Would You/should I Buy A Bike Online???

I always like to see the bike in the flesh but then my middle name isn't Danger !!! I know loads of lads that do it but they are nowhere as fussy as me ? so it definitely suits some buyers good luck if you purchase !

 

IME better to fly out than take the risk (depending on value, obvs). Plenty of c*nts out thee willing to rip you off.

 

I have bought many of my bikes before seeing them here in the UK - as if I hadn't they would have sold - most are now worth double what I paid - some were worth double what I paid at the time I bought them, hence the rush to do the deal - fortune favours the brave never had a bad experience, as you say - check everything you can remotely.

If not a dealer I would be dubious about the money transfer if shipping - not sure what you have in the USA to safeguard this. I have at times called upon help from this very forum for viewing and for payment & acceptance of a bike ( thanks to @Android853sp and @AirCon ).

 

By the time you pay for flights and or shipping the deal will have to be very good to beat local ones, unless its a rare bike? On the otherhand if its located in - or close to - a place you'd like to visit why not have adventure?

 

Does this process work if someone wants to use the bike on the road/outside the living room?

 

I've only ever bought one bike without seeing it 1st. (Tuono)

But the dealer was reputable, the pics showed it as mint, it had a 3 month warranty and he would take it straight back if I wasn't happy with it when it arrived.

I have to say, I coudn't be happier.

 

Only one in my living room but yes of course it does in fact that one was from a lead by @XH558 too

 

Your bike room has seating in it, therefore it's a living room. Stop being obtuse.

 

Only 9 in there

 

Get all the advice you can and really explore the seller's background and character - how much has he got to lose by stitching you up in a sale? You can do all of this but there are still no guarantees that it will be a trouble-free transaction, at the end of the day it's still down to your gut instinct.

 

Take the seating out and you could get more in. Every bike has it's own seat, why do you need spares?

 

Then it won't be a living room, stop being obtuse

 

Yes it will. It will have 9+ seats in it.

 

9 'cross' seats?

 

Sold a decent mountain bike for my daughter, had all sorts of arseholes with all sorts of scams, couriers, fake paypal, you name it. Most of the idiots came from Gumtree, one from ebay, sold it to a guy who turned up with cash, old school but fool proof, that's only going to work on a local basis.

 

The OP is in the USA so "flying out" could easily mean domestic travel within the country.

Whilst living in the US I spotted a bike in the classified whilst on a disasterous trip to south California with a waitress. I did fly to see the bike, bought it, rode it to a bike shop to get a helmet, jacket and trousers. Checked the oil and gave it a look over. Kicked it up and rode Vacerville to Colorado on a twenty year old Bonny. It worked out for me, but maybe I was lucky!

 

Other seat 'genders' are available

 

I have bought online many times. Cars AND motorcycles.
It should be said that I was burned twice on bikes...one turned out to be a Cat D, which I was oblivious too until I came to sell it 4 years later (my fault, I should have HPI'd it better) and once where the wiring was truly horrendous and the bike needed a total electrics change.
The rest were all OK though, and yes - I would do it again (I just ask more questions and do more checks now)

 

I have bought online and unseen online several times but only on relatively low value cars & bikes. Only one bad experience so far and that wasnt a total disaster and it was my fault for being a little complacent. I`m more careful since and always carry out as many online checks as possible and ask the courier to make basic checks and confirm engine & frame numbers match before making payment.
My cut off level is £5000, anything over that and I`d view in person or if it is too far away get a professional appraisal.