As I said above Im thinking of selling my Turbo Levo as I haven't used it for a while, but I have a question, How? like what do you do when a potential buyer what's to take it for a test ride? then two days later im still standing in a car park somewhere wondering where my bike is?
Thinking of selling my Bike.
- Thread starter Kiwibloke
- Start date
Jag009
New Member
If they are a real buyer they wont mind bringing a passport or drivers licence along with recent proof of address , same as you have to do if hiring or buying a car etc etc ,just explain its the world we live in nowadays ,and as i said if they are legit they will understand
Make sure you have a full set of photographs of the bike.
Hi,
personal ID should be no prob for really interested buyer. A parking house or fenced area might be fine for test ride if you can control the exit.
To be safe when taking cash I purchased this small machine for checking (and counting) bank notes: Safescan
Not cheap but working well and good invested money to not get f*cked with fake money when dealing with larger amounts. Watch out with people paying by direct bank transfer and showing „done transactions“ in app. As long as monies are not on your bank account / in your phone and app the bike should not leave.
personal ID should be no prob for really interested buyer. A parking house or fenced area might be fine for test ride if you can control the exit.
To be safe when taking cash I purchased this small machine for checking (and counting) bank notes: Safescan
Not cheap but working well and good invested money to not get f*cked with fake money when dealing with larger amounts. Watch out with people paying by direct bank transfer and showing „done transactions“ in app. As long as monies are not on your bank account / in your phone and app the bike should not leave.
If your selling a tandem you can go with them. 
Major Stare
Active member
I sold my last bike 3 weeks ago.
Sent pics to the buyer, had a conversation on whats app and then he came to look. Had a test ride but kept hold of his car keys as assurance.
Did a bank transfer, bike sold
Sent pics to the buyer, had a conversation on whats app and then he came to look. Had a test ride but kept hold of his car keys as assurance.
Did a bank transfer, bike sold
steve_sordy
Wedding Crasher
My LBS volunteered to let me use his shop as the meeting point. That way the buyer for my Focus Jam2 could ask the LBS guy what he thinks etc and the buyer has no idea where I live. The buyer came on the train and I picked him up from the station and drove him to the LBS. He did a quick test ride outside to ensure it fitted him and then we walked to the bank to get the cash. (Along the way I sold him the TEC pack!). I dropped him and bike off at the railway station. I gave the LBS guy £50 for a drink for him and the staff. He objected but I insisted. The buyer told me that he thought being able to talk to the LBS guy without me being there was a bonus (I had stepped outside to enable that).
It worked so well that I did the same again with my grandson's bike (Ragley Marley 1.0). The buyer and his wife drove to the shop from a town about 30 miles away and were suitably impressed with the bike and the comments from the LBS guy. The bike was for their son and they didn't test ride it. Cash was paid. Commission offered and insisted upon again.
Cash, cash, cash. Nothing else.
If they want to do a long test ride, the answer is no. What if they damage it? What if they say they were mugged?
There is no pleasing some people. I did a deal with a guy (Whyte T-130 CRS) at a trail centre half way between where we lived. He was a heavy fit guy and he ran it ragged for 7 miles around a very sandy trail (me on my emtb). He paid cash and told me that he was absolutely delighted with the bike. Two weeks later he complained that the brake pads needed replacing! He whinged that he had thought I was an honest guy and he was soooooo disappointed in me. I told him that brake pads are consumable items and that I carry them in my pack. If the pads had needed replacing during the test ride, I would have done it there and then at no extra charge. Miserable git.
PS: eBay have advice to sellers on how to protect themselves in these circumstances.
It worked so well that I did the same again with my grandson's bike (Ragley Marley 1.0). The buyer and his wife drove to the shop from a town about 30 miles away and were suitably impressed with the bike and the comments from the LBS guy. The bike was for their son and they didn't test ride it. Cash was paid. Commission offered and insisted upon again.
Cash, cash, cash. Nothing else.
If they want to do a long test ride, the answer is no. What if they damage it? What if they say they were mugged?
There is no pleasing some people. I did a deal with a guy (Whyte T-130 CRS) at a trail centre half way between where we lived. He was a heavy fit guy and he ran it ragged for 7 miles around a very sandy trail (me on my emtb). He paid cash and told me that he was absolutely delighted with the bike. Two weeks later he complained that the brake pads needed replacing! He whinged that he had thought I was an honest guy and he was soooooo disappointed in me. I told him that brake pads are consumable items and that I carry them in my pack. If the pads had needed replacing during the test ride, I would have done it there and then at no extra charge. Miserable git.
PS: eBay have advice to sellers on how to protect themselves in these circumstances.
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InRustWeTrust
E*POWAH Master
I always get the driver license and car Keys.
You never know if it is a fake driver license.
You never know if it is a fake driver license.
Having the car keys and the buyer's documents is sometimes not enough, the documents were fake and the car just stolen, which happened here long ago.
But I have sold 4 bikes in the last few years and nobody asked me to try them, they weren't electric ok.
But I have sold 4 bikes in the last few years and nobody asked me to try them, they weren't electric ok.
MountainBoy
Active member
Since the general consensus seems to be that everyone you encounter has a significant chance of being sketchy these days, how did you know that as soon as you hopped on his bike and started for the far end of the parking lot, that he wasn't going to jump in your truck and drive off?
It works both ways and the truck was probably worth more than the bicycle!
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Had mostly good experiences with selling bikes and one interesting experience with an extreme low-baller.
Police officer from the next town. Left his car and keys with me. Paid asking price.(cash). I gave him some extra stuff (peddles, pocket tools etc). Easy.
Future Triathlete arrived with her family. Fitted the bike for her (tall 15yr old). They paid asking price.(Cash). Gave her some extra stuff too. Easy.
Then I had the “lowballer”. He offered several hundred dollars less than asking price. I replied with a new price …several hundred dollars more than my asking price. He decided to pay my asking price …cash. I didn’t include any extra stuff.
Police officer from the next town. Left his car and keys with me. Paid asking price.(cash). I gave him some extra stuff (peddles, pocket tools etc). Easy.
Future Triathlete arrived with her family. Fitted the bike for her (tall 15yr old). They paid asking price.(Cash). Gave her some extra stuff too. Easy.
Then I had the “lowballer”. He offered several hundred dollars less than asking price. I replied with a new price …several hundred dollars more than my asking price. He decided to pay my asking price …cash. I didn’t include any extra stuff.
Really this is the only safe way. They may not steal it but they might break it. Even if you ID them they can claim the bike was broken anyway.
2WheelsNot4
E*POWAH Master
Just have them leave a deposit equal to the asking price of the bike.
Just remember having sold a touring bike last year to a guy that came with his wife. He spontaneously left her (somewhat surprised) with me as a pledge while doing the test ride. He came back…. 
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He didn't want the bike ?He came back….
Paulquattro
E*POWAH Elite
No cash !!!!!
There's too much bent money around
Bank transfers only for me
No counting no looking for iffy notes.
The LBS idea is good thou if they will accommodate.
There's too much bent money around
Bank transfers only for me
No counting no looking for iffy notes.
The LBS idea is good thou if they will accommodate.
Then maybe I live in the perfect world.
I sold recently two bikes and gave the option to the guys to ride around without asking anything to make sure they were not running away. When they came to the appointment they were clearly bikers like us, checking the bike with me, asking questions about the usage and so on. Let's face it... if they want to steal a bike they don't generally come to show their a**. They generally try to arrange a fake agreement without even meeting.
I prefer to trust people who personally come to check the bike. And I never had an issue (not only with bikes honestly). The majority of the people are good. I prefer to think positive.
I sold recently two bikes and gave the option to the guys to ride around without asking anything to make sure they were not running away. When they came to the appointment they were clearly bikers like us, checking the bike with me, asking questions about the usage and so on. Let's face it... if they want to steal a bike they don't generally come to show their a**. They generally try to arrange a fake agreement without even meeting.
I prefer to trust people who personally come to check the bike. And I never had an issue (not only with bikes honestly). The majority of the people are good. I prefer to think positive.
Daiemtb
Member
I have a Trek Rail 9 2021 for sale if anyone is interested. Under 600 miles on the clock. Good condition 
steve_sordy
Wedding Crasher
It would be in your own best interests to post a separate thread if you want to sell your bike.I have a Trek Rail 9 2021 for sale if anyone is interested. Under 600 miles on the clock. Good condition
View attachment 100276
Moshe
Member
Go to a police station and ask if it is alright if you can make the transition there in front of an officer.
Daiemtb
Member
Yep it is
Barbara_Reed
Active member
I sold a pair of trikes last month. The purchaser met me at my home, rode both with his wife. So his car was outside my home, and worth more than the trikes we agreed a price and he did a bank transfer which wasn't instant as this was a Saturday. I delivered them two days later
So he trusted me. Works both ways. Plus they gave me a very good lunch. Not everyone is a thief. Trust in God but keep your powder dry.
So he trusted me. Works both ways. Plus they gave me a very good lunch. Not everyone is a thief. Trust in God but keep your powder dry.
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