advice on selling bike

[usmc1142]

I only sold 1 motorcycle in my life, and  it was to someone I know.  When selling a motorcycle, do you let that person test ride the bike?  do you hold on to their license?  what's the protocal?  How do I protect myself from theft, fraud, idiot on my bike, etc...?
thanks, John

[Hoser]

Check his license and hang on to his wallet if he wants to ride it.  Hoser

[..]

M on his licence and cash in hand. Get them to sign an agreement if they crash or damage it the $ is yours.

[usmc1142]

thanks for the advice, although I thought I'd get a bit more from some of the older riders. 
  I really hate selling stuff, I couldn't sell ice in h3ll and then some people could sell ice to eskimoes.
 Thanks again, John

[¿spoom]

As above; I always check their license for motorcycle endorsement and need photo ID & proof of insurance, otherwise they can only sit on it & make vrooom vroom noises. Too many games players out there. Show up on a crappy stolen bike, take yours for a "test ride" never seen again. If they want to pay by check I say fine, lets go to your bank so I can cash it.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

My opinion is you just have to play it by ear. It's not all that hard to tell if someone is just looking or really serious. I just sold a bike and I let one guy ride it 8 miles with me leading on another bike. He didn't buy it. I let another guy ride it one block then I stopped him and made him ride backseat with me driving if he wanted to continue. He was very rusty on his riding skills as he had been off a bike for 10 years. I gave him a ride for 8 blocks and when we pulled into my drive and dismounted he paid me cash money on the spot.

You just have to feel them out I guess. Don't hesitate to tell them you will give them a ride if you are leery. If they are serious they will take a ride.

Raymond

[ssober]

Cash only.  No test rides unless you have a good feeling about them and their skills.  When i bought my valk, I took my family and offered them for trade

[Dogg]

I have never let anyone take a test ride on any bike I have ever sold. I sold a zx7r recently,(clearing out the toys) and 2 kids came to look at it. he asked if he could take a ride. now, I was only selling for 1400 so i figure, well why not?? I tell him he can and as he is getting redy to get on it, I ask him for a small deposit in case something happens, plus I need to know he is serious...

 He asked how much?

 I said, $1400.00

 pretty simple. he did buy it. without the test ride. simple. Myabe I just am not a nice guy when selling a bike cuz i really dont want to sell it. but, I dont trust anyone. I MIGHT let a REALLY good friend ride my bike, but I am more afriad of my bike than I am of whoever wants to ride it.

[BigMac (SoCal)]

I've sold a couple of bikes in the last year. The only way they could test ride it was to give me the money and I would hand them the pink slip. I would tell them to take it on a 10 minute test ride. If they wreck it or damage it they bought it. If they didn't like it and returned the bike in the same condition I would give them back there money.

Dave

[huckleberry]

All the advice i have heard was good and if you do not know this person,it might be a good idea to meet some where that you know is safe,and with other friends you should know.Some people might answer an add in the paper just to scope out your home.I have had two of my close friends that were killed because they trusted some people that were pretending to be buying a car.After forty six years in the car business i cant stress enough caution with my new salesman. Huckleberry

[BF]

If your selling a Valkyrie, I wouldn't let 'em ride it at all unless paid in full first.  The Valk is a hugh bike and is NOT for the uninitiated.  Unless you want some newb dropping your Valk, don't let 'em ride off with it unless they've paid for it first. 

[usmc1142]

thanks again for all the good advice.  I thought I was just a bit too paranoid, but it sounds like I'm not or everyone who responded is paranoid too     
  I will use all the advice you guys gave me, thanks.

[alph]

Cash only.  No test rides unless you have a good feeling about them and their skills.  When i bought my valk, I took my family and offered them for trade

SSober, that's funny!!

When I bought my cycle I also brought the family.  Hadn’t every ridden a cycle that big, and was a little intimidated by it.  I had the guy drive it to the bank that we both had accounts in, cashed our tax return check, then rode home.  I would ask the guy what size engines he's ridden, find out how long he's been riding, and most definitely have cash in hand if he was going to "take it for a ride"...

Al.