Alright folks, today I actually went and sold my old motorcycle. Been meaning to do it for ages, and after dodging a bunch of scammers last month, figured I’d document exactly how I finally got it done, fast and safe.
Getting the Beast Ready First
Woke up early, grabbed my coffee, and rolled the bike into the garage. Knew it wouldn’t sell looking grimy. Grabbed my detailing kit – soap, buckets, microfiber cloths, the works. Spent a solid hour washing every nook and cranny, scrubbing the wheels, polishing the chrome until it shone. Felt like I was preparing it for a date. Important step people skip – makes the bike look cared for.
Pulled out my phone next. Snapped maybe fifty pictures. Seriously. Good light is king. Close-ups of the engine, dash, tires, any scratches (gotta be honest!), and all angles. Made sure everything was super clear.
Figuring Out What This Thing Was Worth
Opened up a few different websites, you know the ones people use to buy and sell stuff. Searched for bikes exactly like mine – same make, model, year, similar mileage. Looked at maybe twenty ads. Noticed a huge range! Some dreamers asking way too much, others suspiciously cheap. Found a sweet spot in the middle that looked fair and realistic. Didn’t wanna be greedy, didn’t wanna give it away. Aimed slightly above what I really wanted, left room for negotiation.
Writing the Ad That Scares Off Scammers
Here’s where you gotta be smart to save yourself a headache. Started the ad with a giant CASH ONLY, LOCAL PICKUP ONLY headline. Bold as brass. Wrote a clear description:
- Exact make, model, year, mileage.
- Honest condition – “Runs great, recent oil change, small scratch on right fairing, new battery last season.”
- Flatly stated: “NO SHIPPERS. NO PAYPAL/TRANSFERS/CHECKS/WIRES. CASH IN HAND ONLY. TEST RIDES ONLY WITH CASH IN MY HAND AND YOUR VALID LICENSE.”
Sounds harsh? Too bad. Repels the scammers immediately. Posted those fifty photos. Hit publish.
The Buyer Gauntlet Begins
Phone blew up. Mostly within an hour. Learned real quick:
- “Is this still available?” Generic replies? Often bots or flakes. Responded with a simple “Yes, cash and local pickup only”. Saw maybe half disappear instantly.
- “I’ll send my brother/cousin/uncle with cashier’s check.” Nope. “Cash only, in person. Only you buying it comes.” Click. Gone.
- “I’m out of state, my shipper will bring cash.” “Sorry, cash and local pickup only.” Gone.
Finally got a serious guy. He asked real questions about the bike’s history, the mileage, the tires. Seemed genuine. Agreed on a price before meeting. Chose a safe meetup spot: My local police station parking lot. Broad daylight, cameras everywhere. Told my neighbor I was heading there.
The Face-to-Face Dance
Guy shows up, looks legit. We chatted for ten minutes about bikes. He inspected everything – mirrors, brakes, chain, lights. Knew his stuff.
Test Ride Time: I held his driver’s license AND the full cash amount he was bringing in my hands before he even touched the ignition key. That’s the rule. He understood. Rode it around the block. Came back smiling.
Sealing the Deal Without Getting Scammed
This is the critical moment.
- He handed over the cash. Didn’t just count it once. Counted it slowly, right there, twice. Checked every bill.
- Had the title ready. While standing there, I filled out the seller sections: Date, selling price, printed my name. Then I signed it. Watched him fill out the buyer section. Kept my bill of sale simple, with both names, addresses, VIN, price, date, signatures.
- Handed him the signed title. Shook hands.
- Took my plates off immediately. You often need to turn these in yourself depending on your state. Kept my insurance active until it transferred.
Reported the sale online to my state DMV first thing when I got home. Done.
Felt so much better using this whole process. No stress about fake payments, no weird shipping scams, no title issues later. Cash in hand, title transferred properly. Bike gone to someone who actually wanted it. Win-win. Follow these steps, seriously. Saves you a world of trouble.