ODiE

wordsareforplay

You trying to bring it back to the old school times when you didn't have wheels?

ODiE

haha beaten!

tokin

double fail

clt750

Wow!! Cute!!

tokin

Good, let that be a lesson to you.

clt750

wtf!!

wordsareforplay

stealer!

Mundefined

Craigslist is one way to go. Be ready for some crazies, though. Here's my story. WARNING: Longwinded

Two years ago I took a very basic course in motorcycle repair at one of the local community colleges. After the course I was feeling particularly confident so I went looking for a "project bike". I wanted a bike that I could attempt to fix and not feel too badly if I couldn't do it or actually made the problem worse. By a stroke of good luck I happened upon a fellow who was to leave the country soon and wanted to be rid of his bike -- a motivated seller, if you will.

When I bought the bike, a 1985 Suzuki GS550ES, the engine wouldn't start. I worked on it for a couple of weeks and brought it back to life. Its condition still wasn't particularly good but would suffice for putter ing around the neighborhood at 25-30mph. The Daughter and I spent the next couple of months roaming the neighborhood.

The bike was definitely not dependable transportation. After careful soul searching I decided that I really didn't want to put anymore time or money into the bike. It was time to sell it. I decided to post an ad for it on Seattle's Craigslist.

Amazing. The response was absolutely amazing. No sooner did I list the bike than I had 8 emails from people who wanted to come see it. By the time the following afternoon rolled around I had counted 15 people that wanted to come out to see it. 5 people showed up. Of those 5, 3 said that they wanted it and would be back the next day to pick it up. Nobody showed up the next day to pay for and pick up the bike.

For 5 days I receive no emails. That's the end of that, right?

Today, I get two emails. Both people say they will be by this evening to see the bike.

One guy calls me several times during the day. To aid in clarity for the ensuing Chinese fire drill, let's call him "Fred". "Fred" first calls because he can't remember where I live. Next, he can't remember the directions to my house. In subsequent calls he can't understand the directions to my house, can't remember when he's supposed to show up, then shows up 4 hours early and asks why I'm not there. Wow. At each call I calmly remind him of each step and figure that, although he isn't exactly running on all cylinders, he's possibly enthusiastic enough to actually buy the bike. He calls another time to ask if I think the bike will fit in a particular brand of SUV. I explain that the machine is, in fact, a motorcycle and is an unlikely candidate to be picked up and thrown into the back of his vehicle. He assuages my doubts by telling me how strong he is. I recant. I figure if he wants the bike that badly, he can buy it, throw it in the back or tie it to the bumper and drag it home for all I care. "Fred" agrees to show up at 8pm and hangs up. At 5pm he then calls me wondering why I'm not home. I again remind him of the agreed time.

Another person, let's call him "Chuck", calls and also agrees to come by around 8pm. "Chuck" shows up at 7:45pm. I show him the bike, he jumps on it, fires it up and asks if I have a helmet he can borrow. I tell him no and begin to suggest that I should describe the problems with the bike. Before I can get out 3 words, he roars off and proceeds to drive up and down the street. Only after the engine dies toward the top of the hill does he wheel the bike back to the house and begin to examine the machine. I decide that unorthodox will be the rule of the day and let it slide. Over the next 15 minutes or so, "Chuck" asks many questions and appears to wrestle with the idea of buying. Finally, at ~8:15, "Chuck" agrees to buy the bike. As I am making preparations to load the bike into his truck, he backs out of the purchase. Okay, I'm still patient. No papers have been signed, no cash has changed hands. I tell him that there's no problem, I've got another guy coming to look at it.

It's now 8:30pm. "Fred" now calls on the cellphone to re-confirm his directions and tells me he's on his way. No problem, I assure him, I'll be here. As I hang up the phone, "Chuck" changes his mind again and wants buy the bike. I'm now quite frustrated. I walk through all the problems that "Chuck" says the bike has and suggest that he settle on an answer. "Chuck"'s answer is to pull out cash and hand it to me.

Time to call "Fred" back. "Fred" proceeds to question my integrity and suggest that we already had a deal and to tell the other guy that the bike is already purchased. I'm left wondering if I've suddenly changed planets. "Fred" commences a lesson in ethics across the cellphone as I'm trying to tell him that the bike is no longer for sale. "Chuck" begins chuckling at "Fred"'s plight. Calling on the lessons learned on individual private sale from The Great Mr. Ryan, I firmly tell "Fred" that he has my sympathy but the transaction has concluded. He is not satisfied and wants to debate further. I then tell him that the conversation is over and hang up the phone.

I help "Chuck" finish loading the bike and fill out the paperwork for the transfer of the title. We conclude our business, shake hands and I go inside while he starts his truck. I suppose I should have suspected this event was not at an end when "Chuck" fails to leave. As it turns out, "Fred" has just pulled up, gotten out of his vehicle and has stopped "Chuck" in the middle of the street. "Fred" and "Chuck" have words for a few minutes and then "Chuck" drives away. This leaves "Fred" marching down the street, apparently trying to find my address. This task is apparently too much for "Fred" who gives up after only 5 minutes of wandering around, gets back in his vehicle and drives off.

Wow.

Moral of the Story:
When selling a "project bike" consider the possibility of donating it to the local community college.

ODiE

I think we're getting off topic here.

wordsareforplay

Hey I think I just saw that haircut...

ODiE

internet sluethery?

wordsareforplay

Possibly...

Kruzen

Lol. What a thread this has become. Thanks guys.

I will make sure I have cash in hand before someone runs off with my toy.

Digging up pics from illidrama :O

Kruzen

Whelp, bike is sold. Cash is in my hands and its off to its new owner. hope they take good care of it

ODiE

so whats the deal are you getting a new one?

Kruzen

Once I get down to california I'm planning on snagging up an aprillia of some sort once I'm all set with living and such. Probably a 400 or 600