- This topic has 9 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 1 month ago by Munch.
Buying used
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February 25, 2009 at 12:32 am #2559alaaaaaaaaanParticipant
Alright guys here is my question. I have never bought a used or new for that matter bike. I am looking into getting a used Sv650s and was just wondering what i would need in terms of when i decide to buy. What do i need to provide the seller (aside the obvious cash lol) and what do i need from him in terms of paper work, tags etc. If anyone has a link to a page or a post i would definitely appreciate it. I have looked online but there is so much info and i feel like my best bet is to ask the BBM community you guys seem to know what you are talking about lol…Anything i should be on the look out for?. Any help is appreciated and i live in Florida btw.
Thanks again
February 25, 2009 at 12:47 am #16693MunchParticipantPersonally, let “them” provide everything you can get from them. You provide only your interest in the bike. If you feel like you need to take money bring only enough to convince the seller to hold it for you. Gives you time to walk away and de-dazzle yourself and think rationally on the purchase. Ask any and all questions…even the seemingly dumb ones. Check your motor vehicles sites to see what is gonna be required for title changes and tag registration. Also make sure you are up to date on your states inspection policies if any apply. As a matter of fact you can use those policies to help look for possible problems before the purchase. If you know it won’t pass the inspection process likely there’s underlying things wrong also. If you state doesn’t have inspection laws ( Ga does not if I remember correctly so not all will) Use another states.
As always look for dents, scratches and rust. Observe the site in daylight and shadow to get a good chance to see imperfections. Ask the person to fire it up, even ask them to give you a demo of how well the bike works, meaning make them actually ride it. Try to get any and all service records. …..ummmm
ok distracted by lasagna will add more as my stomach allows.February 25, 2009 at 1:51 am #16697SantaCruzRiderParticipantI expect him to bring the bike with current reg, clean pink with no liens and his/her name on it as owner, and keys to the bike. Be sure to spend time verifying reg numbers match from the pink to the bike.
I also expect to be able to test ride the bike. Some sellers don’t want to let it happen — and for good reason because they get wanks who drop their bike on a test and walk away.
I’ve been prepared to give them a check to hold while I take a test, if it made them happy, but I’ve never found it necessary. But I’ve also been prepared to walk away.
I figure I’ll kick myself less over a great bike I missed because I couldn’t test it than over a junk bike that looked good in a seller’s driveway, only to become a project in mine.
Also, any weirdness related to non-op reg or lost pinks or ??? — I don’t have time for it. Seller needs to clear that stuff up first.February 25, 2009 at 4:00 am #16705briderdtParticipantIt was actually a pretty easy deal though. I asked up front about the condition (it was basically flawless), clear title, etc… But in all the emails exchanged within a very short period of time (say 6 hours), I was getting a feeling for the personality of the seller, and he came across as a very standup guy. I pretty much committed to buy if I saw the bike was okay, and we set up a meet at the place where I’d be financing the bike. He rode the bike there. I never actually rode the thing before buying it, but I also knew he had to have ridden it several miles to get it there. I listened to it running, asked a few more questions, then we went into the bank and everything was done there (Boeing Credit Union). I then paid the guy a tank of gas to transport it to my house (or he could have ridden it there and I would have given him a ride back to his place). I provided a blank “sales receipt”, and he provided the bike, keys, title, and a hand willing to take the check the bank handed over.
I’ve been nothing but happy with the bike.
February 25, 2009 at 2:21 pm #16718wbsprudelsParticipantGreat question. I am in the process of buying my first used bike. As I am not mechanically inclined, I have asked the seller if he would be willing to meet me at a service shop where I will pay for a diagnostic check of the bike. Just sent the e-mail, so have not heard back yet.
I tried this with one other seller. He was unwilling–he claimed he didn’t want to ride the bike in salt/sand covered Indiana roads. Maybe it was a legit reason, but he also had no maintenance records, so I didn’t pursue.
February 25, 2009 at 3:02 pm #16723MattParticipantYou should be writing some sort of sales contract with any seller for a used bike. Just a hand wirtten thing that you each get a copy of (and both sign) detailing the bike (VIN, mileage, etc), price, and conditions of sale (as is, safetied, etc).
One of the conditions of sale you can ask for is that the bike pass inspection with a garage of your choice.
If you or the seller have a pick-up or trailer (or you have a friend with), you can get it there yourself, usually with a small down payment to the seller. If it fails in the inspection, you get the down-payment back, and the seller has an inspection report he can use to fix the bike, or show other potential buyers just what is needed.I did this on one bike I almost bought. The bike looked pretty fair, but as soon as the mechanic got to it he said it would take $2k just to pass safety, and even then it would have a short life (too many parts worn). I tried to use this to negotiate a lower price, but the seller was firm. In the end I walked away from it. And I’m certain that was the right choice.
February 25, 2009 at 6:32 pm #16728eonParticipantI would be careful over leaving deposits with a seller. If you do that make sure whatever written agreement you have specifies when and how you get your money back or when the seller can keep your money and sell it to someone else. On another board someone left a $500 deposit on a $2500 bike but then changed his mind. He wanted his deposit back (wrongly in my opinion) but got very upset when the seller told him no. Because it all happened quickly he felt justified in asking for his money back. Most of the board members backed him up and some seemed to think the law backed him up. Didn’t feel right to me. What was the deposit for if he felt he could back out and get the money back?
In short, if you are planning on leaving a deposit put some thought into a written agreement before you get there. Save a lot of pain later on.
February 25, 2009 at 11:16 pm #16735MunchParticipant“What was the deposit for if he felt he could back out and get the money back? “
I know here locally most persons will accept a temporary deposit as a sign of genuine interest. Also as a means to have the seller hold off other potential buyers temporarily so you can: A)Make up your mind Make sure the vehicle is sound and C) get a chance to get any private loans finalized.
Most of the times its a “gentleman’s agreement” (yes some people feel that your word is worth something) that you will get the “deposit” back should you change your mind. However if you purchase it then he/she already has something tangible in their hand until all things are agreed upon. If you feel the “gentlemen’s agreement” isn’t a comfortable avenue then negotiate something that satisfies both your and their interests. Nothing sucks worse then finding that perfect thing just to have the seller let someone walk away with it. Now you got the loan, time wasted in paper work and with some banks the onset of trying to get the paper work to change with the next new perfect thing. Praying that the values, percentages etc will be the same.February 25, 2009 at 11:33 pm #16736SantaCruzRiderParticipantOnce a deposit is given and received, you’ve entered into a contract and it’s possible for one party to sue the other to force execution of that contract (ie, going thru with the sale). This typically mainly benefits the seller, because if the buyer goes to court and says he had a deal, he’s going to have to show that he suffered a loss, which means he needs to conclusively show that the bike he was buying for $1,000 was actually worth $2,500, so the seller’s breach resulted in a $1,500 loss.
In practice, when two parties go to court over something like this, they usually both have a different understanding of what the deposit was for (earnest money so I could get the bike inspected vs downpayment while I arrange the financing). A judge would often just say that there then was no clear verbal contract or understanding, and no deal.
Disclaimer: I’m not an attorney, but spent years as a reporter covering courts and saw a mindnumbing number of these types of cases.February 25, 2009 at 11:54 pm #16738MunchParticipantHeh…”earnest” what a bogus concept people got sold on for house buying. Sorry buying a home and giving money thats not in the sale price is not smart IMHO. Last house I backed out of the seller tried to ask for “earnest ” money. I flat told him if he has others willing to pay it and buy the house on top of it to go ahead. Needless to say the Property is still up for sale and this is a year ago. I backed out after seeing the way the housing market was headed to. The seller actually had the nerve to say He wanted the $$ for “earnest” for just that occasion. …. sooo what if I had given it to him I was out that money… yea I am not so foolish with my hard labored for dollars. I am in the deal for the price tag, any additional anything is on your own generosity and because you are needing to get rid of the property, be it bike, home or whatever.
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