No Cash no Ride

Sir Arthur Daley

I am going looking at a few prospective bikes for my nephew the weekend and another one has popped up on line with "no cash no ride" on the ad. I have not rang him yet i am wondering what is the way this works, do i bring full asking price count it in front of him and take bike for a test spin and he counts the money back to me on return from test drive?
Any info or help be great, i have not rang this seller yet as he might have his own terms on what the "no cash no ride". I know a friend who sold a bike last year had several fellas calling the weekend prospective buying but he felt in the finish they were just spending their day having a spin off someone elses bike.

Wonda-Boy

It says alot that you actually bring the cash with you. As in your are a serious buyer....I would not hand him a penny the bike could be a dud, but work out something. Even a very small deposit if he striking a hard bargain. The ball is in your court you are buying....its a whole different ball game selling. I would also ring ahead and make the appointment show that you are serious rather then just turning up.

lostboy75

when I bought the Bandit, it was for viewing in a garage. went had a look, decided I hated the colour. its a 600s in yellow and black. a few days later I could not stop thinking about it. went back for a second look and thought you know what its actually looks really good (strange the way the head/heart works). asked him about a test ride he said it was his policy not to give a test ride unless I had the cast to buy it with me. to cover him in case I crashed the bike or otherwise damaged it, or even never came back with it. he was selling the bike for someone else.
I could see his point in that alright. thankfully I knew who was selling it, gave him a call, he rang the garage telling them they trusted me, let me have the test ride. he did, I did, and i bought the bike. every one was happy.
now if I could just find the time to actually get some decent miles on it! but that's another story altogether.

Sir Arthur Daley

Thanks for the reply wonda-boy, if you were a seller what take would you on a sale?

goodlad

I recently sold a bike and had this whole debate with myself.
I ended up taking it on a case by case basis. It was my sale so my decision.

2 lads seen the bike. One was there with his wife, seemed sound with genuine interest in the bike. He asked could he just take it for a quick spin uo and down the road which i was grand with.

Another lad seemed like a tyre kicker. Like he was doing his best to find any possible fault in the bike to haggle the price down. He asked could he take it for a spin because "Ya know yer self bud.... when ya open up an sv if ya hear some strange high pitched sound the bike will need some work and ya will have to drop the price for me"........ That dude got no test ride and i stopped wasting my time talking to him.

gerrowadat

I've been looking at getting my first bike - being on a provisional means you pretty much have to look at the bike, go "Yeah, looks like a bike" and hope it isn't a flaming heap. So it's a garage with a good rep who are probably not going to sell you a heap, or nothing (so nothing, right?)

Mr Sheen!

gerrowadat wrote: »

I've been looking at getting my first bike - being on a provisional means you pretty much have to look at the bike, go "Yeah, looks like a bike" and hope it isn't a flaming heap. So it's a garage with a good rep who are probably not going to sell you a heap, or nothing (so nothing, right?)

Dont be blind and trust a garage just cos they are in the business, This means that they are also very good at knowing what is wrong with a bike and either fixing it or covering it up very well.

I would not paint all dealers with the same brush as I have experienced both ends of it.

Just be careful and check all the usual stuff you would if it was a private sale.

Wonda-Boy

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Thanks for the reply wonda-boy, if you were a seller what take would you on a sale?

If I was selling my current bike I would want the cash or the keys to the car he arrived in. Also I would take a picture of his licence on my phone in case any thing dodgy kicked off. Again trust your instinct and try to buy at his house never a garage in the middle of nowhere.

blackbird98

my policy would be no cash, no licence, no insurance - no ride. the risk is too great, some assh*le brings your bike for a spin, gets clocked for speeding, or drops the bike, then brings it back, says sorry, and shags off?? no thanks. if i'm buying, I would agree on a price, hand over the money, get him to write a note stating that if you're not happy with the bike after a test ride, money will be refunded in full. take the bike for a spin, if all's well, all you have to do is complete the paperwork for transfer of sale.

make sure his / her insurance covers them to ride any motorcycle, it will only be third party, but at least you have the cash if anything happens.

Cienciano

goodlad wrote: »

I recently sold a bike and had this whole debate with myself.
I ended up taking it on a case by case basis. It was my sale so my decision.

2 lads seen the bike. One was there with his wife, seemed sound with genuine interest in the bike. He asked could he just take it for a quick spin uo and down the road which i was grand with.

Another lad seemed like a tyre kicker. Like he was doing his best to find any possible fault in the bike to haggle the price down. He asked could he take it for a spin because "Ya know yer self bud.... when ya open up an sv if ya hear some strange high pitched sound the bike will need some work and ya will have to drop the price for me"........ That dude got no test ride and i stopped wasting my time talking to him.

I do the same when selling. Some lads you can tell are genuinely interested. I let a guy take my last bike on a test ride and he had no money. But he came back the next day and bought it.
When I bought the Ducati the guy wasn't giving any test rides. He was plagued with people taking a look, wanting a test ride and no intention of buying.

Del2005

Just make sure if you are meeting someone that it's a public place with good CCTV . Not unknown for a few heavies to turn up in quite car parks when people are looking to buy with cash.

danoriordan1402

I will be hoping to buy my first bike in a few weeks, IBT booked for 2 weeks time. I will be bringing a biker friend with me to check out bikes, but how will I arrange insurance for a test drive being a newbie to biking..

Peanut2011

danoriordan1402 wrote: »

I will be hoping to buy my first bike in a few weeks, IBT booked for 2 weeks time. I will be bringing a biker friend with me to check out bikes, but how will I arrange insurance for a test drive being a newbie to biking..

You can't as legally you are not allowed on the public road before you complete IBT and no insurance will cover you for a test ride. Best bet is to get that friend of yours to test ride it providing he has all the paperwork.

unclebill98

danoriordan1402 wrote: »

I will be hoping to buy my first bike in a few weeks, IBT booked for 2 weeks time. I will be bringing a biker friend with me to check out bikes, but how will I arrange insurance for a test drive being a newbie to biking..

Get your biker friend to drive it.

underwaterdog

I'm selling a bike at the moment and am a bit worried about this issue. Bikeworld for example insist you call them a few days in advance, arrange insurance, bring proof and €1000 deposit.

Other garages when asked how test rides work have just answered "they don't" and to pay for the bike, arrange insurance and bring it back of there's any problems.

When I bought my first bike after just doing my IBT the dealer let me take it for a spin but was personally worried about having no insurance and not being legal on the road. In the end I bought it but felt a bit daft having not ridden a few more bikes before making a decision.

batman_oh

underwaterdog wrote: »

I'm selling a bike at the moment and am a bit worried about this issue. Bikeworld for example insist you call them a few days in advance, arrange insurance, bring proof and €1000 deposit.

Other garages when asked how test rides work have just answered "they don't" and to pay for the bike, arrange insurance and bring it back of there's any problems.

When I bought my first bike after just doing my IBT the dealer let me take it for a spin but was personally worried about having no insurance and not being legal on the road. In the end I bought it but felt a bit daft having not ridden a few more bikes before making a decision.

LOL at Bikeworld - one wonder's how they keep going when you see stuff like that. Oh and the prices! The Dainese gear is priced at a reasonable level - everything else is scandalous

BrokenArrows

If I was giving a test ride I'd be expecting 100% of asking price upfront. I'd take a photocopy of their license onto an agreement stating that if any damage occurrs (regardless of how small) they agree to purchase the bike for the full asking price. They are responsible for any road fines incurred (state the date and time that they will have the bike during) and they take full responsibility of being on the road with or without insurance.

Alkers

I sold a bike (Hornet 250), allowing a test drive and the guy who was viewing it offered my the keys to his recent year R1 as security. He had a high post count on another forum so I trusted him somewhat already.
I've test-ridden three bikes when deciding which to buy with no hassle but I always bring a friend with me as another set of eyes and I suppose that offers reassurance that I'm not going to bail with the bike. I viewed one bike which he didn't allow a test ride for so I walked away even though the bike was very clean (overpriced but I didn't bother haggling).
You have to call it on a case by case basis but there are the nightmare stories of people leaving laptop bags full of phonebooks or leaving their car down the road but someone is hiding in it and drives away after you're bike has gone on the test ride.

szatan84

I was buying a bike last year from a private person. They offered a test drive but I refused (had all gear on me and insurance as I turned up on me old bike). Once theyre happy to drive a bit around im happy enough, but DO take a biker mate with u so he can have a look and talk to the lad. If I was selling now I would not let someone have a test drive until he buys it, too much risk.

BrokenArrows

Simona1986 wrote: »

I sold a bike (Hornet 250), allowing a test drive and the guy who was viewing it offered my the keys to his recent year R1 as security. He had a high post count on another forum so I trusted him somewhat already.
I've test-ridden three bikes when deciding which to buy with no hassle but I always bring a friend with me as another set of eyes and I suppose that offers reassurance that I'm not going to bail with the bike. I viewed one bike which he didn't allow a test ride for so I walked away even though the bike was very clean (overpriced but I didn't bother haggling).
You have to call it on a case by case basis but there are the nightmare stories of people leaving laptop bags full of phonebooks or leaving their car down the road but someone is hiding in it and drives away after you're bike has gone on the test ride.

So he could have stolen your bike and then come back with the spare key for the R1!!.

Everyone has to make their own call on it.

Alan b.

BrokenArrows wrote: »

If I was giving a test ride I'd be expecting 100% of asking price upfront. I'd take a photocopy of their license onto an agreement stating that if any damage occurrs (regardless of how small) they agree to purchase the bike for the full asking price. They are responsible for any road fines incurred (state the date and time that they will have the bike during) and they take full responsibility of being on the road with or without insurance.

Just a heads up, let somebody ride your bike or drive your car with no insurance and its on you the owner just as much as them by law. Regardless of what you get the to sign.

And if you have a copy of their licence, you don't need them to agree to pay any fines, its not their choice. You just fill out their details when the fine arrives.

martomcg

On advice of a mate I actually rang and asked my IBT instructor would he be interested in coming viewing/verifying/test driving a bike for me when i was interested in buying and he jumped at it.

We agreed a fee and if he haggled the price down for me then I would give him a % of the reduction (which i was more than happy with).

When we turned up it was "no cash no ride", I had cash but said nothing. I handed over my LP, the IBT instructor handed over his licence and his instructor ID too and that was enough for him to try it.

Instructor checked the bike by visual inspection and then brought it for a spin. I wouldnt have had a clue what to look for as i was a n00b. He gave it the ok and I bought the bike on the spot and a year and a half later she's still sound! Also got a nice bit of a discount on it to due to his haggling!

The instructor also then offered to deliver the bike up to my apt while i stayed and watched his bike which I gladly accepted! :cool:

Richard tea

martomcg wrote: »

On advice of a mate I actually rang and asked my IBT instructor would he be interested in coming viewing/verifying/test driving a bike for me when i was interested in buying and he jumped at it.

We agreed a fee and if he haggled the price down for me then I would give him a % of the reduction (which i was more than happy with).

When we turned up it was "no cash no ride", I had cash but said nothing. I handed over my LP, the IBT instructor handed over his licence and his instructor ID too and that was enough for him to try it.

Instructor checked the bike by visual inspection and then brought it for a spin. I wouldnt have had a clue what to look for as i was a n00b. He gave it the ok and I bought the bike on the spot and a year and a half later she's still sound! Also got a nice bit of a discount on it to due to his haggling!

The instructor also then offered to deliver the bike up to my apt while i stayed and watched his bike which I gladly accepted! :cool:

Good idea. Im sure many an instructor woupdnt mimd doing this with a small fee. I lucked out with my bike. I knew nothing about it and just sat on it and fired up the engine. Done the deal and got the bike delivered from cork in a van.

Alkers

BrokenArrows wrote: »

So he could have stolen your bike and then come back with the spare key for the R1!!.

Everyone has to make their own call on it.

Well I'd have been beside his R1 with the key all along so I could have kept an eye on it / moved it into my garage.

Sir Arthur Daley

Thanks to everyone for advice and thoughts on this much appreciated, i really like the idea of bringing an ibt instructor along and my nephew is organising the ibt fella that he used doing his training.
I rang the fella who had "no cash no ride" and he said he wants full asking price before handing over the keys, fair enough in my opinion too, bike is small money just under €2k. He said he had bad experiences of selling in the past and this way his only way in curtailing the problem.

Wonda-Boy

Just dont tell him your name is Arthur Daley, he will think you are a "BIT OF A GEEZER!!!!"

underwaterdog

A bit off topic but does anyone have any concerns about fake cash when buying/selling?

Del2005

underwaterdog wrote: »

A bit off topic but does anyone have any concerns about fake cash when buying/selling?

Either buy a pen which detects fake currency or make the lodgement direct to a bank, if selling. If buying it's up to the seller to worry about.

On this if handing the cash over for a test ride it might be a good idea to count it into an envelope and both people sign the seal, no risk of money going missing or getting swapped for fake.

Wonda-Boy

When I went up north with my mate to buy his VFR off a little scottish fella from the Shetland Islands he had a UV light and checked EVERY SINGLE NOTE of £5000!!! He was a hardy little fcuker I tells ya!
When my m8 asked for a test ride you could see ur mans eyes going 90 to the dozen looking him up and down. I think the fact I had my car there and we took our time looking over the bike settled him enough to say yeah. He did not know we had the cash there and then all the same.

serious3

when i was selling my old bmw f650, a lad rang me from ennis and asked could i meet him in galway, i agreed and met them in a carpark in oranmore.....they looked over the bike, checked the vin number etc then asked for a test ride..... i refused on the grounds he'd rung me from a mobile, we all didnt know each other and we were in a public car park miles from anyones address.... suddenly out came the two lads warrant cards! turns out that the lad wanting to test ride it was a bike cop and the other lad was a sgt wanting to learn to ride. needless to say i didn't refuse although i did ask wether he was insured!:P

K.Flyer

You have to understand people are trying to protect themselves and trying to do that while selling a bike is very difficult.
Over the years so many people have been left standing at the side of the road or in a car park or a petrol station as the "buyer" vanished on their bike never to be seen again.

galwaytt

Simona1986 wrote: »

Well I'd have been beside his R1 with the key all along so I could have kept an eye on it / moved it into my garage.

... Yes but a lad turning up on a stolen bike is not unheard of, and you won't be keeping that if things go pear shaped. .

diomed

Years ago I had a new car to sell that I won in a draw. I did not have the car. The garage would supply the new car in the colour the buyer wanted.
Someone agreed a price and gave me a 1k cash deposit. The next day I got a phone call trying to renegotiate the price downwards by a substantial amount. I refused as they were already getting 20%+ off list. They asked me to bring their deposit to a pub and give it to someone serving in the bar!!!.
I arranged to meet them at the garage that was supplying the car. I arrived very early, by a different route than they would expect, and waited in the car salesman's office. They arrived and took the cash, absolutely fuming.

Wonda-Boy

diomed wrote: »

Years ago I had a new car to sell that I won in a draw. I did not have the car. The garage would supply the new car in the colour the buyer wanted.
Someone agreed a price and gave me a 1k cash deposit. The next day I got a phone call trying to renegotiate the price downwards by a substantial amount. I refused as they were already getting 20%+ off list. They asked me to bring their deposit to a pub and give it to someone serving in the bar!!!.
I arranged to meet them at the garage that was supplying the car. I arrived very early, by a different route than they would expect, and waited in the car salesman's office. They arrived and took the cash, absolutely fuming.

You mean you gave them back the deposit....would not be me. Change your mind keep the cash, thats the nature of a deposit.

blade1

The lad I bought the bike off yesterday.....
Met me halfway and then gave me the keys and told me "take her away,be as long as you want, I'm off for a cup of tea".

Couldn't believe it!

Alan b.

diomed wrote: »

Years ago I had a new car to sell that I won in a draw. I did not have the car. The garage would supply the new car in the colour the buyer wanted.
Someone agreed a price and gave me a 1k cash deposit. The next day I got a phone call trying to renegotiate the price downwards by a substantial amount. I refused as they were already getting 20%+ off list. They asked me to bring their deposit to a pub and give it to someone serving in the bar!!!.
I arranged to meet them at the garage that was supplying the car. I arrived very early, by a different route than they would expect, and waited in the car salesman's office. They arrived and took the cash, absolutely fuming.

Without trying to sound rude, I don't get how that's anything to do with the topic?
I also wouldnt be handing it back. Thats what a deposit is. Image you'd got the ball rolling on his color choice before he changed his mind.

What'd you buy blade?
I'm ringing a lad about a fzs 600 tomorrow, but I think it sold yesterday or the day before.

blade1

Alan b. wrote: »

What'd you buy blade?
I'm ringing a lad about a fzs 600 tomorrow, but I think it sold yesterday or the day before.

Nah,wasn't me, I got a Tiger!

Alan b.

Oh no, I wasn't saying it was you.

cerastes

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

If I was selling my current bike I would want the cash or the keys to the car he arrived in. Also I would take a picture of his licence on my phone in case any thing dodgy kicked off. Again trust your instinct and try to buy at his house never a garage in the middle of nowhere.

I would want the cash and check every note, anyone that frowned upon that would draw suspicion, keys could be to a nicked car.

Simona1986 wrote: »

I sold a bike (Hornet 250), allowing a test drive and the guy who was viewing it offered my the keys to his recent year R1 as security. He had a high post count on another forum so I trusted him somewhat already.
I've test-ridden three bikes when deciding which to buy with no hassle but I always bring a friend with me as another set of eyes and I suppose that offers reassurance that I'm not going to bail with the bike. I viewed one bike which he didn't allow a test ride for so I walked away even though the bike was very clean (overpriced but I didn't bother haggling).
You have to call it on a case by case basis but there are the nightmare stories of people leaving laptop bags full of phonebooks or leaving their car down the road but someone is hiding in it and drives away after you're bike has gone on the test ride.

Still might have been nicked? probably not but its just not worth the hassle of getting stung I suppose.

Or give you a set of keys thats not for the car/bike, make you feel ok about it, but turns out they arent for the car, someone/anyone could come along and take the car, even if it was stolen or not, plates could be changed, how likely is it that someone would check a vehicle someone arrives in, not likely Id say and bit OTT to check too, better not to accept it as a reliable indicator of authenticity even if it might be in most cases.
A seller could also innocently but genuinely offer to secure someones bike/car in their garage/side entrance/driveway along with the keys.
Id only accept such an item as something of value if they could do something like prove they owned it, which is very easy to do.
Something Id go out of my way to offer as proof of my authenticity and easily done rather than carry a large sum of cash or deposit that with someone. As a buyer you are in as bad a position too.

Also depends on the value of the bike, the greater the value the more likely Id want someone to wait with them while they had the cash, counted checked sealed and maybe even recorded the serial numbers off.

that said, Ive tested only a few bikes and sold none, in one instance it was inside an apartment block carpark, the others just let me away drive off down the road (insured), once on my own, the other, left the wife in her car parked at their house.

Hotblack Desiato

About a dozen years ago I was on the lookout for a cheap backup bike, saw a CBR1000F going for about a grand, turned up on my bike and he agreed to let me have a short spin, roundabout 500m away and back. Wasn't long before I realised the thing didn't want to track straight, wanted to go left the whole time, could hardly get it around the feckin' roundabout, got it back parked up and had a look. Back wheel spacers were all wrong, chain adjustment bolts broken and he'd gunthered in a couple of gutter bolts :eek: no coolant in the reservoir either. Moral of the story is do all those checks you were intending to do BEFORE you test ride it.

cerastes

When I said earlier about a buyer being as bad a position as the seller, not sure if people just assume that means its a difficult thing, deciding if you want or like a bike you've never tested before and having to make your decisions in a short space of time.

It is a fairly understandable request, anyone wanting cash prior to a test ride. on the same hand, as a buyer, Id want to have someone prove their ownership and residence before handing over anything, imagine going for a test ride only to find no one on your return, ie you'd "bought" a stolen bike,
Might be less likely, but Im sure it could happen.

positron

I am not selling, so I haven't fully thought thru from that angle, but if I were buying and if I see an ad in Dungdeal, speak to someone, and they gives me an address to come to and I HAVE to bring 4-5k in cash, I just simply won't do it. What if I get mugged? I mean who carries that sort of money in cash in person anyway?!

I would hand over license, car keys or whatever to prove my identity and would expect the seller to let me test ride it (just 10 mins, not for the day). And if all is well, agree on price, I can do bank transfer to his/her account, when they are happy that money is there, I can pick up the bike.

cerastes

positron wrote: »

I am not selling, so I haven't fully thought thru from that angle, but if I were buying and if I see an ad in Dungdeal, speak to someone, and they gives me an address to come to and I HAVE to bring 4-5k in cash, I just simply won't do it. What if I get mugged? I mean who carries that sort of money in cash in person anyway?!

I would hand over license, car keys or whatever to prove my identity and would expect the seller to let me test ride it (just 10 mins, not for the day). And if all is well, agree on price, I can do bank transfer to his/her account, when they are happy that money is there, I can pick up the bike.

Can understand, but you might not get a test ride then, which is also understandable, kinda catch-22

Del2005

positron wrote: »

I am not selling, so I haven't fully thought thru from that angle, but if I were buying and if I see an ad in Dungdeal, speak to someone, and they gives me an address to come to and I HAVE to bring 4-5k in cash, I just simply won't do it. What if I get mugged? I mean who carries that sort of money in cash in person anyway?!

I would hand over license, car keys or whatever to prove my identity and would expect the seller to let me test ride it (just 10 mins, not for the day). And if all is well, agree on price, I can do bank transfer to his/her account, when they are happy that money is there, I can pick up the bike.

Plenty of people carry large sums of money when buying everything from bikes to cars to livestock. The only thing that you as a buyer can do is make sure to meet in a public place with good CCTV.

Unless you're coming a long distance there is nothing wrong with arranging a viewing, which sellers don't like doing at their home for obvious reasons, then arrange to buy at their home subject to a test ride.

There are risks for both sides so some comprising is needed. I know people who have been robbed on both sides of buying and selling.

blackbird98

Simona1986 wrote: »

I would hand over license, car keys or whatever to prove my identity and would expect the seller to let me test ride it (just 10 mins, not for the day). And if all is well, agree on price, I can do bank transfer to his/her account, when they are happy that money is there, I can pick up the bike.

and what happens if you drop it or crash it, even if it's not your fault?