I haven't sold a bike or car in 32 years. I was just wondering, when the guy asks to test ride it, what do you do?
Tell him to keep it on this street (even if it's residential with slow speed limits)? Do you ask to hold his license while he's on it? Do you even let him ride it? What if he does something stupid and drops it?
I just can't imagine letting someone take off and go out of sight even though you can't truly test a bike like the 14 on a slow street. And what can you do to make sure he would come back?
Lotta questions but I hope you guys can give me some advice.

* Last updated by: KAK on 1/5/2012 @ 1:20 PM *

Get their Drivers Licence off them! View it to make sure it's Right, I would also ask for other ID from them, a strict time frame they have it so you can ring the Cops if they dont comeback as soon as that time expires,IMO

Cash or verified cashiers check in hand you can ride all you want you wreck it you bought it. No ifs ands or buts if they squirm it's not the bike for them move on.

I've wondered the same thing. Thought I would start it for them. if they ask, Ride it for them they can follow in a car. show the bike's capabilities. just tell them it's not insured. no one rides but you.

Let them pay $200 if they need more assurance. Let them take the bike for a 20 minute ride. You can follow if you want. If they buy, take 200 off. If they don't buy you decide if you want to give the 200 back all or in part.

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/5/2012 @ 5:19 PM *

Cash in hand only for test rides no checks money orders CASH ONLY IN HAND FOR TEST RIDES!!!!!!!!! If you do it that way you won’t get burned and only sell in person no internet BS and get yourself a money pen to make sure the cash is real and sorry you have to sell your 14 good luck with the sale!
P.S.I sell a lot of bikes and have learned from others over the years and scammers are getting good!

* Last updated by: COOTER on 1/6/2012 @ 1:28 AM *

Cash in hand and let them hold the title. check to make sure you have their dl number; they will want to have the actual dl with them when they ride. make sure they have an endorsement and be very careful of cashier's checks. Phoney cashier's checks are everywhere. cash is better. Even a cashier's check can have a stop payment put on it with in 90 days of issue.

if you don't get cash and they wreck it; it will be your problem.

Some folks just want to ride a zx14 not buy it. cash separates the sheep from the goats.

Finally ask about their riding experience. If a rider has only riden small cruisers or standards and rides a 14 he could wreck because of acceleration or brakes. If they don't have any business buying it you shouldn;t let them ride it while it is in your name.

Theft is not the biggest risk here. Liability is the worst problem. when i listed my 1800 vtx a guy wanted to buy it who had ridden a 500 cc bike for a year or so but that was 30 years ago. He hadn't ridden since. I wouldn't sell it to him. He would have crashed it going home. We don't need the grief or the bad karma.

KAK: Slow, WOT do you think?
cRAS SHEER: I like it. Can I take it for a ride, make sure she's...

KAK: ... Tell you WAD, you keep looking at that bike.
cRAS SHEER: Yeah, let me check it out more.

KAK: "(geeze is, wad if he wads this thing up, I'm holding the bag, he sues me saying the oil cap was not screwed on tight, even thought it's there capped over the clutch cover, not a leak. But about that loose screw behind the wheel?)"
cRAS SHEER: "(Last bike I tested, I sure hope he doesn't notice the gimp from dis morning's look-key-no thanks, just do this as a hobby.)"

KAK: I can give you a ride on it. That is about all the road testing and my word I have nothing to hide, I didn't make the bike in my backyard, so this is what you get for said price. You did your research, right?
cRAS SHEER: Yes I did. I brought cash. How about you count this out. I'll wait till you see it's all there. I am the real deal, don't let me get away.

KAK: I hear ya. After selling the rotations for decades, I usually do not let the first guy go. He comes all the way with cash and meets my offer, he counter offers, yeah, I get it.
cRAS SHEER: Well, you said OBO, you better have piece of mind we both made out, or take the loss, chalk it up to experience and move on.

KAK: Yeah, so the only way I play is pay me for the ride... YOu bring it back smoking, choking, sounding funny, or bring this camera with you, don't shut it off so we both know, it's yours now buddy!
cRAS SHEER: Sounds fair to me, you are insured right?

KAK: Ah no, I called and canceled the policy. Since you are interested in the bike, a canceled policy, you look in shock a little or recovering from... I don't want to know about your ripped, bloody jeans, you come dressed to ride s bike I see.
cRAS SHEER: Look, I might as well sign the bill of sale/clear title. The bike looks exactly as your stated in your ad. Let me sign the liability of release too. Here is your money. I really don't need to ride it as you were honest in your description... Caveat emptor is the buyer!

NO RIDES! You are not some dealer with a huge liability policy covering that one idiot that may or may not happen to crash it/sue/ect. The price is too small and at the same time, too big. Trust no one! Times have changed in other words.

Thanks for the replies everyone! I appreciate them!
Lot of different opinions. I agree the liability thing is scary. And I sure don't want some fool to drop the bike and then say "sorry" and walk away.
There's so many flakes and scammers out there too so it's gotta be cash for the sale. I've heard from others that a lot of "interested" buyers show up but start picking at anything and everything. Other say they're coming but never show. And as alaskarider said, some people show up just so they can ride a 14. It can be hard enough to sell a bike so I want to be accomodating as possible but I've decided there will be no test ride, just as my dealer said to me. The potential buyer can watch me ride it. He can sit on it and rev' it but no more.
I understand the idea behind accepting cash for the test ride but let's face it, a couple hundred bucks or so won't cover damage from even a slow speed drop. I'm in no hurry to sell, which helps. I don't need the money. It's really different for me to sell at all. I'm 55 years old and still own only my second car ('95 S10 Blazer) and before I bought my 14 4 years ago my last motorcycle purchase was in '79 when I bought my GS1000E new, which I still own. So I keep stuff and baby it. I'm very organized but I simply have no room for 3 bikes (I plan to buy the 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 1000). That plus the fact I can't stand to let a bike just sit and be some kind of afterthought. A bike goes bad just sitting or hardly being used. I know I'll have regrets later but I feel this is the smart thing to do.
I appreciate the help. I'm not sure what a 4 year old, super clean with some nice mod's, 10,000 mile 14 is worth but I checked out Cycletrader and several '07's with similar mileage were in the mid 7 to $8,000 range. Seems about right to me.

* Last updated by: KAK on 1/6/2012 @ 10:47 AM *