"Mayhem" commercial about allowing test drive when selling your bike.

[Titan]

A few days ago the subject came up again about whether you would allow somebody to test drive a bike that you're trying to sell. I just saw this funny commercial about that subject and thought I'd share.

Allstate Mayhem Test Drive 2011 Commercial	powered by Aeva

[alph]

with the three cycles i've had, i did NOT test drive 'em before i bought them, but i had the seller ride it over to my house for one, and the other i followed him to the bank to cash a check, the third i knew didn't run so i had to fix it.  i figure if it the previous owner rides it, so can i. 

there's always going to be some things that will need fixxing once i get it home!!  when it comes to selling a cycle, i wouldn't let someone test drive it, you either buy it, or leave it.

[the inspector]

No test riders for me, I did not test my valk at the dealer. It was on the floor and I don't think he would have let me ride it anyway. But I won't allow anyone to test ride my bike.

"the inspector"

[Chiefy]

Tough call.  I know what can happen if you let someone else ride your bike.  But there is no way on heaven or Earth that I would even consider buying a bike I couldn't ride. 

[MacDragon]

I've only test rode 50% of the bikes I've owned...around a dozen.   When the opportunity was there, I have.   Some of the bikes were not running but I knew enough about what I had there to fix what was nessessary to make it mine.  I could've been burnt on a couple, not knowing if the engine was trashed or not cuz it wasn't immediately startable, (Not a real word)   but took my educated chances, followed with a lower, negotiated price.  All worked out.  
The right circumstances would have to be there for me to let someone test my "ride for sale".  MC License.. the right, first impression attitude based on my judgement.  Pick his brains a little.  Find out experience...  Money in hand...  You mess anything up, you own it.   Not that hard.   Mayhem hasn't hit me yet...

[Jess Tolbirt]

when i bought this interstate, he asked do you want to ride it?,, i said nope its a Valk, I dont need to,,,

[Red Diamond]

As was mentioned by Chiefy, I also think that is a tough call. When I bought both of my bikes, the owners let me ride. I did not get out of sight with the last one, but the other one I went down the road away from the owner. When I offer him identification, he just said no, you know who you can trust. That made me feel pretty good about looking trustworthy. The dealer that I purchased from, also let me test ride the first Valkyrie I bought, a 2001 Interstate. I don't know if I would be that trusting, even though I was trusted. Of course I showed up with my wife, helmet and gloves, like I knew how to ride, maybe not. I also drove a long way to see the bike, and maybe he thought if someone drives this far he must be serious.

[solo1]

I've never test rode when buying new.  Doing the homework and a walk around worked fine for me.

Buying used from a dealer, sometimes . I bought twice used from a private owner.  I didn't ride either.  One worked out OK, one didn't.

Selling, I won't allow a test ride unless I know the buyer.  Even then, cash in hand.  Just good business.

Never, never, take a deposit, unless it's a large one,  to hold your bike for a supposed buyer for later pickup. Many will tie up your bike and not come through. I've been dumb enough to do that once.

[Daniel Meyer]

Never, never, take a deposit, unless it's a large one,  to hold your bike for a supposed buyer for later pickup. Many will tie up your bike and not come through. I've been dumb enough to do that once.

Don't take a deposit...take "earnest money". If they don't follow through you keep the money.

As far as test riding...unless it's a basket case to begin with I'd want to ride it...and if not "allowed" that is certainly a factor in my decision on what bike to buy.

My insurance covers me both if I crash one I'm test riding, or if somebody crashes mine while test riding.

Shouldn't be a big deal.

[T-Bird]

I buy and sell bikes. I always test ride, and I offer buyers to test ride, so far so good.  I do get binders from my insurance agent on all bikes in my possession.

[mario]

when i test rode my valk in dallas, the owner let tj, my husband, ride along with me on his, the sellers, vtx 1800.  i thought that was pretty good, though i know he was thinking i might 'ditch' the valk or something along those lines.
we always testride bikes before we buy and haven't had any problem doing so with sellers.

[Titan]

I bought my Valk new in 2000 From my local dealer. I was currently riding a Shadow Aero that I had just bough there about 6 weeks earlier. Surprisingly, I had never heard of a Valkyrie. I didn't like the Shadow and wanted to trade it for something else. The dealer told me to take the Valk (used) he had on the sales floor for a spin and see how I liked it. Fell in love within 2 blocks! He told me to just keep it over the weekend and see if the wife liked it and we would get together on Tuesday when they opened back up.

Well, I was completely ruined and nothing else would have satisfied me after that weekend! On Tuesday they had unboxed a brand new 98 blue/cream standard and it was all mine before the day was over.

That dealer has let me test ride anything I've ever wanted to ride and I've bought a total of 5 since 1983. I don't think he likes me anymore though because I'm not in the market to buy anything since I got the Valkyrie! When I go in there now he just shrugs and says "I know you're not gonna buy anything" and goes to find something else to do!

[Titan]

I have let friends ride my bike and will again. But I would not allow a stranger to test ride it if I was trying to sell it. I'm not going to say there would be no exceptions because anything can happen in this world. But my initial stand would be no test ride,

[old2soon]

If-durn big word that IF my valk was ever put up for sale(shoulda took my meds afore i got on the board) i would require a cash-no check- deposit of at least $15000.00. Probably a lot higher iffin i don't know ya. RIDE SAFE.

[bigfish_Oh]

I drove 300 miles to get mine after not riding for 13 years(CBX then), I already had told the p. owner he would be riding me around the block and doing the loading. I was not eager at all to "test" ride. I was scared to death to unload it at home. After a tank of fuel, I took my wife a ride. I not going to be back to the "super sport" rider I was !!!  the stress, I see deer night and day every day.
   I will not buy now without riding, a stranger would have to have all the stars and moon aligned to get a "freebie", that first impression...

[Dogg]

never let anyone test ride anything i was selling(bike-wise). been burned and wont let it happen again. if you decide my bike aint for you because I wont let you test ride it? no worries because you arent the only one calling...  


If my fat tire bike ever went up for sale, I wouldnt even let ya touch it without a deposit.

[9Ball]

just sold a 2007 moped this past weekend with no test rides.  I was glad to start it up for the buyer and offered to ride it in front of him, but based on the condition it wasn't even an issue.  Of course this was only a $1500 machine, not a $7k Valkyrie.

too many chances for problems with test rides.  If anyone wants to pay to have a dealer inspect the bike prior to the sale, then that's perfectly OK with me.

[FLAVALK]

When I sold my VT1100 Shadow Tourer on EBay, the buyer wasn't even interested in starting the bike, much less test riding it.
I asked, "are you sure?". He replied, na, I trust that it runs as good as you say...... He proceeded to load it into a trailer and drove away.  He's fortunate that he purchased a good bike.

[czuch]

Mayhem cracks me up every time. Great ad concept.
 If ya want a test ride/drive I'm fine with that.
 You dont mind being on back, or in the passenger seat,,,,,do you.