Guy had his ZX-6R stolen --craigslist "test" drive

['73 H1 Triple]

One of the guys on the triple forum in the baltimore area had his '07 ZX-6R stolen after a guy responded to his craiglist ad. It's silver and had 267 miles on it. Police report filed but he just waiting for the insurance payoff now.

Here's some quotes from the thread including how another member handles test rides.

Met a guy who responded to my Craigslist ad for the ZX-6R I was looking to sell. After talking for a while he borrowed my helmet to take it for a spin around the parking lot. Guess what....he never came back. Had to sit there for an hour waiting on the cops to show up to file a report. Looks like my insurance will cover it but c'mon this is ridiculous.




Thanks guys. I thought about holding his license but he was just going around the lot, seemed silly. It's a silver 07 with 267 miles on it, helmet is my Arai with the dragon paint scheme. On the off chance anyone sees it I'll post some pics later today.



Same thing happened to a buddy of mine years back. This guy had a brand new Mustang and left us the keys. We figured we got his car right? Turns out the car was stolen and so now was his HD. Sucks, best of luck to you.



I had a 1982 Rm 250 --- selling in the want ad's , a guy called , said he would love to check out the bike , i gave him directions , and he never showed -- the next day the bike was stolen --
don't let people go to your house --

in god we trust -- all others pay cash


I had a friend that was apprehensive years ago, about letting people ride his bike during the sale. I came up with this,

If the buyer wants to ride the bike, he must bring cash money with him, the total cost of the bike. Before any test ride, the money is given to the seller to hold, with these conditions,

The buyer must leave his address and name with the seller. Buyer signs a waiver so as not to sue the seller if buyer is hurt/killed on test ride.

If the bike comes back damaged, the pink slip is signed and dated, and given to the buyer, along with the bike, seller keeps the entire funds. Buyer doesn't come back, seller mails him the signed and dated pink slip, keeps the funds.

Buyer comes back with bike intact and not damaged, and decides he doesn't want the bike, seller gives him back the funds and the buyer leaves.

My friend sold his GSXR1100 to the first buyer, after the test ride.



I had a friend whose Harley Sportster quit running. The battery was too low to start it, so he asked a passer-by for help push-starting it. The other guy agreed to ride the bike while my friend pushed it, and it started! The rider kept going. I don't know if they ever found it.



Thanks guys. Here's a brief update/response. For all who suggested precautions, yeah I almost asked to hold his license and keys but he was going around the lot, so he said, and after talking to him seemed like a decent enough person. Don't we all want to trust at least other motorcyclists? Definitely no test rides without cash in hand plus a license in the future. Very thankful I had insurance at least.

Haven't heard any more from the police. They were going to pull surveillance footage and look for the guy but basically said the bike is gone. No hope to recover. They actually think it will just be ridden and not parted out. As long as he doesn't get pulled over he's fine to ride on my tags until they expire next June. Working with the insurance company now. Since it's a theft they will not cover my helmet or gloves. Police have 30 days to recover the bike and then insurance will determine the value. Gonna be interesting to see what they say a 2007 ZX-6R with 267 miles is worth. Bike was in showroom condition too. Hopefully they realize it was basically a brand-new bike and value it accordingly. I'll keep everyone posted.

Still can't believe the balls on this guy. But let it be a lesson to everyone. Don't be so trusting.

[Particle Man]

sucks that it happened but nobody rides a bike I'm selling without a crapload of precautions

[Rider]

Yeah, no test rides unless you have CASH in hand and I get to hold the cash while you ride. People suck, I act accordingly and prepare myself for the worst.

['73 H1 Triple]

sucks that it happened but nobody rides a bike I'm selling without a crapload of precautions

We all might as well learn from Pete's misfortune. Sounds like in addition to the cash & disclaimer, might as well make sure the driver license matches the reg of the vehicle they came in.

[Sixxxxer]

People Fucking Suck

[Papa_Complex]

Got to watch this stuff. Some insurance companies will give you grief over paying out, saying that you willingly gave the vehicle to the thief.

[Particle Man]

We all might as well learn from Pete's misfortune. Sounds like in addition to the cash & disclaimer, might as well make sure the driver license matches the reg of the vehicle they came in.

unfortunately, people are big enough douche bags that it probably won't matter - if they want it bad enough, they'll find a way. Good that he at least had ins. on it.

[Leon]

I've sold quite a few bikes and cars over the years mostly through craigslist.

I never let anyone come to my home. I'll meet you at a gas station or parking lot. No test drives unless I have all the cash. I always have someone with me and my trusty 9mm just in case. I never take anything except cash.

Never had any problems following those rules.

[Evadd]

i'm surprised we don't hear about this more often.
Yeah, no test rides unless you have CASH in hand and I get to hold the cash while you ride.
same here. you want a test ride, no problem - you give me the entire asking price up front. you bring the bike back unscathed, you get it back. let them know that if they break it, they buy it , and it also protects you against the fools that drop it during the test ride. i remember a story where a guy said the test rider walked back and said it ran out of gas a couple blocks away. when the owner got there, it had been dropped, and of course the prospective buyer was nowhere to be found...

[jtemple]

I've sold quite a few bikes and cars over the years mostly through craigslist.

I never let anyone come to my home. I'll meet you at a gas station or parking lot. No test drives unless I have all the cash. I always have someone with me and my trusty 9mm just in case. I never take anything except cash.

Never had any problems following those rules.This is what I do. Nobody comes to my house. I'll go to theirs, or meet them somewhere public, but they sure as hell aren't going to know where I live.

[wildchild]

first: no test drives without cash in my hand.
second: doesn't the guy show up in a car or something? You have to have something there with you while he drives it.
third: no way I would have someone come to my house to look at something. I meet them down the road.

sucks that it happened but seems it could have been avoided.

[Homeslice]

i remember a story where a guy said the test rider walked back and said it ran out of gas a couple blocks away. when the owner got there, it had been dropped, and of course the prospective buyer was nowhere to be found...
That's actually kind of funny :lol

[wildchild]

That's actually kind of funny :lol

might just be me but I don't see the humor in that. It's funny a guy gets screwed by a POS who couldn't man up to what he had done?

[dubbs]

But what if you're selling something like 15k, do you really expect the person to bring 15k in cash with them?

[Homeslice]

But what if you're selling something like 15k, do you really expect the person to bring 15k in cash with them?

plusone

If someone told me I had to fork over cash before test riding it, I'd tell them to fuck off. Yeah, like I'm really gonna carry that much cash with me, and then give it to a stranger without any contract signed. Right.

The way to do it is meet at a bank's parking lot. He'll get his cash, but only after I agree to buy it.

[Rider]

But what if you're selling something like 15k, do you really expect the person to bring 15k in cash with them?

Yes or at the very minimum a cashiers check or money order. Or if you'd rather wire the money to my account I'd accept that too.

[wildchild]

But what if you're selling something like 15k, do you really expect the person to bring 15k in cash with them?
no, but they better have something of value I can hold(like the car they drove up in)I don't need the keys but the car is staying here. Otherwise a drivers license. Basically I don't let people test drive bikes when I sell them. I never ask to test drive them when I buy one used. If it's a car I'm riding with you while you test it.
If you don't like the rules for sale, walk away. I haven't missed a meal yet due to not selling an item.

[marko138]

Yeah, no test rides unless you have CASH in hand and I get to hold the cash while you ride. People suck, I act accordingly and prepare myself for the worst.

I've sold quite a few bikes and cars over the years mostly through craigslist.

I never let anyone come to my home. I'll meet you at a gas station or parking lot. No test drives unless I have all the cash. I always have someone with me and my trusty 9mm just in case. I never take anything except cash.

Never had any problems following those rules.

These are two dudes who have their shit together.

[LeeNetworX]

I've sold quite a few bikes and cars over the years mostly through craigslist.

I never let anyone come to my home. I'll meet you at a gas station or parking lot. No test drives unless I have all the cash. I always have someone with me and my trusty 9mm just in case. I never take anything except cash.

Never had any problems following those rules.

Good practice to follow. I also like the idea above about having the prospective buyer sign an agreement to not sue for injury/death.

[azoomm]

Basically I don't let people test drive bikes when I sell them. I never ask to test drive them when I buy one used. If it's a car I'm riding with you while you test it.

If you don't like the rules for sale, walk away. I haven't missed a meal yet due to not selling an item.

That's what I do. I don't understand what the need is for a test ride on a motorcycle. It runs or it doesn't. It's pretty obvious if something is wrong with it.

The arrangements shouldn't ever be a surprise. I'll let someone know they don't get to ride it - at that point they can choose to show up or not. It's not that difficult. I don't understand why people get so pussy hurt over some common sense being applied. Don't take it personally, it's business...

[fasternyou929]

I guess I was lucky to buy from the person I did. I bought a 1000RR with 88 miles on it off e-Bay (sent him a few hundred to end the auction until I could come look at it).

I met him at his house, took the bike for a test ride, met his wife and kids, bullshitted a while and had a beer with the guy. Came back the next week with a check and took my (almost new) bike home.

Had he asked me to meet him in some empty parking lot and give him $10k+ cash to ride the bike, I would have a different bike now.

[wildchild]

I guess I was lucky to buy from the person I did. I bought a 1000RR with 88 miles on it off e-Bay (sent him a few hundred to end the auction until I could come look at it).

I met him at his house, took the bike for a test ride, met his wife and kids, bullshitted a while and had a beer with the guy. Came back the next week with a check and took my (almost new) bike home.

Had he asked me to meet him in some empty parking lot and give him $10k+ cash to ride the bike, I would have a different bike now.

that's funny isn't it. when you look at it from the other side it seems so cold. unfortunately there are lots of bad people out there. luckily for you, you had someone who had never been burrned to deal with. luckily for him, he had an honest person with real intentions of buying to deal with.
there's good and bad on both sides, personally I've lost a couple thousand by trusting people. I got it back eventually but it's not worth my time or money to try and avoid hurting people's feelings these days.
Glad your's worked out for you. nice bike.

[Rider]

I don't mind people coming to my house. I have no worries about that. All I ask for is a little collateral before I let you leave my driveway. Hell when I sold my last dirt bike, the guy didn't even ride it. He looked at it, I started it up for him and he bought it. I even let him use my PC to send me the money via paypal before he left my house. You can't be too careful because in my book everyone is shady until proven otherwise.

[OTB]

I sell an average of a bike a month. That means I meet strangers 2-3 times per month. Never at my home. I meet them at a storage area I have for bikes...but I get there early and have the bike outside the gated area...so they don't know my unit #.

I tell them on the phone or e-mail when setting up the meet:

A. No MC endorsement on their DL, I dont care how many friend's bikes they've ridden...no test ride.
B. No DL...no test ride. You "left it at home"? Too bad.
C. Full price Cash in MY Hand or no test ride. DL and keys to their car in my hand or no test ride.
D. I don't take cashiers checks...cash only. Yes, people do FORGE cashiers checks try to pass stolen traveller's checks and if it's after hours (95% of the time)I have no way to verify the check's validity...cash is not only king, it's the ONLY way I do business.
F. Like Leon, I always have a "contingency plan" when meeting strangers.

You don't like my rules, too bad. Haven't lost a bike yet. Some sellers balk.....


I sold new cars for a while in my misspeant youth; during that time, one of the other salesman was carjacked in broad daylight by a "customer" who pointed a gun at his face during the testride and told him to get out; the "customer" then used the $30,000 conversion van to rob a bank....

I was giving a testride to another guy, who suddenly floored it; we're screaming down the highway at 100+, me screaming at the dude...him ignoring me till I hit him in the head a half dozen times and turned the ignition off.. I literally had to beat the crap out him to get him out of the car, and he called the cops on me by the time I got back to the dealership.......

[Gas Man]

OTB speaks and that is shit to take to the bank.

OTB... we going to get you out for the NE Rally? Talk to marko about it!

[OTB]

OTB speaks and that is shit to take to the bank.

OTB... we going to get you out for the NE Rally? Talk to marko about it!

You will have me for the NE rally. Is the October date firm? If so, I will pencil in for the weekened. I would like too go longer, but I'm a slave to the school schedule.

As far as roads....Marko and I have cruised around there....mayhaps we can do a couple weekend runs w ITgirl to nail down some loops and routes this summer?

Perhaps we should make Marko the Rally Grand Marshall??????????

[marko138]

You will have me for the NE rally. Is the October date firm? If so, I will pencil in for the weekened. I would like too go longer, but I'm a slave to the school schedule.

As far as roads....Marko and I have cruised around there....mayhaps we can do a couple weekend runs w ITgirl to nail down some loops and routes this summer?

Perhaps we should make Marko the Rally Grand Marshall??????????
Oh you're too kind. I'll kindly pass the grand marshall title, my friend. And we should definately scout some roads between now and then...especially now that I'm a state worker and have copious amounts of time off.

[Mr Lefty]

yeah I'd take their license... and something else that has the same name on it...

I may even bring my camera to snap a pic... they can watch me delete the photo when they get back... but yeah...

DL, cash, and I hold the keys to what ever they arrived in. may even follow

[Gas Man]

You will have me for the NE rally. Is the October date firm? If so, I will pencil in for the weekened. I would like too go longer, but I'm a slave to the school schedule.

As far as roads....Marko and I have cruised around there....mayhaps we can do a couple weekend runs w ITgirl to nail down some loops and routes this summer?

Perhaps we should make Marko the Rally Grand Marshall??????????
Yeah I think it is. I will probably roll out earlier just to offset the travel time vs fun time.

[Lamnidae]

OTB speaks and that is shit to take to the bank.

OTB... we going to get you out for the NE Rally? Talk to marko about it!

werd.


OTB's the man.