Selling privately and test rides

I'm selling my ER5 and am just wondering what to do regarding test
rides. If I was buying privately I'd want a test ride, so clearly I'll
need to let someone do it. Also, let's face it, the ER5 isn't exactly
the first bike a thief would want to nick.

What would worry me is letting someone ride off and end up damaging it.
They are very unlikely to have full comp insurance.

Going pillion might make them go more carefully but there are no
guarantees and the buyer could end up killing me.

What's the experience of others?

 

I have usually let them go, gut feel and all that.
You can always ask for a hefty deposit.
I've had owners ride pillion.

 

And be aware that if they do get pulled by the police and you have let them
out on it without checking that they have insurance then you could be done
for permitting the use of a vehicle without insurance.
--
Alex

Hermes: "We can't afford that! Especially not Zoidberg!"
Zoidberg: "They took away my credit cards!"

www.drzoidberg.co.uk
www.sffh.co.uk
www.ebayfaq.co.uk

 

I've started saying "yes, if you leave a full deposit and can prove
you're insured".

 

Ask for two proofs of ID + keep hold of their driving licence during the test
ride, if possible, and keys to the vehicle they arrived in. Ask them to come
alone. Meet at a garage forcourt - I think this a good idea.

Last time I sold a bike I did this, and asked the prospect to come alone.

He came with his wife, two sons, a new BMW 5, all documentation, driving licence
and ID.

We all had a coffee together as he wobbled off.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Klaatu

Ask me to meet you at a garage forecourt and I'd run a fucking mile.

"Is the bike registered at your address? Great, is that where I'll see
it? No? OK, <click, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr>"

You see, thieves work both sides of this kind of deal.

To answer the OP: Get a full cash deposit before the test ride, take a
photo of the prospective buyer, and have a *really* careful look at any
banknotes that are handed over. If you know anyone in retail, have them
check the money out.

<thinks>

SteveH? Another business opportunity here for you.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets
and Ducati Race Engineer.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Klaatu

If I'd seen the V5 registered to the address I'd seen the guy come out
of, yes.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets
and Ducati Race Engineer.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, mb

Obviously there's an exemption for fine upstanding citizens such as your
good self and me.

I thought that went without saying.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets
and Ducati Race Engineer.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

No no no. I insist on sending a video of myself coming and going out of
the house, while you will send a pho... er, hang on.

Course it does. Anyway, the gfs bank manager says the money is OK :-/