Question: When buying bike out of state

[texasaggie97]

I wanted to know what you guys recommend when looking at purchasing a bike online and never getting to kick the tires before you buy. Pictures look good bike is a 2011 R1200 RT 14,000 miles. I also want to know what is the best way to pay for the bike? I want to do cash but I want to make sure I get what I pay for before he takes payment in full. Please let me know what you all feel is the best way forward with this transaction.

 

Thanks

[lvmyks]

See if someone in the area where the bike is to take a look. Great people on this site, don't think anyone would mind. Is it in the Seattle area? I am here for a couple of days till my move.

[Bob Foley]

Hi Texas-- Have someone from this site stop by and take a look and listen. Then plan a fly and ride. I would never turnover that kind of money without first seeing the bike first. Is the bike on eBay or Craigslist or Cycletrader?

Secondly on a high mileage bike(14K on a 2011 is a lot) you will need to see the records for service. Make sure the warranty is in place.

If you are not in a rush, there will be many like new RT's in your area by Spring. Just a thought. Good luck with your search.

[enfoman]

Title transfer rules vary from state to state- check to make sure you do it right. Here in NY it is considered casual. In Pa, the signatures must be notarized in that State. Took weeks and a bunch of trust from the seller to get it right because neither of us did it right the first time. (It was difficult to do on a Sunday to find a dealer open for Notary).

[UberXY]

You can do an escrow payment for the bike. You send the money to the sellers lawyer to be held in escrow, or you can use a company like escrow.com You get the bike shipped to you, and if you like it, the owner gives the paperwork to his lawyer, you sign a release, he gets his money, and you get the title. If you don't like the bike, you need to ship it back to get your money refunded directly to you by the lawyer or escrow firm. None of this is free of charge.

 

Or you can ask the seller to take it to a local BMW shop, if there is one, for a PPI.

[upflying]

I would make the trip to actually look at the bike and and conduct the purchase in person.

Wire transfers of cash to purchase non-existent straw vehicles are rampant.

 

[tallman]

There's a nice '011 for sale in Houston.

Did you check that out?

[Rougarou]

My neighbor bought his bike out of Texas, which was originally a CHP R1100RTP bike. Bike had 48000 on the clock, it now has 82000 on the clock. He didn't test drive, see it, or touch it before buying, just bought it off of ebay and had it shipped here.

 

I sold my last Jeep on ebay and the buyer never came down from Jersey to look at it, just had a hotshot come buy and pick it up.

 

We bought our house sight unseen. It wasn't like we could fly in from Japan and go house hunting and I wasn't going to come here and be under a crunch to find a place. So we researched neighborhoods, housing, and schools. Determined where we wanted to live and worked with a realtor to get the nitty-gritty on the houses we had in mind. So pretty much, we bought our house over the internet and couldn't be happier with our purchase.

[99Roadster]

Years ago I used Escrow.com when purchasing the R1100R out of state. Rates were reasonable at the time.

[markgoodrich]

I wanted to know what you guys recommend when looking at purchasing a bike online and never getting to kick the tires before you buy. Pictures look good bike is a 2011 R1200 RT 14,000 miles. I also want to know what is the best way to pay for the bike? I want to do cash but I want to make sure I get what I pay for before he takes payment in full. Please let me know what you all feel is the best way forward with this transaction.

 

Thanks

 

NOT CASH, as in bills! Use a bank with a branch in his city, you can go with him to the bank and let him see the bank write a cashier's check out of your account.

 

As far as getting it registered in Texas, it's fairly straightforward.

 

Read this

 

and then read this

 

and then go back to the first page I referenced and click on the various links to get the forms you'll need...they've changed the website; used to just be a list of the forms, easier to find, but you can easily muddle through it. I agree with the fly and ride advice.

[Kitsap]

If you can't fly and ride let us know where the bike is and let the magic begin. It was stated earlier that 14K miles for a 2011 is high, I would say it's low. If it hasn't been abused those miles are irrelevant.

[texasaggie97]

lvmyks,

 

No, but thank you!!! The bike is in Florida. When I get closer to making the decision I will think about asking someone to check it out. I do not want to waste anyones time unless I am ready to buy pending that persons inspection.

[texasaggie97]

Thank you all for all the great advice. I would love to fly and ride. I do not trailer my bike. I buy to ride and it is the journey not the destination for me. I will let you all know if I choose to move forward. I want to see what they want for the bike. Right now they want 16,800 for 011 R1200 RT with 14,000 miles. Good price? Where should they be at in your opinion?

 

DESCRIPTION

2011 Bmw R 1200 Rt, 14,323 miles, very clean, spotless, excellent condition! Reason for selling - purchased bigger K1600 GT. $1,000 in extras. Approximately $600 for the after market hi-way pegs and $400 for the GPS mount. Bluetooth Interface Control, Radio software, Heated seats, Heated grips, Cruise control, Audio system with radio, ESA 11 (Electronic suspension control), On board computer, Center stand, Hi-way pegs, BMW GPS mount (prewired for Bluetooth) Everything maintained and installed through BMW of Fort Myers

 

Thanks for all you advice!! I have always received all my answers here.

 

[GRB60]

Has it been serviced? On time?

I would also think that they have some room to move on the price.

[texasaggie97]

 

 

Just curious what do you think the bike price should be for the bike above?

 

There is another bike just like it but less miles and a color I would rather have.

 

2011 Bmw R 1200 Rt, Thunder Grey/Titan Silver, Audio And Communication package, On board computer, Crusie Control, TPM, Heated Grips, Low Suspension, Accessory Socket, $18,200.00 Miles 2300

 

What is good Price to try to get the seller to for this bike?

 

Thanks for any advice.

[rich t]

Here in Florida, you pay a several hundred $ for an out of state title transfer. So much so I sold my airhead when I moved here from mi. Make sure you have factored tax and title into your purchase. Check with your DMV on the out of state fees.

[texasaggie97]

Purchased a bike once before out of state and Texas does not to my knowledge charge anything for an out of state title transfer unless something has changed. Thanks and I am going to check on this to make sure.

 

 

[ericfoerster]

Todd,

It's a buyers market right now. There is always going to be some wiggle room on the price unless they are upside down.

 

The RT is going to be a sweet bike coming off of the GS. The only drawback is the fairing removal for service. As often as we used to ride that became a pain for me, but the protection of the fairing in weather is nice.

 

Escrow service is a safe way to protect yourself.

 

LUNCH NEXT WEEK....I won't forget. We can talk scooters then.

 

 

[markgoodrich]

Purchased a bike once before out of state and Texas does not to my knowledge charge anything for an out of state title transfer unless something has changed. Thanks and I am going to check on this to make sure.

 

 

No need to check...you just pay sales tax and license fees...see my previous post for links.

[texasaggie97]

 

My wife likes to ride with me and the GS on longer trips were hard for her so I figured I would stay on the pavement and get a bike that would provide more wind protection and creature comforts. Looking forward to catching up.

 

[texasaggie97]

Thanks for the helpful info. I though that was the case.

[ChrisSkor]

I bought a 2007 R1200RT from Irv Seaver, CA. For $400 it was freighted to me in SC where I registered the bike, paid taxed, got plates, then road to Maine! This way I knew the bike was perfect condition before long journey.

[awagnon]

I live in Utah and have bought bikes in San Jose, Kansas City, and Phoenix that I've found on the internet. They were never as nice as advertised, but I expected that. I always paid cash AFTER I looked at the bike and took it for a test ride. The problem is getting a mechanic to go over it first. Usually not possible, but I feel comfortable I could spot a problem. Look over service records and if necessary, call the shop they use and get a service history. The last bike I bought in Kansas City quit running in mid-Nebraska on the way home. The previous owner had just had a new battery installed and the dealer failed to seat the fuel pump connecter all the way and it came loose going down the interstate. So, take tools if you are mechanically inclined, take your Anonymous Book, or have a towing serice just in case. Still, I've been very happy with all the bikes I bought and they have served me well.