would be to have the money in your hand before the test ride. Then, if they break it, they bought it....I would certainly take their driver's license, credit card, and maybe a blank check before they leave for a ride. The exception would be someone I knew, but I would still make it clear, they break it they buy it

 

[johnsimion]

If I was selling my Spyder privately, I would first take the prospective purchaser for a ride, and then, if he/she wanted to test ride it himself/herself, I would let him -- after first asking for a driver's license, proof of motorcycle qualification and/or training, and proof of insurance. This is because I personally would never buy a vehicle without test driving it myself first so why would I expect otherwise of somebody else? When you're trying to sell something, nothing tells a buyer "walk away" more than an uncooperative seller. If the person totals your Spyder, then you effectively "sold it" to his insurance company. Even if his insurance company refused to pay for some reason, if you have comprehensive and collision, the most you have to lose is your own deductible and the test rider would still owe you that. You have no liability in the matter because the person is riding **for his own purposes**, not yours. You would not be liable because the person is not your agent or employee.

 

[SPYD3R]

DITTO

It's one of those situations, where you've got to "listen to your gut'... :dontknow:

I'M WITH BOB ON THIS ONE....

i had 2 people come to look at my '09 RS... the first, my gut said a BIG "NO"... the 2nd, i let him ride it with NO cash in hand, NO license, NO anything.... after his very short ride... about 3 minutes, he handed me a $100 Bill and told me he'd be back the next day with the full amount in CA$H... he did...
mean while, the 1st person called me a week later and offered me $2000 less than market value, and got piss'd @ me when i told them i sold it....

GO WITH YOUR GUT......
Dan P
SPYD3R

 

[oldguyinTX]

Thanks for all of the good advice. The responses were pretty much what I have been thinking. If anyone else has anything to add, please chime in!

 

[JP58]

I'M WITH BOB ON THIS ONE....

i had 2 people come to look at my '09 RS... the first, my gut said a BIG "NO"... the 2nd, i let him ride it with NO cash in hand, NO license, NO anything.... after his very short ride... about 3 minutes, he handed me a $100 Bill and told me he'd be back the next day with the full amount in CA$H... he did...
mean while, the 1st person called me a week later and offered me $2000 less than market value, and got piss'd @ me when i told them i sold it....

GO WITH YOUR GUT......
Dan P
SPYD3R

Why would he be pissed when he didn't buy it that day. You didn't say you would hold it. And he offered less.

 

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

i would probably want 50% cash in my hand, mc license also. since i have insurance that would more then cover all
possible problems. i would also have him sign paperwork stating liability if he were to crash.

 

[gkamer]

Because

Why would he be pissed when he didn't buy it that day. You didn't say you would hold it. And he offered less.

Because some people are just stupid.

 

[Zip]

Lets turn this around, would you buy one without a test ryde? Yes you need to take some precautions to protect yourself. But If someone told me I could not test ryde it then my first thought is "what are they trying to hide, what is wrong with it?" And I would walk away. I would also ask before we met if I could take a test ryde.

 

[PistonBlown]

If people want test rides (and warranties etc) then they buy from a dealer - that's what you pay extra for. The security.

The problem comes when people are trying to sell privately at a similar price to the dealers, people then expect similar service.

 

[SPYD3R]

gkamer nailed it

Why would he be pissed when he didn't buy it that day. You didn't say you would hold it. And he offered less.

that 1st guy was a jerk from the start...
"oh, the seat shows some wear"
"the rubber on the pegs is worn down"
"it got 50,000 miles on it, why would anyone want this thing"
words like that told me the guy was a fool, since it was advertised as USED with 50,000 miles on it.... duh...
when he left, he never mentioned that he was even interested... then when he called me back and told me what he'd pay me for it, i told him that i had sold it, and his comment was, "you a**hole"... so i just hung up, and blocked his phone number...
BTW, that RS SPYD3R was maintained meticulously in every way... and the person that gets my F3, will also get a high-mileage vehicle, but it will be PERFECT when they ride off with it....
Dan P
SPYD3R

 

[L_r_g]

I agree with the others that wouldn't buy without a test ride, there is no way, ever, I'd buy a vehicle of any kind, without a test ride. If a seller refused I'd immediately turn and walk away. I think it's reasonable to want to see or even copy the drivers license with endorsement, hold a credit card or a portion of the purchase price. For those that say they'd only allow it with the entire purchase price in hand, as a buyer, I'd say what protection does the buyer have that the seller won't keep the money and if challenged say the interested party bought it? As leery as sellers are of loser buyers, as a buyer, I'm equally concerned with loser sellers. I think them highest reasonable amount of money to hold from the buyer is your insurance deductible. If they steal it and don't come back, report it stolen and deal with your insurance. If they damage it and don't do the right thing, use your insurance. That's what it's for, isn't it?

When I purchased mine used, it was one of the easiest transactions I've ever done. We met, talked a bit, I checked it over, asked to take a ride, seller had no worries, did so, returned, worked out the price, and took care of payment and paperwork.

I'm curious, those that are saying no test rides, go to a dealer and pay extra if you want that luxury, is this all just conjecture or have you actually had success a successful sale using these tactics? My knee jerk reaction is that's going to make it a pretty tough sell.