What precautions should I take when selling a bike?
01-17-11, 11:28 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 30
Bikes: 1985 Trek 720, 2011 custom Dale Saso, 1971 Raleigh Super Course
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What precautions should I take when selling a bike?
Hi, I'm about to sell a like-new racing bike that didn't quite fit, and wondering what the procedure is that is normally taken when people come by to test-ride it. Do I hold onto their Drivers License, etc? One big irrational fear is someone who's never ridden a racing bike trying to test it and then crashing it...(as I almost did). Any tips to prevent any screw-ups are greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Court
(apologies if this already exists on the forum, if anyone has a link, I'll gladly read it)
Thank you,
Court
(apologies if this already exists on the forum, if anyone has a link, I'll gladly read it)
01-17-11, 11:43 AM
#2
I'm Carbon Curious
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,190
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Full asking amount in your hands B4 test ride. If they don't want to do this, move on to the next buyer. IDs can be forged easily and what could you do anyways with their personal info once the bike breaks when they crash?
01-17-11, 12:53 PM
#3
Peripheral Visionary
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Jax, FL
Posts: 1,157
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
It's rare that someone who is buying a racing bike doesn't know what they are doing and more importantly make sure everything is in great shape as far as safety of the bike.
01-17-11, 03:35 PM
#4
"Per Ardua ad Surly"
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Kitchener, Ontario
Posts: 1,416
Bikes: Bianchi Specialissima, Mongoose Hilltopper ATB, Surly Cross-Check, Norco City Glide
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Perhaps hold onto the driver's licence and keys? Another way to keep tabs is to ride with them on another (hopefully equally fast or faster) bike. Some dude tried to swipe a bike on a test ride from a friend of mine. He chased the thief down on his tricked out urban bike and crashed him into a curb. The crashed bike only had a scratch on it and I think the creep wound up with a fractured clavicle. Mind, this was pretty extreme.
01-18-11, 09:14 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Shanghai, West Virginia
Posts: 524
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
4 Posts
Insist they drive to meet you at a public place. [This also assures you they're not casing the 'crib'.] As they put leg over top tube, be sure they see you set down a can of gasoline near their left rear tire. Oh, and be seen to jot down the tag number, make, model, and [if you've got the stones] VIN.
Too much?
Too much?
01-18-11, 02:38 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,442
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I've sold dozens of bikes (I refurbish them) and never had any sort of problem. I sell from my house and the customer normally arrives in a car.... If they want to ride the thing around the block that's fine with me.
Of course, most of my reconditioned junkers are going for under 200 bucks.
Of course, most of my reconditioned junkers are going for under 200 bucks.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
vol
General Cycling Discussion
16
10-12-10 06:43 PM
