Buying a motorcycle online - tips

[Snowman]

Hi All,
I am looking for advice on handling a purchase where you are not able to go see the motorcycle or meet to finalize the transaction.
What is the best way to handle the transfer of funds, paperwork etc. I would like to hear the lessons learned, good and bad.
It always seems that the best used motorcycles are always on the other side of the country from me.

[alanp]

I have purchased several motorcycles without seeing them first, and have not had any issues, but every situation is unique.  I always spend a lot of time on the phone with the seller and establish trust.  Once that's is done, then it all falls into place.  If you can't get to where you both trust each other, then the risk can be pretty high IMO. 
Sounds like you are having the bike shipped to you.  I would suggest you send a down payment in exchange for the title.  Then send the balance for the bike.

[LongRanger]

I've bought several sight-unseen, too. Unless you're knowledgeable about the particular model you're interested in and can ask specific questions and judge the bike's condition from photographs, I'd suggest finding someone local who can look at the bike and give you an honest appraisal. He can also guide you on the seller's character. If you purchase the bike on eBay, you will have some protection against misrepresentation, fraud, etc. but if it's on Craigslist, not so much.

[usedtobefast]

I've bought a few bikes on eBay ... some of them I drove to pick up, a few I had shipped. 

So out of maybe 6-7 I bought, 1 was bad.  But I had won the bid and it wasn't so horribly represented that I didn't want the bike.  Just would have paid $200-$300 less if I knew it had the dent in the tank that did not show in pictures (he cleverly left out the angle that would show the dent).  So with eBay, I paid in full, sight unseen, then either went to get it or had it shipped to me. Kind of risky!

I've also bought a 3-4 from dealerships and did a deposit/fly/buy/ride ... but each of these were like 2-3 years old and had low mileage. 

Are you talking craigslist?  I don't think I'd do that.  Or Facebook Marketplace.  I've talked to CL sellers, driven 1.5 hrs to get the bike, show up and find out he sold to some other guy 1 hr before I got there.  Geez, low class as I said I would take it and had agreed I'd come pick it up.  That's happened twice.  I would only do this with a known poster here or advrider or ktmtalk, etc. 

Most reputable motorcycle shippers can help broker the deal ... but then that isn't cheap shipping to get it home.

Like: https://www.shippingmasters.com/   Not cheap but they can help with an escrow type service on the deal.  But if they show up at low class craigslist dude's house that has already sold the bike, not sure what happens then. 

Do you have a particular situation?  Or just seeing neat bikes pop up time to time?

[MMRanch]

Snowman

I bought 7 on line all together.   Six of them off ebay :
The lady said she had a clean title, when I got there (300 mile drive) to pick it up she said the title had not come back from Raleigh NC. yet. ???   
Yea , I sent no money down but was there to pick it up 2 days after the auction ended. 
The sale price was only $1,200.oo and she promised to send the title  on when she did get it back.  I fell for it.
The local tag office sold me a 1 year plate that I would have to have the title to renew.
The rest of the Story :
She was a bar hop who bought the bike from a service guy leaving the next day.
Service guy (so drunk) signed in the wrong place .
Raleigh required signature in the RIGHT place .
Service guy , was unavailable , as in nowhere to be found ?
So.
I bought a frame with a title ($100.oo) and switched everything over.
................... .............



 

[twowheeladdict]

The price would have to be right to deal with the risks.  Even if I have to travel to see a bike, I negotiate a price before travelling to compensate for hidden things that I have to accept or not.  I have had a few 10 hour round trip disappointments. 

I have dealt with a couple of "I just paid it off and am waiting for the title" purchases.

I gave 1/2 of the agreed amount for the bike and when the title arrived and I successfully registered it in my name I paypal'd the rest of the funds using friends and family money transfer. 

[Lannis]

I've bought 35 motorcycles in my life, 17 of them in the last 20 years.

For all but one, I've followed one rule that has kept me out of trouble.   People think it's impossible to do, or say "I could never do that", but it's worked for me.

I buy the bike through a club, organization, or group I belong to, or from a friend of a friend.   

All of my Guzzis were bought that way, all of my Brits (BSA, Norton, Matchless) were bought that way; I bought one Suzuki from a local fireman in 1981, and bought 6 new bikes (Harleys, Yamahas, BMWs, Triumphs) from dealers.

I've never just hooked up with some random ad, and gone through the hassle of "is the check good?" or whatever.

It's one way, anyhow.

Lannis

[egschade]

Get a pictures of the title and frame tag
Have someone local you trust check it out - club member, friend of friend - just someone who knows bikes and will take an objective look
Get a signed contract in hand - you may need evidence of the deal
Never pay in full w/o title in hand
See if a local dealer will broker for a reasonable fee - process the title though them (owner sells to them and you buy from them)
Always get shipping insurance

I've sold a couple bikes through the internet but never bought one w/o seeing it first. That includes 1-way airline flights to distant places for a ride home. Unless I knew the seller or had a really trusted agent I doubt I'd buy.

[Snowman]

I really appreciate the info and advice.  I think random craigslist Ads would be out of the question, I am looking  at the Wildguzzi listings and MGNOC. Even then, a one way ticket and ride home may be needed. Handing over thousands$$$ to a stranger for a unknown motorcycle and having it shipped may be too much of a stretch for me.

[egschade]

I really appreciate the info and advice.  I think random craigslist Ads would be out of the question, I am looking  at the Wildguzzi listings and MGNOC. Even then, a one way ticket and ride home may be needed. Handing over thousands$$$ to a stranger for a unknown motorcycle and having it shipped may be too much of a stretch for me.

Cycletrader.com is national and dealer-centric. I found two of my Guzzi's on eBay and both went well following the guidelines I laid out earlier.

[JBBenson]

Ive used Shipping Masters, they have an escrow service for like 40 bucks. Great rates for the shipping as well. Made everyone feel better.

[Devildog]

Find sellers you trust. 4 good EBay buys, unseen, all bought from sellers who were good people, most we still email each other occasionally. I usually ask for more info on condition, if the seller is vague, or writes "call me" I get cautious. Another WG member bought a Sport 1100 from a guy who was condescending and insulting. Complained about the shipping arrangements. I would have walked away. Turned out to be a really great bike.

[Denis]

When buying a bike you can't see in person, there can't be too many photos.
I bought two basket cases from a guy north of Prince Albert, SK, Canada back in 2004. For customs he had to list every part on the manifest so he simply took photos of every major part he documented on the paperwork.
Because it involved $9500 we worked it out so that my bank transferred the money to his bank, which released the money once the guy brought paperwork from the shipper indicating it had been shipped. There was a lot of back and forth but we had built up a lot of trust so it worked out well.

[Ncdan]

Most all these responses are spot on. I also have made a few buys, sight unseen. I feel the most safest way is to not get pressured into getting into a hurry to make the deal, “because several people are callings “ etc.
just think of how most of us on this forum feel like we know each other fairly well and yet have never met face to face. Most of us older guys have a good sense about another man (usually the case) after a few Conversations.
I always ask for close up photos of the worst flaws on the bike and what is the most negative thing you can say about it. The main issue is TRUST is established.
Do your research on the value and be sure you factor in the cost to get it home, most of the time the seller will be willing to share this expense.
Good luck 👍