Purchasing bike "sight unseen" ?

Has anybody purchased a bike "sight unseen"?

If you were given heaps of photos, had a someone that you sort of know look at the bike (not ride it) and the price was still very very good, would you purchase it and just get it sent up via transporter? Or would you wait a few weeks, drive 12 hours, check it out and then throw it on a trailer and bring it home another 12 hours?

Transporter would be cheaper than travelling down, that I know. But is it worth taking the chance?

Bike in question is 1998 VFR800, with 52,000kms on it.

 

I've bought more than one vehicle that way. In fact i've purchased a couple bikes that way, including my current VFR.
The bad thing is that the experience can go either way. I'm fortunate, and haven't had a bad experience yet. If you have had someone who knows what to look at it, then that always helps.
Guess it really comes down to how comfortable YOU would be buying something sight unseen.

 

+1 for what 91talon says.

I have a friend in Calgary who is going to look at a another 2000 VFR for me and let me know whether or not I should purchase the bike. The bike already has a number of aftermarket parts that I would like to get for my own bike but it would be easier I think to purchase the whole bike, drive 1200 km's to pick it up (600 each way), and stop for a visit with a friend I have not seen in person in quite a while and bring the bike home. My next step would be to transfer the parts I want for my bike and then sell the other bike. My buddy in Calgary has been my best friend for over 30 years and I would not hesitate to go on his opinion.

The question you would have to ask yourself is how would YOU feel about trusting someone else's opinion. Not everyone has the same idea as to what EXCELLENT condition is and what IT RUNS FANTASTIC means. The old adage of when in doubt, don't comes to mind. IF you think you would not be comfortable with someone else giving you an opinion about the bike and just waiting until it arrives on a transport then best thing to do is go yourself. IF it makes YOU feel more comfortable with the purchase to go and get the bike then...........

If the bike is being purchased from a dealer then there is a good chance that they will stand behind the purchase if you have any problems. The difficulty for me would be what if something happens during transport.

Go with what your gut tells you and you likely can't go wrong.

 

Yeah, not very comfortable. I've got a deposit on it, to hold it and they understand that it is 3 - 4 weeks before we (a friend who knows his mechanics and bikes) can get down there.

Plus side also is that it is a bit of a road trip, which will be tiring but fun.

 

I guess the emotions are getting the better of me. I WANT THE BIKE NOW !! lol

The best thing to do is to wait, go down, inspect and ride the bike then hand over the cash. The bike is from a dealer, but still it is a 15 year old bike that should be inspected properly. And it's not like I can actually ride it now. I still have to wait until the end of May before I have the correct license to ride it. So head says wait and be smart, heart says get it now !!

Thanks guys, I was just interested in who else has been in a similar predicament and what they did.

 

I have yet to purchase a bike without seeing it but I have purchased a car and sailboat (along with another friend) that way. Both times I (we) got what we were expecting and without any nasty surprises. The car was only a couple hours away and the boat was over 5000 km's away, was out of the water, and since it was 32ft long and weighed 15,000 lbs (7ft deep lead keel) we needed a specialized trailer to haul it back across the Canada/US border. My friend and I spent $6500 just to transport a boat that he and I had only seen pictures of on a yacht brokers website. We spent a few agonizing months (the boat was $27,000) waiting for the transport company to pick up the boat and get it to us, and let me tell you, there were a few sleepless nights.

As for the bike, I have owned 4 VFR's now I have yet to have one that has been a problem. All have required regular maintenance and that was all. No VFR has ever left me stranded and my current bike, a 2000 VFR was purchased with a few more km's than the one you are getting (or considering at least). I would say that personally, I don't think you will have any problems with the bike but it is always good to get a chance to see and ride for yourself the bike you are going to purchase. Oh and by the way, DID you say ROAD TRIP???? Going on a holiday and buying a motorcycle. Who could ask for a better adventure.

 

To make it even better, it will be without the wife and kids !!! Not that I don't love my family, but sometimes a bit of "bloke time" is needed. So I should just be patient and wait. Hence lining up the list of mods that I will be doing.

 

If I mention buying anything automotive/motorcycle related to my wife, and it's not in town, she pretty much tells me to get a friend to go with me. LOL

 

personally, i would never feel comfortable putting a good running bike on a trailer! just doesnt seem right to me

 

The bike will be unregistered, so not many other options.

 

My wife tells me to bring one of my guns. No Lie...I bought an engine off Ebay and ended up returning it, I viewed a video of the bike running prior to them parting out sed (sic) motorcycle. I received sed (sic) engine and it was a PIG, valves looked like they were dipped in tarmac, not very good. I sent it back, I had to pay the shipping.

Lesson learned, Buy only parts and not actual engines/motors/bikes/cars, unless you can visually inspect them! Thats just my two cents and mechanical knowledge...Good Luck

 

Just Bought a bike sight unseen from Melbourne Vic an had it shipped to the Sunny Coast. Great prices for Aussie bike transporter give me a mail if you want details. The bike arrived and was pretty much as described with the exception of a LHS fork seal leak, otherwise I was pleasantly surprised. I would go for it if you have a couple of pics (at your request and what you want pics of eg front of lower & upper forks) spoken to the seller at length and you get an ok 'feel' from what they say.
It is a project and I will be posting pics in the near future. I have made other offers for bikes but been unsuccessful as yet. Will keep you posted.
Good luck with your purchase.
:vtr2:

 

I've bought four bikes sight unseen, only got semi-screwed once, when I purchased a 74 Norton from a Texas dealer about 13 years ago, carbs all munged up and fuel tank dry and rusty. The other three bikes were ok. I dunno if I would do it now, seem like there are more dirt bags out there than ever before. I used to be just about all bike people were good people.

 

Thanks Zulu. Still aiming to get down there in a few weeks to inspect the bike with my mate.

 

Bought my current bike based on the ad, emails and a phone conversation with the previoius owner. Drove a little over 260 miles (each way) to pick it up with my truck in Dec 2011. Price was right, and the condition was excellent - could have refused the bike when I arrived, but I was pleased with the condition of the bike & the price was right. :biggrin1:

 

I've purchased 2 bikes sight unseen. I spoke to the owners few times and asked them to send a copy of their DL, registration and title along with bunch of pictures of the bikes. Sent money through paypal and had the shipper pick up the bike.. Easy peasy lemon squeezy

 

Sam, if you made the deal with the dealer, can they do all the paper work and have the bike in your name, legal to ride by the time you could get there to ride the bike home? Road trip!
John

 

Hmm, depends on which state the OP is and the bike is. Dealers can not collect taxes for out of residents(with few exceptions). However, I think they can issue a temp tag for 30 - 90 days. Although, when I buy a bike from a dealer, I wouldn't trust anything that they say about all the service they did. Get the bike shipped and then go over the bike and then do a road trip If it is a private party purchase and the owner shows all the proof of service, then like John said take time to do a road trip...

 

I've bought a number of bikes and cars / vehicles on e-bay that were either shipped or I flew out and drove them home. So far, no problem.

I prefer E-bay to Craigslist actually because it gives you an idea of the character of the seller through the feedback score which is actually more than you get at the local dealer.

 

My thought was, lots of pictures, a snap shot of the bikes history, dealer gives limited warranty(he said it was at a dealer) if all is good, make the deal, dealer does all the paper work, IE: registration, fees, taxes etc. this would work in California anyway; then fly or take a bus, whatever, to get to the dealer, and then nice road trip home.
John