Used bike buying question

[benVFR]

I've located a used bike I'm extremely interested in..

It is a "Stonner highway robbery" deal. You know.. the kind where you are scratching your head wondering why the owner is asking such a low price.

I figure I'm going to go check it out if I can, and then make the guy an offer assuming he is not lieing about the condition.

I'm wondering what is the safest way for me to buy a used bike without getting scammed. The bike is down in NYC so depending on how I'd pay for it I'll have to make 1-2 trips.

When I sold my bike in Feb the guy sent me a bank check, and then waited for it to clear, and then came and picked up the bike. He seemed to trust me WAY more than I want to trust a random seller. He paid for the bike before he even saw it. I could possibly have scammed him.

I am a bit more paranoid.. just curious what other people have done. If this worked out I'd be ridiculously happy... it sounds like it has that kind of potential.

Ben

[Kham]

that's how i got scam. thg guy is in RI and we wrote up a salesletter. he just assumed im not capable of anything and would not hold up his end. from here on it's either a dealer or title payment exchange.

[hohum]

Make some kind of minimal electronic deposit (paypal, western union) that you would be willing to lose, Go down, cash in hand, make sure he has title in hand, inpect the bike and if you like it, sign the title, exchange cash, take the keys with you and put a lock on the bike. Come home, register/insure bike, go back down with plates and ride it home.

The only way to do it... Don't bother with checks, just take cash
Makes everyone happy! Definitely a 2 trip experience though, but this way, at most you are out whatever you give the guy for a deposit.

Cheers,
Chris

[benVFR]

Okay, thanks.

Kham.. there is no way I'd buy something without knowing the status of the title. Title & bike together or nothing.

I guess I can do the cash thing, that is just a little shocking to me. I've probably never had more than $200-300 in cash in my hand so I'd feel nervous as hell with this amount.

I suppose the guy who bought mine could have contested the check he wrote me if I'd turned out to be a scammer.

Ben

[twrayinma]

Originally posted by benSV

I guess I can do the cash thing, that is just a little shocking to me. I've probably never had more than $200-300 in cash in my hand so I'd feel nervous as hell with this amount.

let me know when you're gonna head down for the cash payment...

i know some people who'd be interested in that info.

[hohum]

Yeah, buying the TT I went out to Oakham with several thousand dollars in cash (not something I am accustomed to), but there's no better way to make the transaction entirely smooth, and the only risk for you is having that much cash on your person, and the seller will be able to be confident in signing over the title... cashiers checks, bank checks, money orders, all require an additional trip once the check clears to do the actual title signing (since you would never just send someone a check without checking out the vehicle, and owners who are smart won't sign the title until the check clears) and it leaves you liable during that period to the owner double selling the bike to someone else, etc.

Like I said, the only risk to you is having that much cash on your person, which all in all isn't that much of a risk just don't go waving it about at the rest stations on the way down

PS - Also, if you have cash in hand, he has title in hand, and you have a trailer/pickup truck you could use/rent, you can go down and if you like the bike, just trailer it right home with you... saves you a second trip if you can get a pickup or a trailer...

[benVFR]

Damn now the guy sends me his address and it's in Chicago... he filled out NYC on the ad... WTF?

Says he is selling it cause he broke his leg in a car accident & his wife divorced him, so he has no phone..

Sounds fishy.

Ben

[bigred875]

that blows.... Ya know what they say ..if it sounds to good to be true.........

[Tarmac]

Can you ask him for photocopy/fax of title plus photo of the bike with close up of VIN and odometer?

Do as much remotely as possible.

Good luck!

[hohum]

What bank do you have that lets you do that? My max withdrawal is $500 at my bank, and thats per day! But even if I got it bumped, I'd still have to make like 7 withdawals like that, and damn thats alot of 20's...

Cheers,
Chris

[beet]

so this scum bag went 2 look @ it from meriden ct
& killed the guy with the 5.0 & sold it for crack
not made up story b safe ben
bring gang with guns JIC

[zx7rou812]

Guns?

Did I hear someone mention "guns" ???

[hohum]

Originally posted by Mystery Squid
citizens... 2.5k per day (and i believe you can push this up to 5k) it also depends upon the ATM, some don't dispense more than 5 or 6 hundred at a time, but usually, the atm's at bank branches have higher limits such as 1k at a time until you hit your bank's maximum...

LOL! Last person who bought a bike from me brought 5K in $20s... I just thought he was a drug dealer, didn't suspect he might have just gone to an ATM!

[benVFR]

Doesn't matter... there won't be a need for guns or anything.

The guy didn't answer my email where I asked for an explanation of exactly where he and the bike were.

Ben

[Suf Daddy]

Beet's story about the 5.0 I heard about too.

If the guy says NYC and is really in Chi-town, he's Phony.
Sorry to be the guy to walk in on your wet dream....... but if you really want to pursue this:

Pin him down to his Chi-town location. I can make some calls.
A few fellow bike guys can sniff this out.

Ask him if he can meet you in Wrigleyville at the batting cages...
there you can have a pitcher and club him with a Louisville slugger from the bar.

Then walk across the BLVD and watch some turtle races at the Vu. (deja Vu) then cab over to Russian & Division streets for some Gyros.

Is he North of the city? 630 / 312 Area code or 708 773 464 872 newer overlays? www.sbc.com/gen/general/?pid=1496

See if the guy has even heard of these places...............maybe he's REALLY in AZ....


-Suf Daddy

[OreoGaborio]

i thought getting a cashiers check means it clears right then & there when the bank hands it to you? i dunno... that's how i bought my bike. I went down there, saw it first hand, took it for a spin & gave him 200 cash for a deposit... then went down there again later in the week w/ a cashiers check for the remaining amount, brought the title & bill of sale to the DMV, got a plate, slapped it on the bike & rode the bitch home

[benVFR]

Cashiers checks can still be spoofed.

If they show up with a check from a well known local bank they are pretty safe though AFAICT.

Ben

[beet]

in adds. that last you need 2 b the first one there
well not verry offen