Tips on buying a bike on the used market?

[Cornfish]

All good stuff.

One thing I would add that plays off bringing a qualified friend is finding a shop/mechanic you trust. Unless you are savvy enough to do all of your own evaluation and maintenance, bringing the bike to someone qualified for fresh oil, inspection, and another set of eyes is a great starting point. Considering the risk to you if something goes wrong while riding, it is well worth a couple hundred bucks to have the bike checked out. If you decide to pick up some of the maintenance yourself after that, you then have a baseline to work from. Also, be nice to your mechanic and ask good questions so you learn more about keeping the bike in good condition, and safe.

Have fun too! Who the hell wants to sell to some curmudgeon with a checklist a mile long? Chances are the seller has had many good times on the bike and is sorry to see it go an some level. Learn about their experience with the bike and get them to tell you a story about a trip or ride they did on the bike that they loved. Chances are you will learn more about the bike and how it was cared for from a story than a maintenance log. That said, it is obvious when a bike has been cared for by maintenance logs, the sellers story, how clean the bike is, and of course, by the correspondingly higher price.

Good luck!

 

[bpw]

I tend to evaluate the seller as much as the bike. If I roll up to check out a bike and the guy has an clean garage full of well kept vehicles, organized paperwork and maintenance records I could almost buy without seeing the bike.

 

[2strokebendejo]

decide on bike or bikes you want to buy
research them
decide on budget
have a checklist
check out bikes
test ride the ones that look promising

I generally don't take money the first time I view a bike and then bring money the second time for a test ride.

just because a used bike is at a dealership doesn't mean you don't have to check it out thoroughly, especially as they probably won't let you test ride it.

Truth. I worked at Berts mega mall in LA( biggest dealer in sales in Us)
Used bikes were brought in and washed then put for sale without no inspection

We would get bikes that sold that had blown motors in them and we were expected to have them out the door same day

 

[ScottRNelson]

I tend to evaluate the seller as much as the bike. If I roll up to check out a bike and the guy has a clean garage full of well kept vehicles, organized paperwork and maintenance records I could almost buy without seeing the bike.

I guess if I ever try to sell a bike to you, I'll have to make sure it's sitting out in the driveway with the garage door closed.

 

[Derb]

I tend to evaluate the seller as much as the bike. If I roll up to check out a bike and the guy has an clean garage full of well kept vehicles, organized paperwork and maintenance records I could almost buy without seeing the bike.

It has been mentioned a few times but this is a big deal for me. I feel I have had great success in buying used off of CL. The last used bike I bought ( my 250x ) the guy had a log of every time he rode the bike, where he rode, how the trip went, if the bike gave him any problems. He had every receipt for every purchase that was bike related. This guy was the most detailed owner I have come across. On top of that I knew what I wanted and what it was worth, arrived with cash and got a great deal. I love buying at the home of the seller. I feel they have nothing to hide this way, and so far so good with years of used purchases.

Timing is also key when looking on CL. There is no harm browsing, but when you see something that matches your wants, I like to be prepared to move quick. I always arrive with cash and buy if the condition is as advertised. With that said I have no problem making a drive and not buying if the seller and I can not agree to what makes us both happy. I don't get emotional over any purchase. That has really helped with my real estate deals over the years.

 

[mrabe]

I tend to evaluate the seller as much as the bike.

It has been mentioned a few times but this is a big deal for me. [...] Timing is also key when looking on CL. There is no harm browsing, but when you see something that matches your wants, I like to be prepared to move quick.

Thanks for the suggestions to also evaluate the seller, I assumed this part but others would have assumed things on my list so I'll add it.

Turned out the seller today was awesome as a person and forward about his limited riding and maintenance experience ... his friend gave him the Shadow a year ago (he showed me the registration from the prior owner and his current registration nearing expiration - prior owner's kid drove past as I was leaving with the bike and shouted to have fun on his dad's old bike, kid had just bought a car on craigslist that same day so we all laughed about the serindipity). He wanted to sell it to someone who, in his words, "would be really enthusiastic about cleaning and fixing it up and would pay forward the good karma." He offered it at $1,000 in the ad and said he knew it was worth more (the prior owner who knew more about it suggested he sell it for at least $1,500 and I think it's easily worth $2,000 even with some issues). Like everyone who selled a used vehicle on CL he got a ton of semi-BS, half-interested replies begging to know "is it still available" and "what's your lowest price?" which clearly had bothered him though he seemed to laugh it all off. Guy was so mellow. I didn't even haggle with him because he was a very nice guy with a curious little kid playing around in the garage, a student while also a full time worker. Then he gave me $100 back (which I then tried to leave with him but he insisted ... I'm gonna donate it to a local charity because I was just so impressed with this guy).

I know it's gonna need a carb cleaning, valve adjustment, new chain (at max adjustment and already has proper 3/4" slack), the left side cover is missing, along with a few other things; but it's in surprisingly good shape and ready for some elbow grease to make it a great ride. As is it's an okay commuter.

Too much stuff. Take someone with you that knows what they are looking at.

One thing I would add that plays off bringing a qualified friend is finding a shop/mechanic you trust.

Adding this to the list, you're absolutely right. This is what I did when I got my first bike 10 years ago but this time my friend (you on here Xiao Xiao?) wasn't available so I started looking into checklists so I'd have a reference given my more limited maintenance background on bikes - I'm alright with cars but there's a lot that's different!

Have fun too! Who the hell wants to sell to some curmudgeon with a checklist a mile long?

It is a long list - for a $1,000 list price on a running 1998 Shadow it was unnecessarily long actually. I skipped much of it and knew that I'd have to do some substantial repairs/maintenance. But I checked things that I couldn't repair like welds for cracks, bent frame, and more. In part because of how nice the bike looked (not cleaned up but still all straight, nothing missing except the left side cover by the tool box, just some rust and oxidation from being stored in Pacifica by the ocean for a while).

Overall I'm thrilled about the Shadow ACE - rode well and all the feeling and memories of my last bike came back (albeit with a louder, bigger Shadow than my last, a 1985 VT500). Clearly it needs a reasonable bit of work to get it in great shape but that's what I was looking for: a bike that is running/ridable but needs some work so I have a fun and rewarding project that doesn't break the bank. Thanks for all the suggestions and help, I'm happy be back on two wheels.

 

[philipviana]

Bumping this thread as I am in the market for a used bike right now and have a question.

I found a good ad for a 2014 R6 on craigslist. The seller has been an excellent communicator, timely to answer all my questions via text. His ad emphasizes his meticulous maintenance and the bevy of upgrades included in the price.

I asked him today if he had any liens and he said he still has $1500 left, which he offered to pay off. I confirmed that the $1500 was not a part of the original asking price. I asked him if this meant he would not have title in hand for the sale - yes, he said, he would mail me the title as soon as possible. We would use a DMV Bill of Sale to help lock in the deal.

This is my first time buying a used bike and while everything seems great, I do not want to risk the chance of not receiving the title after having paid for the bike. Even if the bike is in my driveway, I am shit out of luck without the title. I asked him why he doesn't just pay the lien off now since he wants to sell the bike soon anyway, that way he can have title in hand when he sells the bike - he replied that, understandably, he doesn't want to pay $1500 when there is no guarantee he'll sell it. I personally find this logic a bit flawed since, as I said... he's going to have to pay that lien off anyway when he wants to sell it, but I don't want to press the issue at this point.

Can anyone offer me advice on how to approach this? Ideally, he pays off the bike, we do a simple cash exchange and I get the title and bike in person right then and there. If not, is it risky to accept his offer to mail the title after the sale?

Thanks.

 

[chai rome]

philipviana, I was about to pull the trigger under similar circumstances and got some very helpful replies from Barfers:

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=497789

Btw, I didn't go through with it for unrelated reasons. Goodluck!

 

[HappyHighwayman]

I always get it inspected at a trusted garage.

 

[MotoCat]

...he doesn't want to pay $1500 when there is no guarantee he'll sell it.

Sounds like he can't afford to pay it off at the moment. If you decide to go forward with this deal you should be compensated for the risk you're taking, by negotiating a lower price.

It's possible to get a good deal and get the paperwork straightened out but I personally wouldn't want to deal with the headache and DMV legwork in case the title never shows up. Next!

 

[ScottRNelson]

It's possible to get a good deal and get the paperwork straightened out but I personally wouldn't want to deal with the headache and DMV legwork in case the title never shows up. Next!

I bought a bike once where I never did get the title.

No chance of me doing that again. If we can't be 100% done when I hand over the cash and take the bike away, no deal.

 

[auntiebling]

Sounds like he can't afford to pay it off at the moment. If you decide to go forward with this deal you should be compensated for the risk you're taking, by negotiating a lower price.

It's possible to get a good deal and get the paperwork straightened out but I personally wouldn't want to deal with the headache and DMV legwork in case the title never shows up. Next!

in this scenario, with the risk being fairly low at $1500, i might offer that buyer fronts the 1500 payoff and keeps the paperwork to transfer ownership. when the title arrives, bike and remainder of money change hands.

i'm not saying 1500 is trivial money by any means but... sometimes a gamble is worth it.

 

[Smash Allen]

Can anyone offer me advice on how to approach this? Ideally, he pays off the bike, we do a simple cash exchange and I get the title and bike in person right then and there. If not, is it risky to accept his offer to mail the title after the sale?

Thanks.

Do not let the deal carry on past the time when the bike changes possession.

The seller has to compromise because he is the one complicating the deal. You can say that you will buy the bike but not pay him anything until he has the title in his name ready to sign to you.

Bottom line is that the title is not yet in his name so he cannot transfer to you. You want a clean transaction. There are plenty of other good deals out there

 

[philipviana]

Great perspective. I think I might just tell him that I am still interested in the bike but that I don't want to move forward until he's got the title in hand and we can start and finish the transaction at once. He told me he doesn't want to pay off the rest of the lien unless he is guaranteed a sale. I'm going to tell him that I can't guarantee a sale until I see the bike, get a test ride and have the title in hand.

chai rome, thanks for the link to your thread. Looks like people sometimes let a financial institution make the legal transfer of title possible, but as others said here, I am wary of the possible headache...

 

[Sportbiker]

philipviana.. to show you are serious, offer him a $50 deposit check or PayPal with a 2 or 3 week open ended period. If he still wants your full money before paying off the lien, walk away.

I once bought a bike and it took a few months and quite bit of persuasion from my side to get the title. I bought if from a police officer so I had a high degree of faith. Long story short, it wasn't a pleasant or smooth transaction. Never will I ever buy a bike without title in hand.