Anxiety over selling my first and only motorcycle

"boredalways" (boredalway666) 01/23/2016 at 15:30 • Filed to: ...still an organ donor

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Here be my motorcycle, the only motorcycle I’ve ever owned.

(1994 Suzuki GSX750F, aka Katana 750, stripped of it fairings)

It deserves a better home. But anxiety has kept me from selling it for at least the last 4-5 years. To be blunt (and to keep this from becoming a long, drawn out sob story), I don’t trust myself on the bike. I need to let go of this episode of my life so I could readdress this at a later date, possibly with a cruiser and/or lower displacement cycle.

My problem is that I know how to sell a car but in my mind, selling a motorcycle is whole different animal. And I keep finding conflicting advice online. Unfortunately sources that I feel that I can trust, namely LaneSplitters and Jalopnik, just haven’t had the time to notice my previous emailed requests to address do’s and don’ts. In other words, I HAS THE TRUST ISSUES.

So if my fellow Oppos have any sound advice, let me hit you with a few details and concerns:

1) Currently, the bike is not registered, plated, nor insured. Pretty sure it needs to be insured first before putting up for sale – at least.

2) I think that now that I’m in my 40’s, I’ve become less comfortable with selling it on Craigslist (theft, some a-hole tries to rob me and/or my home, etc.). A car on Craigslist just seems easier to deal with. I would prefer a more documented way to sell it like on eBay (even with fake accounts, eBay and PayPal could offer insurances that I could be reimbursed), but I’m obviously open to suggestions. Maybe one too many horror stories of folks being robbed (or worse) while buying/selling something on Craigslist of value have given me “old man jitters”?

3) Since I currently don’t have the confidence in my abilities to be a safe rider for others or myself out on the road, I can’t demo it or take it to an agreed location. Plus that can’t happen in the middle of winter anyway in Indiana.

4) My “In before the “STOP BEING A PUSSY, BRO!” dude PSA: If your pea brain can’t handle that a 40-something man with a clean driving record with personal/financial/professional responsibilities that I have to constantly worry about, let alone the safety and well-being of other folks on the road because I lost my confidence with my riding abilities, this thread is not for you. GTFO!!!

5) I wouldn’t allow anyone to test ride without a motorcycle riders endorsement/license and insurance. Is there any reason to look past that?

6) (reserved for anything that I forgot to add. Ignore me…for now)

Since I’m more in tune with a fast car over a fast motorcycle, here’s a Gumpert Apollo for your time.

On second thought, how about a MotoCzysz E1pc as well!

bob and john > boredalways 01/23/2016 at 15:38

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everybody listen up, cus i’m only going to say this once.

and i say this as a motorcycle riding teacher.

If that is the choice, so be it. I’m glad YOU can recognize it

Riding is not for everone, as much as I would like it to be. I do attribute the fact thats it’s a flippin 750 sport bike as your first bike PROBABLY has something to do with it.

So the selling, you dont need to have it insured, but you do need the registration and pink slip.

best to get a riding buddy to help you out with this sort of thing. they can bring it to a demo place or w/e. though it WILL need insurance for it.


also, do ME a favour. Dont sell this to some acne riddled teen looking for HIS first bike. this is not a slow machine, and this will bite the hand that feeds if its too blunt.

A second or third? go for it. but not their first.

Nonster > boredalways 01/23/2016 at 15:59

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It varies depending on where you live, but I’ve never really had any trouble selling things (cars, bikes, parts, whatnot) on Craigslist. Occasionally I have to deal with a flaky person every now and then, but I’ve never felt nervous about it. If you’re particularly concerned about security or safety make sure you have a buddy or two with you and/or meet them in a public space.

I don’t see the need for a more documented sale method, its just a bike only worth a couple thousand right? How is that more difficult than selling a car? It might vary from state to state, but here in Ohio you have to sign the title over in the presence of a notary. So when i bought my bike, I paid the guy, I went to a bank with the seller and signed over the title then he gave me the key and I was on my way.

Yeah no test rides unless they have their endorsement or if they seem sketchy or irresponsible. They should pay you in cash or a certified/cashier/bank check. If they want to do anything else then no deal.

Last thing, I don’t know the exact rules when it comes to whether or not it has to be registered or insured. My understanding is that it does not have to be either. Just needs a clean title and once that’s signed over your hands are clean and clear of it. Buyer has to deal with how they want to get it home

Anyways good luck!

Shane MacGowan's Teeth > boredalways 01/23/2016 at 16:19

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If you have lost confidence in yourself, and bikes, I think it’s a good decision to get out of it. Being terrified of the motorcycle is probably the most dangerous thing you can do on a bike. That being said, I think you’re gonna HAVE to do at least one or two things you don’t want to do to get rid of the bike, unless you’re willing to let it go for nothing. I doubt people will be lining up to buy it on eBay from across the country, it’s just not that type of bike. You’ll probably have to sell it locally. And to do that, people are going to want to see, and test ride it. If you have a good buddy who rides, maybe they can get it to an agreed place (local pd parking lot is a good one if they’re ok with it), or borrow/rent a trailer. But you’ll really need insurance and plates to do test rides legally, ntm a non plated bike will take a value hit pretty much automatically, and expect more than one meet up . Don’t let someone ride it without an endorsement, and money in hand too. Not meeting at your home is prudent, but remember, the vast, VAST majority of Craigslist deals go off with no more hitch than some insultingly low offers.

iSureWilll > boredalways 01/23/2016 at 17:51

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I also sold my first and only bike. In Indiana. At the end of riding season to a guy in Ohio. I still had a loan on it so we made a bill of sale and I made him pay me so I could pay off the loan. I gave him a signed bill of sale with the details. Once the title came in I signed it and had my signature notarized. A mutual friend picked up the bike and trailered it back to Ohio for the guy. I never even met the buyer or saw his face. Just phone and email contact. He had a lot of pictures and recommendation from the mutual friend so... It went well. My only advice is what the other guys said.

TLDR: Was in similar situation. Other Oppos give good advice.