09-17-2019, 01:06 PM
I’ve always required my asking price in cash and check for a motorcycle license before allowing a test ride on any bike I’m selling. When I’m buying, I’ve encountered all types of sellers. A few have just handed me their bikes with no money or collateral. Hadn’t even brought someone else with me. I must look trustworthy.
I’ve been lucky not to have any unpleasant or unscrupulous situations as a buyer or seller of vehicles in private party transactions.
I saw the ad for my current CB on a Saturday night, and looked at it on Sunday before leaving on a business trip. Since I didn’t have access to cash for a purchase, the seller politely declined to let me ride the bike and I completely understood. We made a gentleman’s agreement that I’d come back with cash after my trip intending to purchase the bike.
When my wife and I came back a week later with the money, he had been having second thoughts about selling. He sent me off on a test ride, and when I came back just a few minutes later, he had his hopes up that the short ride meant I didn’t like the bike. When I said I did like it, he insisted that I take a longer ride. “These bikes get really uncomfortable after a while. Take it for a long ride, and take it out on the freeway, and you’ll see that you probably won’t want it.”
His wife and mine were having a pleasant conversation so I went for a longer ride, which of course didn’t make me like it any less. We sealed the deal once his wife overrode the owner’s hesitation to sell it. “If you like it so much how come you’ve hardly ridden it since you just had to have it six years ago?”
So in this case, the female spouse, albeit not mine, was on my side. Mine was supportive as well of course.
I’ve been lucky not to have any unpleasant or unscrupulous situations as a buyer or seller of vehicles in private party transactions.
I saw the ad for my current CB on a Saturday night, and looked at it on Sunday before leaving on a business trip. Since I didn’t have access to cash for a purchase, the seller politely declined to let me ride the bike and I completely understood. We made a gentleman’s agreement that I’d come back with cash after my trip intending to purchase the bike.
When my wife and I came back a week later with the money, he had been having second thoughts about selling. He sent me off on a test ride, and when I came back just a few minutes later, he had his hopes up that the short ride meant I didn’t like the bike. When I said I did like it, he insisted that I take a longer ride. “These bikes get really uncomfortable after a while. Take it for a long ride, and take it out on the freeway, and you’ll see that you probably won’t want it.”
His wife and mine were having a pleasant conversation so I went for a longer ride, which of course didn’t make me like it any less. We sealed the deal once his wife overrode the owner’s hesitation to sell it. “If you like it so much how come you’ve hardly ridden it since you just had to have it six years ago?”
So in this case, the female spouse, albeit not mine, was on my side. Mine was supportive as well of course.