This probably gets posted alot but damn is it hard to tell a good deal from a scam on bikes now-adays. I have been waiting and saving up funds for a bike and now at 23 I'm finally ready, got the license and everything now I just need the bike. But with so many damn scammers out there its hard to find one! I'm only looking to spend 3500 or so which makes it kinda hard to find anything local and alot of the cycletrader.com and ebay bikes are so damn sketchy.

If you go through paypal on a buy it now e-bay bike are you covered? I would really hate to buy a bike without inspecting it or the vin and title but not much seems to surface locally and the ones that do get gobbled up in no time. Whats a guy to do? Just looking for advice from people who have gone through the bike purchasing process before.

Oh and just like everybody else in this world I am looking for a 600 and up sport bike...i know i know typical but I have ridden before just haven't owned one so I don't need to start with a ninja 500 or anything like that. Thanks for any input guys.

Rob

 

ive got a 01 yamaha 600 for 1300 ill sell you....im not scamming got title in hand and you can come see the bike in tampa...only thing is its gonna take about 800 to fix the tranny but that still keeps alil cash in your pocket...look in the bike for sale sticky for pics. thanks....

 

I might be able to find you something decent.

 

it's easy . if it sounds too good to be true it probablly is

 

You definitely have the right idea, I guess you just wish that some people don't know the value of their bike or just want to sell it real quick...anybody that is selling definitely let me know b/c I am in the market. I hate posting the typical "I have 3500 what do you got" thread and I really don't want to lowball anybody on the forums here. I think I'm better off not doing e-bay just waiting for the right bike to find me lol.

 

Yeah I bought my bike from someone on TR....Avoid E-Bay at all costs if possible. Some deals that sound like scams aren't always necessarily scams. I know my buddy ran into a GREAT deal on a bike because the guy selling it was in a tough situation (divorce, child support.. etc) and he just needed to get what he could for it. Just gotta be careful. I wouldn't purchase a bike before looking at it (JMO). Good luck!

 

just go to cycle trader and set the limit at 3500. look thru everything and you should get an idea what people are selling for that much. then check out the local cycle trader and places like tr and other bike sites.

if you see something you like and its more than you have. just pm them what you have or how much you think its worth. that way your not lowballing on the thread and if they need the money or it doesn't sell a few weeks later then can just reply to you then

 

let me know if you want that zx7 its at the shop now...let me know if still interested thanks

-mike-

 

Don't ever tell a seller what you think its worth. That is the worst thing you can do. All it does is put them on the defensive. They will think of you as a tool or a POS. There are creative ways to discuss some issues that may be wrong with the bike, but you will never tell a seller what you think their stuff is worth, and then get them to say oh hell yeah your right. What was i thinking. Let me knock of 3K for you.
If you only have 3K you shouldn't be contacting people with 5K bikes. Its a waste of everyones time, and does nothing but piss them off. Just think...would you want to field inquiries from people that only wanted to pay 2K less than what you are willing to take?
If you don't have the money they are asking for, yet are hoping by some small miricle that you could get it. The best thing to do is to contact them to let them know that they at least have a fall back offer. You will want to politely pm/email them and let them know you like their _____ and that you would like to make an offer. Acknowledge the fact that you realize it isn't what they are looking for and you are not trying to insult their intelligence. Just mention that if they should find themselves in a spot and in need of a sale then they know that they can contact you for xxxxx amount.
Whatever you do don't contact someone telling them that their long loved project car that they built up from nothing is only worth so much. You will never get to buy it. They would rather spit in your face than sell it to you for a million bucks after that. It is nothing but an insult. You wouldn't want someone telling you they think your car is worth only 7K when its worth 10K. Especially when they haven't even looked at it, nor do they have the cash in hand. That's just shear stupidity. So don't do it to other people.

 

well thats what i meant... you can try to lowball them but do it in a pm and nicely.


with me i just just said this is all i have to spend. and just told them to reply if its anywhere near where what they would take for it.

but also that said i didn't offer a guy that wanted 7k for his bike 3500$. ya know