Selling a bike: A morals and ethics debate
#1
Selling a bike: A morals and ethics debate
So I've not been active on the form for quite a while. Long story short, medical issues have prevented me from being able to ride either of my motorcycles for the last 2 seasons. Tough decision, but I've decided to sell both of the bikes.
To make a long story short, a young man and his father came and wanted to buy my F4i. I didn't fully understand the situation until after they looked at the bike and made what was a very fair offer (just under my craigslist asking price and honestly exactly what I was hoping to get when I put that as the asking price) and the conversation turned to how they would get the bike home. Turns out the young man was "turning 18" and had never ridden a motorcycle or dirt bike. No MC license, never taken the rider course. Even more disturbing, the father (who I guess was funding this endeavor? Was just along to make sure the kid didn't get screwed over buying a bike with no title? ) had absolutely no experience with motorcycles. I asked the dad if he understood that this was a sport bike capable of going 150 mph, if the kid had a helmet, if he was planning on taking the rider course or if they even knew the process for getting a motorcycle license (I was left with the impression that they were totally unaware that there was a special license required for driving a motorcycle).
I explained that this really wasn't a beginner bike and that I wasn't comfortable selling it to someone who didn't even have a motorcycle license or any riding experience.
They left (angry) and I just wonder what other people think.
To make a long story short, a young man and his father came and wanted to buy my F4i. I didn't fully understand the situation until after they looked at the bike and made what was a very fair offer (just under my craigslist asking price and honestly exactly what I was hoping to get when I put that as the asking price) and the conversation turned to how they would get the bike home. Turns out the young man was "turning 18" and had never ridden a motorcycle or dirt bike. No MC license, never taken the rider course. Even more disturbing, the father (who I guess was funding this endeavor? Was just along to make sure the kid didn't get screwed over buying a bike with no title? ) had absolutely no experience with motorcycles. I asked the dad if he understood that this was a sport bike capable of going 150 mph, if the kid had a helmet, if he was planning on taking the rider course or if they even knew the process for getting a motorcycle license (I was left with the impression that they were totally unaware that there was a special license required for driving a motorcycle).
I explained that this really wasn't a beginner bike and that I wasn't comfortable selling it to someone who didn't even have a motorcycle license or any riding experience.
They left (angry) and I just wonder what other people think.
#2
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#4
I would have sold it to them. It's not really your place to decide what's best for them. Your responsibility lies with providing a sound machine and disclosure of any known mechanical issues.
Call them back and apologize, then take the money. Of course, refer him to our pages.....
Call them back and apologize, then take the money. Of course, refer him to our pages.....
#5
If they are local and you feel like getting involved, you could ride it to their house and have them give you a ride back, or have someone else pick you up.
That's how I got my first bike home....
#6
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#8
You have to do what you think is right.
I sold my 2003 ZX-636 to a complete novice. They asked very basic questions about the bike. It was obvious they had little or no riding experience. They bought the bike without riding it. I was a little uneasy about selling it to them, but they had cash and paid the asking price. He loaded it into the back of his pickup and drove away. I have no idea what happened to him or the bike after they drove away with it. I hope both survived the learning experience, but don't know.
I sold my 2003 ZX-636 to a complete novice. They asked very basic questions about the bike. It was obvious they had little or no riding experience. They bought the bike without riding it. I was a little uneasy about selling it to them, but they had cash and paid the asking price. He loaded it into the back of his pickup and drove away. I have no idea what happened to him or the bike after they drove away with it. I hope both survived the learning experience, but don't know.
#9
You have to do what you think is right.
I sold my 2003 ZX-636 to a complete novice. They asked very basic questions about the bike. It was obvious they had little or no riding experience. They bought the bike without riding it. I was a little uneasy about selling it to them, but they had cash and paid the asking price. He loaded it into the back of his pickup and drove away. I have no idea what happened to him or the bike after they drove away with it. I hope both survived the learning experience, but don't know.
I sold my 2003 ZX-636 to a complete novice. They asked very basic questions about the bike. It was obvious they had little or no riding experience. They bought the bike without riding it. I was a little uneasy about selling it to them, but they had cash and paid the asking price. He loaded it into the back of his pickup and drove away. I have no idea what happened to him or the bike after they drove away with it. I hope both survived the learning experience, but don't know.
I think for me it wasn't just that they were inexperienced, it was the attitude they had about it...