How do you politely tell someone their bike/car is a bit of a pile?

"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce) 07/22/2019 at 18:53 • Filed to: None

0

15

Went to look at a 1999 Honda Magna 750 tonight. Looked good at 20 feet but the bike had a lot of little issues that he didn’t mention in the ad including blown fork seals and a kickstand that didn’t work.. He’s a nice guy but I kinda want to politely tell him his bike needs a lot of work. 

Decay buys too many beaters > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/22/2019 at 19:09

3

Are you still interested in buying? If so, use it to negotiate. If not, politely tell him that you don’t think it’s for you. 

DipodomysDeserti > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/22/2019 at 19:13

1

You tell them what price you’d be willing to pay based on the condition it’s in, or that it needs a bit more than you’re looking to get into.

Or you go full Craigslist and make negotiating vehicle prices  some sort of personal attack on your character.

sony1492 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/22/2019 at 19:24

0

I gnorance is bliss

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Decay buys too many beaters 07/22/2019 at 19:42

1

Yeah, it needs more work than I want to put in. But I think he doesn’t realize the state its in and I’d like to politely tell him so he can let other buyers know beforehand. Buuuuuuut.....Probably won’t say much more.

Decay buys too many beaters > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/22/2019 at 19:43

0

Yeah, no need to be the dick, just move on. He’ll either figure it out, or find the right buyer. 

M.T. Blake > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/22/2019 at 19:51

1

“Your (bike/car/rv) sucks. Don’t quit your day job.”

Granted I wouldn’t say that to a complete stranger. I’d say worse to a  friend. :D

Mercedes Streeter > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/22/2019 at 19:52

0

Wait...how does a kickstand not work?

But yeah, ditto Decay on this. If you aren’t going to buy it then don’t do it. You’re just wasting his time/insulting him and wasting your own time. He’ll either get the clue on his own, find a buyer, or it’ll be for sale for eternity.

Had a dude bitch and moan about surface rust on a project bike that I made sure was visible from the ad . I’m sorry, but if you aren’t going to take it off my hands, just go away. It’s not my fault you drove 100+ miles without actually looking at the pictures. lol

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Mercedes Streeter 07/22/2019 at 19:58

0

The kickstand wouldn’t go down. I think it sat for so long once he put it up, it seized. Fork seals being blown was also something he wouldn’t hav e caught unless he was riding it. 

facw > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/22/2019 at 20:02

4

I think for that, the most you want to say is “I’m not interested, it needs more work than I’m looking to put in”. If he asks what you are concerned about, you can list some things out, but otherwise just let it go.

shop-teacher > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/22/2019 at 20:28

0

Yeah, don't bother. Just say no thanks.

Tekamul > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/22/2019 at 20:51

1

As the owner of a Magna with blown fork seals (03), it happens. It surely needs new front pads, too, as that's where the fork oil runs to.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Tekamul 07/22/2019 at 22:41

0

How is it for 30 minute commutes? I’d love to be able to storm back and forth between work and home on a bike but not HAVE to take the back roads since the KLR is a bit buzzy on the freeway. Can it do it? Yes. But it is infinitely happier doing 50 on the backroads at a lazy 3k RPM vs doing 5-6k as a thumper.

Tekamul > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/22/2019 at 22:51

0

I sw apped the front sprocket to drop the RPMs a bit, because it was buzzy on the highway. That plus the OEM bikini fairing from the 90s made it very highway friendly.

Also , looking at that ad, I can say those slash cut exhaust usually get real old real fast if you like to wind it out.

pip bip - choose Corrour > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/23/2019 at 04:49

0

tell it straight to their face

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/23/2019 at 07:49

0

I think facw has the correct answer: “I’m not interested, it needs more work than I’m looking to put in”.  

If he wants to know why he’ll ask, otherwise you walk away.