Need some input, buying long-distance

[simi_ed]

OK FJers, I'm thinking of buying a bike from the East Coast, and having it shipped to California.  I'm just a bit unsure about sending a check essentially made out to "Cash" and waiting for a bike to show up via UPS (or something similar).  Any ideas of how to do this without getting burned?

Somebody here must have done something similar.  I'm looking for ideas, so feel free to send them. 

Thanks to all!


Ed

[FJscott]

What part of east coast? I'm leaving Monday morning from Florida to Willits..I have room to haul another bike if it in the South East.

Scott

[simi_ed]

Gainesville, GA

[ribbert]

OK FJers, I'm thinking of buying a bike from the East Coast, and having it shipped to California.  I'm just a bit unsure about sending a check essentially made out to "Cash" and waiting for a bike to show up via UPS (or something similar).  Any ideas of how to do this without getting burned?

Somebody here must have done something similar.  I'm looking for ideas, so feel free to send them. 

Thanks to all!
Ed

Ed, before you worry about the money/delivery thing, have you eyeballed the bike itself? Sorry, but this trend of buying used bikes and cars sight unseen is a bit of a bugbear of mine, I don't understand it.
Even if the sellers are trying to be honest, they are certainly biased about their own machine and if not mechanically minded are incapable of giving a fair assessment of its condition, or have different views on what constitutes "excellent condition for age" (that line always worries me) I have looked at several vehicles lately described as such and they were terrible. The owner's explanation was "what did you expect, it's 20 years old" The view of many sellers seems to be if it's not new it is normal for it to be knocked around, anything short of accident damage is normal wear and tear and to be expected on an older vehicle. Rubbish, there are plenty of older vehicles around that have been looked after. Then there are the intentionally dishonest sellers and finally the straight out scammers.

Excellent condition, in my opinion, is just that and not relative to age or use.

I inspect a lot of vehicles for people prior to purchase and the majority, in varying degrees, are never as good as described unless they are relatively new.

You asked for ideas, that's mine.

BTW Ed, what sort of bike is it?

Noel

[Steve_in_Florida]

ATLANTA!?!?!?!   

Actually...

FJScott & I are headed out west, bikes in tow. We can (possibly?) check this one out for you, if you like. (haven't discussed w/FJScott just yet...)

Does it start? Compression? Squeaks? Dodgy electrical? Idle? Vroom???!!!??? STOPPPP??

Wots it SMELL like???   

Steve

Gainesville, GA

[Dan Filetti]

I was involved in shipping a buddies ZX-10 from West Chester, PA to Sand Point, ID.  I think it cost ~$700 to do it and it took like 2.5 weeks transit.  Being in a less remote area, it may cost you less, take a shorter transit.  I think I remember he used Yellow Freight, but there was a good bit of variability among pricing IIRC.  They picked the bike up, and strapped it to a pallet, and it showed up unscathed.  I think it needed to be empty of fuel and oil to ship properly. 

HTH,

Dan

[fj johnnie]

 I have purchased a bike sight unseen. It was cheap and I took a chance. The owner had no idea what it was, or how much it was worth. Took forever to reply to my inquiries. Had a couple beers and said "why not?". Turned out the bike was better than I expected. Way better. In fact I had anticipated it being a parts bike. Now I am restoring it.
I have also taken a good long look at a bike, bought it and realized later that I paid too much. Do as much research as you can. Someone on this site must be within a reasonable distance to check it out.

[ribbert]

I have purchased a bike sight unseen. It was cheap and I took a chance. The owner had no idea what it was, or how much it was worth. Took forever to reply to my inquiries. Had a couple beers and said "why not?". Turned out the bike was better than I expected. Way better. In fact I had anticipated it being a parts bike. Now I am restoring it.
I have also taken a good long look at a bike, bought it and realized later that I paid too much. Do as much research as you can. Someone on this site must be within a reasonable distance to check it out.

Applying the law of averages, you can get lucky, but that's what it is, luck. If you haven't inspected the bike, you are buying a pig in a poke. Wholesalers, who trade in vehicles sight unseen, can afford to do so because of the large margins, volume and the law of averages, and to them they are just commodities, they don't care and may never even see the vehicle.

Yes it's possible to inspect a bike first hand and still buy a dud but that's the buyers fault.

Bikes and cars sold on-line do not sell cheap, they sell at the going price, there's no meat in it if you need to spend to bring it up to your expectations.

I do take my own advice. A few months back I did a 1400 km trip just to look a second hand roof for my car before buying it and next week I'm doing about the same distance to inspect a bike I'm interested in. It is inconvenient and it adds cost and if you do buy it you have to go back again and collect it, but at least I know what I'm buying.

Noel

[Pat Conlon]

Eddie....come on fella...throw us a bone....spill it....Details, details....

[simi_ed]

OK FJers, I'm thinking of buying a bike from the East Coast, and having it shipped to California.  I'm just a bit unsure about sending a check essentially made out to "Cash" and waiting for a bike to show up via UPS (or something similar).  Any ideas of how to do this without getting burned?

Somebody here must have done something similar.  I'm looking for ideas, so feel free to send them. 

Thanks to all!


Ed

I appreciate the ideas on delivery, and may indeed take the Florida guys up on the trailer to WCR idea.  That's some creativity!  But what I'm apprehensive about is sending money to an unknown person, and them NOT delivering, instead heading for parts unknown with a large sum on MY CASH!  Actually Bill Rockoff is fairly close and we've already had a few PMs regarding this, with more to follow.  Bill, you may be my solution!
The bike is a 2013 KTM SMT 990.  It has <800 miles, a ton of accessories and looks PERFECT.  The seller is motivated and wants a fair price.  We'll see ...


Again, I'm looking for input.  Thanks for all the good suggestions so far, and keep 'em coming. 

Ed

[FJscott]

That's a baaaad ass bike. If you need me to test ride it Steve can drive the truck and I'll ride the KTM to willits
Woohoo

Scott

[Mark Olson]

Send the money to an fj'er you trust and have them do the deal. send you a video walkaround of the bike and hear it run. test ride and confirm all is well.

Then wait for it to show up . 

you know how we take the shortest route ..

[simi_ed]

Mark, you & I are on the same plane.  Walk-around vid looks good.  A test ride would be nice, but I don't think it's needed with a <800 mi bike that's still under warranty.  Local FJer has been contacted already.  Looks like transpo is already coming together as well.  More minor details, but it may work out good.  We'll see at Willits!


Ed

[Mark Olson]

awesome .

[Mark Olson]

So Ed , A buddy of mine bought a 2004 I think, ZZR1200 Kawi .

The seller would not let anyone ride it unless paid in full . you could hear it idle and rev the motor but no rides.

Well he bought it and the engine would die at stops and the idle was everywhere up and down. took forever to warm up and ran ok unless you came to a stop.

So he brings it to me for help and shows me all the repair receipts and maint records blah blah blah.

I found bad plugs , two vacuum leaks , unsynced carbs , dirty air filter, broken faring mounts , stripped screws .

all this crap was on the repair inv as just done.

so buyer beware..

On a bright note , that bike hauls ass , has a corbin seat and suspension not to shabby.. kinda felt like an fj with 30 more horses.

so does lucas fuel additive make an engine oil for motorcycles? or just an oil additive?