Test rides? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Test rides?

there isn't one. But lots of time if you are very serious you may be offered a ride. Also if everything checks out you can often say "here's the cash let me take it for a short ride. if I bring it back unscathed and don't like it you give me back the cash" that often works.

That said it's very rare that someone hasn't let me test ride the bike w/o handing over cash. I've let the odd buyer have a joy ride too.
 
timtune said:
there isn't one. But lots of time if you are very serious you may be offered a ride. Also if everything checks out you can often say "here's the cash let me take it for a short ride. if I bring it back unscathed and don't like it you give me back the cash" that often works.

That said it's very rare that someone hasn't let me test ride the bike w/o handing over cash. I've let the odd buyer have a joy ride too.
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^ This ^
Has to be cash and cash only. If they drop the bike don't be fooled by the "let me run to the bank" line..
 
I have always test ridden a bike before paying, and have let buyers test ride. Saying that, I have bought every bike I have test ridden, and sold after almost every test ride.
 
No test pilots. If the buyer is savvy, and knows what he or she is looking at, a test ride won't really tell him anything.
I tell people that question the condition of the bike where the "new bike" store is.
 
Wingboy said:
No test pilots. If the buyer is savvy, and knows what he or she is looking at, a test ride won't really tell him anything.
I tell people that question the condition of the bike where the "new bike" store is.
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I would disagree. Looking at a bike you can't tell that it jumps out of third gear or the frame is slightly tweaked and it pulls to the right.
 
Last year when I was looking for a bike, I test rode all of the bikes that I went to see. For the last bike (the one I bought) I had Frekeyguy come with me, so I handed over the cash to him in front of the owner so that owner knows I have the cash. The other owners didn't have an issue. One guy kept my phone as security. Not sure if that was a smart move on my part.

There are 2 checks I usually do during a test ride: one is on a straight I leave the handlebar and see if the bike's still going straight (do it at your own risk lol). Second, in a higher gear from a lower speed, I try to accelerate and see if there are any vibrations or unwanted noises (just to ensure that the clutch is working okay). I'm not mechanically inclined, so even if I ride I won't be able to pinpoint all of the problems but I still prefer to test ride it to see how the motorcycle feels.
 
You can just ask the owner to take it around the block, shift up and down a few times, etc
 
timtune said:
I would disagree. Looking at a bike you can't tell that it jumps out of third gear or the frame is slightly tweaked and it pulls to the right.
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True. Buyer beware.
 
Cash in hand, photo of your license otherwise.

I usually test ride with cash in hand, if that’s a problem I’ll go somewhere else. If you open the garage and I see a workbench and a giant stash of tool, i would probably skip the test ride requirement.

Some very sage advice my dad gave me a long time ago “buying used means you can be inheriting someone else’s problem.”

I go into every deal with this mentality.
 
I have never allowed test rides due to liability issues if ANYTHING happens during the ride. Having said that I feel that have lost out on 2 potential sales due to my no test ride policy.
I'm thinking of breaking my own rule but I'm not convinced
 
Every private sale is as much about the seller as it is the product they are selling. Its why used car salesmen can earn a decent living selling death traps.

Another thing to consider. Is the buyer even going to know if something is wrong with the bike? What could they possible learn in a putput around the block? Master mechanic will certainly learn a lot but John Smith Jr with an ID starting not with his initials and not ending with their birth date and his homie sitting in a car with paper plates? That's what the seller needs to judge.
 
Unless you are desperate for cash otherwise I dont see any problem not allowing test ride.

When selling your bike/car/whatever keep in mind that you only need to find one and only one buyer. Unlike a car salesman you do not have to make every potential sale "work".
 
DoubleDonut said:
Unless you are desperate for cash otherwise I dont see any problem not allowing test ride.

When selling your bike/car/whatever keep in mind that you only need to find one and only one buyer. Unlike a car salesman you do not have to make every potential sale "work".
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Riding off and not coming back is a little issue. It is easily handled tho. No test pilots. Don't like that? Next!
 
Cash in hand or some collateral, no problem. Also they better have a helmet and drivers license or you aren't going past the driveway.

For me, it depends on the bike and owner. Latest bike was mint and <4000kms, chatted with the owner about maintenance and he knew exactly what he was talking about. Did not feel like a test ride was necessary, I was right.

edit: treat others how you want to be treated. I do need to test ride most used bikes, like others have mentioned, you won't find all the issues without riding it. So I allow others to do the same when selling. But do protect yourself (cash in hand or something in case they drop it or run)
 
I wouldn't buy a bike without a test ride unless it was from a dealer. That way, I can give it back to them if it's screwed

I've also test rode bikes for many people on this board. No cash in hand, no license. If you look and talk honest, you usually get to test ride the bike.
 
If you're a stranger, you can buy the bike and I'll accept it back after a 15 minute test drive and return your money (assuming you didn't smash it). I can forget to remove my plates for the test drive but if it comes down to it, I have a bill of sale for the bike so if you crash it, I have something to help me in the ensuing insurance mess. If you're someone I know and trust or someone vouched for by someone I know and trust things can be more flexible.
 
No offense, but no. Maybe, if I know you well enough, and have seen you ride.

If the bike is priced well, it won't make a difference.
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