Purchasing a bike "long distance"

Hi everyone.

I'm looking at purchasing a bike 600 kilometres away, but in the same
state (WA). It's an unlicensed road trail bike. I don't intend on
travelling there.

I've bought a few bikes locally before, but what's the usual way to
handle the paperwork with a long distance purchase like this? I was
thinking I'd offer him a small deposit and send him a completed and
signed copy of the transfer papers.

Once the bike has been freighted here (with the completed transfer
papers, now also signed by seller), I'll wire him the cash. Sound
about right?

I'm getting the bike checked out independently by a mechanic near the
seller, that's when I'll be getting the ID numbers for a REVS check.

Thanks,

Bruce.

 

If it's unlicensed, what're the "transfer papers" for? (and if it's
registered why not just ride it?)
Personally I wouldn't let a bike out of my sight without the money in my
hand (or account).

 

I was thinking nobody on earth would!

 

When you register an unlicensed vehicle, you need proof of ownership.
Completed transfer papers fulfill the requirement for proof of
ownership, even though you don't actually need to perform a transfer
due to the bike being unlicensed.

You're right, I would be the same in that position. At the same time,
I wouldn't put my hard earned into someone else's hand (or account)
until I have the bike in my sight and a proof of purchase. So what's
the standard procedure here?

 

You're right, I would be the same in that position. At the same time,
I wouldn't put my hard earned into someone else's hand (or account)
until I have the bike in my sight and a proof of purchase. So what's
the standard procedure here?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fly to (wherever).
Decide whether to fly back home or buy the bike.
Fly or...
.... buy and then get a permit to bring the bike home. (about $20 per day in
the eastern states)

 

If the bike is unregistered, then all you should need to fulfill proof
of ownership is a handwritten receipt from the seller stating that s/
he received a certain amount of money from you being full payment for
the bike and a descriptioin of the bike, probably a VIN or frame/
engine number should be sufficient.

The standard procedure is that you deposit the money into the sellers
account and you organise to have the bike shipped to you. If you
don't trust them, then don't buy the bike. If you do trust them it
shouldn't be a problem. I have sold several bikes to interstate
buyers this way and there are quite a few other ausmotians who have
similarly purchased or sold bike in similar fashion. That's not to
say that there aren't people who have been cheated by scammers,
however most of the stories I have heard about people getting ripped
off buying bikes sight unseen at long distance have been the victims
of scammers who are targetting people who can't recognise an obvious
scam.

 

These days they want a trail to show that the previous owner also got
it legally, and so on. Too many unregistered chookies stolen from
farmyard sheds. And if you want to ride it anywhere in WA other than
on your own property you will need "Off-road Rego" which includes
plates.

Theo

 

Theo, I'm actually starting to consider riding it back. I found this
on the DPI website:

http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/licensing/yourvehicle/1440.asp

I'll give them a call tomorrow to see if I'm allowed to use this
permit for that. 400km on a 400cc thumper with knobblies, a plank for
a seat, and sprockets geared for off road use could be .. interesting.

 

It all seems pretty legit, but at the end of the day you never know..
Zebee's "half and half" method sounds fair to me.