Bike Purchase Help

[RUDE DOG - Steelers]

Im buying a used bike, not a Valkyrie, from someone in FL and Im in Jersey.  Saw tons of pics and spoke to the guy and he is fairly well known at the forum.  Being its that far, Im going to have it shipped.  Whats the best way to make sure I get the title and he gets his money?  I know some shippers do offer a transfer service for like $100 but the one Im using does not.

[Ricky-D]

I believe PayPal has an escrow service.

And there are probably more such services around too.

I think shipping a bike is as expensive as pulling a trailer to pick it up.

Find a reliable friend to help you out.

***

[Willow]

Find a reliable friend to help you out.

I know I'm going to hate myself for saying this but ...

I agree with Ricky-D.   

[tank_post142]

go to the florida board and find some help. where in Fl is the bike?

[ugelstad]

Searching on line, it looks like it would ship for about $700.  Hard to pick it up yourself for that.  2000 miles = 3 days and 100 gallons of gas plus food and lodging.   You would have $700 dollars spent and lost 3 days from other pursuits.

[WNGD]

You can try uship.com

I shipped a bike from Miami to Detroit area for $500. You can send a certified check with the shipper

[saab9k]

You can try uship.com

I shipped a bike from Miami to Detroit area for $500. You can send a certified check with the shipper

that would be a good way, if seller agree.

[czuch]

Take the three days and a 1 way flight.
Might be the wrong time of year and all, but a friend and I did that with a Packard, from Ohio to San Diego in the 80's and it was a blast.

[Jess from VA]

Some escrow service is bulletproof, probably.

But he could fax you a copy of a clean title, so you can see it has no liens or co-owners on it, and a drivers license to see he is the one true owner (I'd ask for a fax of the last registration too, matching names and VIN #s, and maybe a proof of insurance*).  

Then, if you are satisfied with the bike condition and his trustworthiness, you could agree to electronic transfer the funds to his bank (you need his account and bank routing numbers, which takes trust on his part too), and as soon as it appears in his account (same day) he mails the signed clean title to you, next day mail.  Then ship the bike however.  Take shipping insurance, and ask him to keep the bike on his insurance until it safely arrives*.  He should remove his plate before shipping.

Obviously, you could get screwed this way, but if your contacts make you believe him genuine, it's doable.  Most cheats would not want you to have faxes of the title, driver's license (verified home address too), reg, POI, bank account number. 

[RUDE DOG - Steelers]

Using Safefunds as the escrow service and having the bike shipped for $425.  Hope it looks as good when it gets here.

[saab9k]

I am having my new to me Yamaha XS650 shipped from Westland mich to north MS , south of Memphis for $500.
My Valk came from south Florida for $ 385.00

Both 5/5 stars   Can give you phone ## on both.

Yamaha being picked up Friday late/Saturday morning. he is in New York today, home is Florida.

[Jess Tolbirt]

i used forward air to ship my bike from Tn. to Ak. i had to tie it down in the shipping container and supply my own lock and mail the buyer the key..it was a fairly smooth transaction,, only problem was it took a month for him to receive it..

[saab9k]

My first took 5 days,
Yamaha XS650 will arrive next Thursday - Friday. Both in enclosed bike movers.

[BnB Tom]

  I bought my Valk from a man in Kansas City.  

After going thru the same head spinning queries that you are experiencing, I made a decision.    

 Flew to KC, had the seller pick me up at the airport, made the deal and rode her back to Texas.  

Of course that was a Honda Valkyrie.  Smooth, steady and reliable.