Selling my Ducati - How do you manage test rides?

[rwbloch]

I am preparing to sell my '05 Multistrada. I was wondering how can you manage test rides to minimize the risk of abuse or damage to the bike?

 

Also - Where is the best place to advertise besides the Multistrada forum?

 

 

Thanks,

 

RB

[themagicone]

craigslist, cycletrader, ebay

[chtucker]

cash in hand before the test ride.. Ride along on your RT.. No wrecks/no damage and they don't like the bike, you give them the money back they like it, you sign the title over and keep the $$$

 

They should show up ATGATT...

 

 

[krussell]

I'm very naive.

 

I things test rides are a very important part of the buyers decision making process. I expect to offer a test ride to serious potential buyers on any vehicle I sell. I have a few requirements.

 

1) They must provide a current drivers license with an endorsement.

 

2) They must have a helmet. If they want to ride in a bikini, good for them.

 

3) They must sign a document that says:

 

a) They are qualified to ride the bike being sold.

b) They are legal to ride the bike being sold.

c) They understand the risk and may be seriously injured or killed during the test ride.

d) They must obey the law during the ride.

e) They will be followed, and must not leave sight of the following rider.

f) They are responsible for any and all damage to the bike.

g) They must follow a predetermined route, which I draw on the agreement.

h) They must leave their license with me during the ride. I'll follow, and will have it if they need it. They must leave their keys to the vehicle the arrived in during the ride.

 

I photocopy the agreement and their license prior to departure, take one copy with me, and leave one at home.

 

I will not offer test rides to anyone who:

 

- asks about the test rides very early in the discussion -> "Hi, saw your ad for the Hayabusa, can I ride it before I buy it?"

- does not come to my house in their own vehicle

- does not appear to be qualified to ride the bike

- attempts to negotiate the terms of the test ride.

 

I figure worst case I'm out my deductible and a lot of hassle. Worst case for the buyer is injury and legal recovery action. While I've only sold three bikes, I've had no troubles.

 

Craigslist has worked very well for me.

[Lmar]

Allowing someone to test drive would be risky. If it was my bike, I wouldn't allow it.

[swfraley]

I'm not sure how I'd handle it as a seller, but I know I wouldn't buy a bike without riding it. You might see if your favorite dealer will sell it on consignment.

 

[OoPEZoO]

I always required a refundable $100 that just happened to be equal to my insurance deductible. As long as they showed up with that and a motorcycle endorsement, I have always handed over the keys. I figure if they wrecked it, the insurance company would cover the cost of the bike......plus then I wouldn't have to worry about dealing with the hassle of selling it. Kind of a win/win situation depending on how twisted your mind works.

[krussell]

Kind of a win/win situation depending on how twisted your mind works.

 

A lot like yours.

 

If the buyer takes the test ride and totals the bike, I'm delighted assuming they are not seriously hurt. I'll get more money from State Farm than I will for the bike on the open market.

 

The worst scenario is when they almost total the bike. Then you have to get it fixed, wait while it is fixed, and then sell a bike that has been wrecked.

 

 

[BlueTools]

So, do you guys carry comp & collision coverage for older bikes? Or, do you only put it on shortly before you sell a bike? In any case, won't collecting on your policy when someone else wrecked your bike raise your premiums? Seems like you would be out more than the cost of the deductible in the long run. Insurance is gambling and the house always wins. Just wondering.

[hANNAbONE]

cASH iN hAND... a must - If I'm selling something for say $5000 or $15000...they had better have the cash in their pocket - or no keys get flipped to them. Yes, I ride along, and Yes, I count their money before they "climb aboard"...that way - they wreck it they own it - and AT LEAST i know that they aren't just looking for a free ride.

 

I have done the checklist above with the drivers license, etc etc andhave them sign it away...just to "CYA". It's another step - but a dang good one.

[pbbeck]

Have you listed it on Multistrada.net?

 

 

[krussell]

So, do you guys carry comp & collision coverage for older bikes? Or, do you only put it on shortly before you sell a bike? In any case, won't collecting on your policy when someone else wrecked your bike raise your premiums? Seems like you would be out more than the cost of the deductible in the long run. Insurance is gambling and the house always wins. Just wondering.

 

I've only got newer bikes, and have full coverage. Not sure what the savings would be to remove comp and collision.

 

As far as a premium increase, I suspect that might be possible. I've had one totalled vehicle in many years with state farm, they considered it a freebie. If I had a lot of recent claims I'd likely be more concerned.

[JonathanE]

I don't let anyone ride a bike that I own and insure, but I am more than willing to take them for a ride as a pillion!

 

So far, no takers. Three bikes sold to happy buyers without ever taking the bikes off of my property. Go figure.

[bootzilla]

I don't let anyone ride a bike that I own and insure, but I am more than willing to take them for a ride as a pillion!

 

That is what I did with the only bike I've ever sold. I let the buyer sit on it and fiddle with it all they wanted, then I took them for a spin, and everything worked out perfectly.

 

Of course, this was a 650 being bought by a beginner, so I don't think she was too keen on riding it on her own, anyway, so YMMV, especially with a Duc.

[rglassma]

cASH iN hAND... a must - If I'm selling something for say $5000 or $15000...they had better have the cash in their pocket - or no keys get flipped to them. Yes, I ride along, and Yes, I count their money before they "climb aboard"...that way - they wreck it they own it - and AT LEAST i know that they aren't just looking for a free ride.

 

I have done the checklist above with the drivers license, etc etc andhave them sign it away...just to "CYA". It's another step - but a dang good one.

 

Hmmm.. This cash in hand thing: How many of you have actually sold an expensive motorcycle, and the potential buyer has handed over to you say 10,000 before a test ride??

 

I know I wouldn't. Even if I was serious... It would be great in theory.. But, is it realistic??

[OoPEZoO]

I have always carried full coverage on all of my bikes......even in my early 20's my monthly premiums were never over $25 a month, and that was for a 160+ hp crotch rocket. Hell my Katana 750 was only $16 a month. I figured it was a cheap gamble on my part. Chances are either one of them would have been totaled from a parking lot tipover due to body damage. Also in PA, you MUST have full covereage if you are financing a vehicle. It is always a requirement from the lender.

 

As far as my BMW......the insurance company value is quite a bit more than I would ever ask for it on the open market, so I keep it fully insured. The difference between having and not having collision on the policy is like $6 a month. So for $72 a year I'll take that gamble.

[hopz]

I've sold bikes and cars in lots of places... In small town Florida it felt ok. In big city Houston... no way, no how. in Salt Lake some yes, some no.

 

In all cases if there was a test ride I went along on another bike. One time I went along on the guys own bike, he rode mine-I rode his.

 

I personally would not buy without a ride, but I have sometimes said "no test rides"... and still made the sale. Many classified ads in Houston specified "No Test Rides", just the culture I guess.

 

No matter what, if it feels wrong do not hand over the keys.

 

[pbbeck]

I've sold four bikes privately without test rides. I think it helped me to "sell" the fact that I was an enthusiast and not simply an owner. I talked extensively with each buyer and sent them to my web site where they could see lots of pictures of my travels with each bike. The buyers know the bike was taken care of properly and never pressed for a test ride.

[R80RTKen]

Ive bought and sold bikes for a long time.Test rides are more important in relation to how old / how many miles the bike has on it.

 

In looking for a learner bike for Lena, I demanded a test ride, and a serious go-over too, (plugs out, look under fairing) right off the bat.

 

When I bought my RT, I said to the owner, after all negotiations and look over and everything "I'll need to test ride it before we sign" and he understood. I had travelled to New York to buy it and was serious, and wasnt going to take a bike un-ridden. But it was newish and had 4000 miles on it.

 

The test ride is a part of the process of knowing what your buying, and for both the buyer and seller, a settlement of trust.

Especially with old bikes.

 

Use your head.. talk to the guy for a while before handing over the keys to your bike. Get a feeling for when the last time the guy rode was.. If it was 20 years ago, and you don't feel comfortable, don't let them ride it.

 

 

 

 

[Survived-til-now]

The cash before they ride sounds good but if you don't follow them you don't know what they do to the bike and if you do follow them you have to hope you are a better and quicker rider than they are...

 

I do know how insurance works over there but over this side of the pond the insurance is almost always only for the owner to ride and not anyone else (except perhaps a named rider). My insurance covers me to ride someone else's bike with their permission - but only third party liability so no damage cover for the bike... If I give the keys to someone and they steal the bike then my insurance will not cover me for the loss....

 

People have been known to turn up on "their bike" and leave it on the drive whilst they test ride. They do not come back and the bike they have left will at best be worth less than yours and at worst turn out to be stolen.

 

If you do have the cash in your hand (or even a Bank draft that cannot be cancelled) they could damage the bike and then claim the bike was mechanically defective and demand their money back. Difficult to prove otherwise if they were test riding it because that is why they test ride it and it is your word against their's.

 

It's all risky and frankly I like the idea of asking a dealer to sell it for me on consignment - but even then you don't know who is test riding your bike nor how they will treat it.

 

Don't claim to know what the answer is but watch out for the insurance implications - you need to read the small print on the policy.

 

Andy

[smiller]

Collecting a deposit might protect you against physical damage but not liability, which could be extreme if there's an accident. Signing a wavier is one answer, but only a lawyer can determine whether the wording is adequate and even then they are not an absolute defense.

 

The best solution is (assuming that the buyer is happy with the bike in all other respects) is to sell them the bike, as in completely and totally, and offer to buy it back if they are unhappy during the test ride. This protects you in that if there is an accident it won't have been on your bike, and it also tends to eliminate the looky-loos. If the buyer is really serious about wanting the bike this process shouldn't be much of a hindrance, and provides you maximum protection.

[JohnnyJ]

The first thing I would do is talk to my agent and follow his suggestions - get him in the loop.

 

My big concern would be personnel liability. It's hard to total a bike without doing serious damage to oneself.

 

I would talk at length with the potential buyer to establish his level of experience and maturity.

 

I like the idea of selling it through a dealership... especially if it were a "large" MC