"Showroom condition"?? Yeah...RIGHT!

[KTM Mike]

I just gotta vent on this one that happened today :bang:

I am in the process of looking for a used bike for my son, and have zeroed in on a used KDX200 or 220. I came across an online add for used 99, located a 3+ hour drive from me, price sounds rather nice. Add says "perfect condition" "barely ridden" etc. Ad has no email addy on it, but a phone #. I call, talk to the guy two different times, tell him I am looking at 6 hours drive time round trip bla bla.

I ask:
" what sort of shape is it in" His response "like show room new".

Skeptical still, I ask "any crash damage etc?" response "it has never even been dropped - it is like showroom new ".

Are you original owner - "yes"

How many hours or miles on it, any idea? "yes - only 312 miles - I simply have not had any time to ride it since I bought it". To this, I comment "I thought the KDX only had a resettable odo up to 99.9 miles" He says "I kept track of my riding - never had much time for it"

How are the tires? - "great - replaced them not long ago - wanted good soft terrain tires".

Chain and Sprockets? - "about new - it only has 312 miles on it. "

What sort of maintenance have you done? - "By the book - but i has not needed anything - it only has 312 miles on it"

What sort of riding did you do with it? "just a little bit of trail riding - I am into flat track racing, so dont have time"

Now I am kinda stoked about it! sounds like a sweet deal to me!

So, I throw my kid in the truck and we head off on a little road trip. I pull up to the house, greeted by who I thought I had been speaking to (a 50 something guy), walk into the garage. I see a cruiser type bike, a CRF100, a little PW, and their honda flat tracker just barely visible...bunches of tools around, looks like they do some wrenching.

As I do this, a kid, maybe 18 years old comes out hobbling along on crutches. So what did you do? "Broke my leg" How did you manage that? "Oh, I crashed riding my bike out back". Oh, what do you ride? He Nods to the KDX.

I see the bike in the far corner of the garage, and start directing my comments/questions to the dad. He says "oh..it was his bike (referring to the 18 yo).

(hmmm never even dropped it? right!)

Now I see the bike well - looked like he had just gotten done with a LONG ride in a wet sticky sandy area - bike just covered with sand everywhere.

Hmmm what happend to the graphics? "oh they came off with the pressure washer"

I see the ODO, 99.9 type as I thought...I ask how was it you knew the mileage? He looks at odo - "oh, it looks like it got reset - it said 31something before. I said...well thats odo is only good up to 99.9, it could have rolled over dozens of times. He responds "well the guy we bought it off of never rode it hardly at all, and I have not had time to either" (original owner????)

Hmm..tires...worn out rounded knobs - shot... (only 312 miles?)

Hmmm...chain and sprocket...worn out shot (only 312 miles)

I ask if they mind if I look in the air box - "OK" ...i pull out the ratchet I conveniently have in my pocket - pull seat off. Peer in air box, as the kid says "gee...I have not ever had the seat off even" (maintained by the book). I see the filter, kinda crumbling away - horribly filthy dirty nasty looking.

What sort of riding do you do with this "I've only ridden it around here, we have a track out back - but I like flat track better, I'm not up for this jumping and big air stuff" (only trail ridden?)

I Button it back up, "lets start it." I walk around the bike to sit on it, and notice the dent in the pipe (showroom condition?)

I sit on it, what feels so odd? Oh...the bars are bent...seriously bent... how did that happen? "musta when I crashed it"

You get the drift. It seemed to run well, sounded nice, etc. But by now I was pretty pissed off :pissed: about what I had seen, I mentally total up what it needs" chain and sprockets, tires, bars, filter, quickly you are looking at $400 . His asking price seemed low enough..maybe...maybe...it would be worth putting it into it...but man...he needs to come down on price.

So i offer him $150 less than his asking. He gets totally in my face all pissy as$ed about it...."dont start trying to jew me down on price" you know it is worth more (and he goes on and on......)

FINE...screw it...now way would I buy this bike now. Honestly, it likely was worth his asking price, but, no way will I deal with someone that is gonna flat out LIE like that! I wasted 6+ hours, $50 in fuel (stupid diesel sucks it down!) I dont care if his asking was 1/2 of what it was worth...there is principle here!

What has happened to dealing honestly with people? :|

Now through all this my poor son standing there...he was pumped about getting a new bike...he gets into the truck, the look on his face almost made me go back and buy the stupid bike!

Ok...I feel better now.... back to your regularily scheduled programing......

 

[oldguy]

Your son learned a valuble lesson that day with you! And I think you probably saved both of you a big headache in the future mechani wise.
There will be better bikes out there for him in the near future

 

[James]

I drove 600 miles round trip to get a barely used well maintained like new CR250. It was except for the 3 lbs of sand I dug out of the airbox, carb, and exhaust pipe (no pipe o-rings).

I bought it. The parts were worth the asking price even if the motor was toast. Luckily, only a few grains of sand got to the piston - new piston and it was good to go. I'll never drive that far again.

 

[JuliusPleaser]

I've been lucky. I've driven thousands of miles (total) to look at 6 or 7 prospective purchases, and I've only turned down one bike. I wasn't really angry about making the 8 hour drive. Ivan kept me entertained for the entire trip.

It was a nice bike, but the guy who had it misrepresented its condition. I bought a better one exactly like it for $1000 less 2 weeks later.

I hope you'll score like I did. :cool:

 

[BradFrost]

Yeah, I just take it for granted now that anyone who advertises a product for private sale and uses the words "Showroom Condition" or "A1, Mint Condition" is full of it and not to be trusted any further than they can be kicked.
Hang in there... for the boys sake. :cool:

 

[Chili]

It sucks dealing with people that are dishonest like that. I had a similar venture last spring, drove 35+ hours round trip to Kansas to buy an enclosed trailer after I got the "showroom cond" etc speech. Explained several times that I was looking at 35+ hours of driving and wanted no surprises when I arrived, even more assurances about how awesome this trailer was. Arrived took one look at the trailer and told the guy exactly what I thought of him and was on the road less than 5 minutes later without a trailer.

 

[CR Swade]

Two words...digital camera. If somebody has the ability to advertise on line, they should be able to come up w/ some digital pics. There isn't any way I'm driving unless I've got many different angle shots of the bike. If they are fuzzy, bad lighting, showing just one side/perspective of the bike, request more. If they are unwilling to accomodate something is amiss. Fuel and time is way to $$$ to waste on dishonest people.

 

[Tony Eeds]

I've been lucky. I've driven thousands of miles (total) to look at 6 or 7 prospective purchases, and I've only turned down one bike. I wasn't really angry about making the 8 hour drive. Ivan kept me entertained for the entire trip.

It was a nice bike, but the guy who had it misrepresented its condition. I bought a better one exactly like it for $1000 less 2 weeks later.

I hope you'll score like I did. :cool:

JP's shortest drive was across the pits at DW to get his XR from me. I wondered about it when I picked it up but JP assured me that the fellow did not represent that it was in "showroom condition". Chunks of the grips are still embossed on the front steps. I laugh every time I see them.

Everyone is right, the right bike is out there.

JP, we all wish we conld score like you. ;)

 

[CR Swade]

Chili, where did you have to drive to in Ks? How long ago and anybody we know...I'm gonna be in the market for a trailer and don't want to come across this same trailer still trying to be sold.

 

[KTM Mike]

My wife pointed out the "lesson value" for my son as well - you and she are right. We had a bunch of conversation going on that topic on our way home. On the digital pics comment, when I spoke to the guy, I had asked - and in retro spect, he hemmed and hawed, gee I think I could, not sure etc. As it was relatively close etc, and timing was such, I decided to not pursue it. Not next time!

 

[Uchytil]

I wish people could be more honest also. Last year my son and I drove to Akron (5 hours) to pretty much lay down cash for a 2003 YZ250. The pics we got showed a very "nice looking bike". We had no problem doing an engine rebuild but figured most of it would be there. The owner said he was a vet that "changed the oil/cleaned the air filter every ride". Well we got to his house and he was no there. We sat in my truck 2 hours and his mother-in-law was driving by and stopped. She asked us what we were doing sitting in her daughters driveway. We told her. An hour later (3 now) the dude shows up. When he opened the garage door opened I could not believe my eyes. The bike was totally clapped out. The pipe was mashed in, pastic was cracked, bars bent, chain rusty, tires worn to nothing. This was not the bike in the pictures, or at least not present condition. It started and my son rode it around. I told the guy while my son was riding I did not think he would want it and that we were only looking (yeah right). My son was a little crushed. He got a good taste a dishonesty that day. The next week we drove to Indianopolis and bought a 2004 YZ250. The guy was totally honest (99%) about this one. I don't think he realized that he broke the airbox and tweaked the subframe. I was happy though, it's one sweet bike. Hey, I've got a 2001 CR125 that IS showroom condition.

 

[Chili]

Two words...digital camera. If somebody has the ability to advertise on line, they should be able to come up w/ some digital pics.

I wish I had saved the cycle trader ad. There was several pictures from different angles etc. and it looked good in the pictures. Once you saw the trailer you could tell right away why certain angles were used as they just missed things like the hole in the outer skin or failed to show the recent repainting of one side with a spray bomb. Here is a cut and paste from a post I had running in the STM forum at the time.

For an update on this trailer what an adventure this turned into, LazyBoy and I did the drive over 2 days since we only had a short day after he got out of school Thursday. Arrived in Hutchinson, KS at about 4:45 pm Friday excited to find the trailer that was advertised as "Awesome shape" and from the pictures supplied appeared to be as advertised. It became readily apparent that we had different definations of "Awesome". I would not have attempted to pull the trailer off the lot with the tires that were on it, The pics were very strategically taken to avoid showing damage (Pop can size puncture in outside of rear ramp, hole in wall inside trailer where bike obviously came lose and put a huge dent in outside wall of trailer, large amount of dents and dings down one side of trailer and the best part the new paint job trying to cover all damage with a white spray bomb.) This trailer was being sold by a bike shop for one of his customers. When I talked to the guy at the bike shop he told me the customer was this rich guy that had so much cash when he goes to sell something he prices it for a quick sale and that the trailer was "awesome". Several times I mentioned I would be driving 16 hours to come see it and was the ad and pictures a fair depiction of the trailer, always the same response "this trailer is a sweet trailer, If I didn't have one I'd be scooping it up for myself.". When I expressed my displeasure to the guy at the shop it quickly became apparent he had not seen the trailer in at least a year and placed the ad for his customer and fielded all questions sight unseen.

5 minutes later after a quick gas stop LazyBoy and I were back on the road feeling hugely disappointed and me wondering if I had failed to ask the right questions of the seller etc. The day turned into a marathon as all I wanted was to get back home. We had left Sioux Falls, SD at 7:15 AM and we arrived in Sioux City, IA at 1:15 AM where the combination of a huge thunderstorm and my fatigue meant it was time to get a room for the night.

In the morning as we were heading out of Sioux City we passed a Haulmark dealer so I stopped and an hour later I was leaving with a brand new 6x12 Haulmark. Not the screaming deal I was looking for but still substantially cheaper than what It would cost me to purchase at home in Canada even when factoring in all costs associated with this roadtrip and importation. As we hooked up the trailer and headed for the freeway we passed a bike dealer and decided to stop as we needed some new tires for LazyBoy's 125. 30 minutes later we left with 3 new Dunlops at an extremely fair price and another very positive experience with a great kid at the parts counter and what appears to be a great dealership.

So to Marx Trailer sales and Bak Cycles in Sioux City, IA I say thank you and :cool:. Streamline Performance and the unknown trailer owner in Hutchinson, KS I got something you can pucker up for :moon:

 

[CR Swade]

The one misleading pic situation that happened to me was a set of pics sent to me when the bike was new. Nevermind the fact that the bike was now almost a year old, I just happened to notice spring time buds on the trees...and it sure as heck wasn't spring. Lets just say the bike didn't look new anymore

 

[Creeper9]

Mike,

Guess you should have bought mine when I asked you to :nener: Just kidding considering that was three years ago!.

Seriously though, that really sucks that it turned out to be a POS with all that driving time. That would be like me driving up to your place to ride and forgeting my helmet. Seems, I've done something really similar to that once? Keep looking, you'll find something out there for sure!

 

[KTM Mike]

Mike,

Guess you should have bought mine when I asked you to :nener: Just kidding considering that was three years ago!.

Seriously though, that really sucks that it turned out to be a POS with all that driving time. That would be like me driving up to your place to ride and forgeting my helmet. Seems, I've done something really similar to that once? Keep looking, you'll find something out there for sure!

Seeing that Mark was 12 to 16 inches shorter 3 years ago, dont think it would of fit him!

I cant imagine someone forgetting a helmet when heading out for a ride? Tell me more how that might happen? :nener:

Now that I am reminded of your KDX experience, I should pick your brain a bit....

 

[Chili]

I should pick your brain a bit....

Should be easy if he shows up without his brain bucket :p

 

[showtime586]

I posted this info back last year, but I still get pissed everytime I think about it:
I answered an add on a local board for an 02 RM in mint condition. The guy was about 3 hours away and sounded decent enough. He "named dropped' a few riders I was familiar with, so I thought everything was cool. He explained he was in need of cash for medical bills associated with his riding. I met him a few days later and he has the "con-job" down pat. He brings his family along with him to the meeting place, and limps around like he is in excrutiating pain. The bikes is in mint condition, but he has no title or CO. He gives me some **** and bull story that I swallow hook, line and sinker. I like the bike, and I am eager to help a fellow rider with his cash flow problem. Several months later, I find out the bike is an 01 model. When I finally track the guy down, he lies out his butt about the add being a typo. I told him he could have corrected the typo, but his lies just get more numerous and more stupid. For a while, I decide on taking him to court, but he moved even farther away and the logistics are too complicated. He did have to hire an attorney to fend off my attacks, so I got some measure of satisfaction, but I still feel like there is unfinished business. I did learn two important things, though. First, I can now read a bike VIN. Second, however few and far between they are, there are still DISHONEST people who ride dirtbikes.

 

[JuliusPleaser]

JP's shortest drive was across the pits at DW to get his XR from me. I wondered about it when I picked it up but JP assured me that the fellow did not represent that it was in "showroom condition". Chunks of the grips are still embossed on the front steps. I laugh every time I see them.

Everyone is right, the right bike is out there.

JP, we all wish we conld score like you. ;)

LOL!

The XR75 looked exactly the way the guy described it. I only paid $227.51 for it, so I wasn't expecting much. It was actually a little better than I expected it to be. I really appreciate the delivery hookup, too. I'll be happy to return the favor if you ever need it.

My best score was on my '03 WR250F Yamaha. I was hours away from pulling the trigger on a new purchase @ $5400 when I saw a new ad on Cycletrader. The bike was in Ohio (at Scott Plessinger's place) but the price was only $4400. After a short conversation with Scott, I jumped in the TRUCK and drove to Ohio. When I saw the bike the next morning, I couldn't believe how clean it was. It was mint. Plessinger told me the bike was 'brand new', but DAMN! He even threw in a t-shirt and a sweatshirt with the deal.

I sold that bike a year later for $4100. :cool:

 

[JuliusPleaser]

I posted this info back last year, but I still get pissed everytime I think about it:
I answered an add on a local board for an 02 RM in mint condition. The guy was about 3 hours away and sounded decent enough. He "named dropped' a few riders I was familiar with, so I thought everything was cool. He explained he was in need of cash for medical bills associated with his riding. I met him a few days later and he has the "con-job" down pat. He brings his family along with him to the meeting place, and limps around like he is in excrutiating pain. The bikes is in mint condition, but he has no title or CO. He gives me some **** and bull story that I swallow hook, line and sinker. I like the bike, and I am eager to help a fellow rider with his cash flow problem. Several months later, I find out the bike is an 01 model. When I finally track the guy down, he lies out his butt about the add being a typo. I told him he could have corrected the typo, but his lies just get more numerous and more stupid. For a while, I decide on taking him to court, but he moved even farther away and the logistics are too complicated. He did have to hire an attorney to fend off my attacks, so I got some measure of satisfaction, but I still feel like there is unfinished business. I did learn two important things, though. First, I can now read a bike VIN. Second, however few and far between they are, there are still DISHONEST people who ride dirtbikes.

A local guy tried to pull that crap on me a year or two ago. He had a YZ426 that I was ready to trade for. I took the bike home and checked it out, and I was ready to do the deal. A quick check of the VIN showed that the bike was actually an '01, and not an '02.

When i took the bike back and asked the guy about it, he acted all surprised and claimed that it WAS an '02. He changed his story when his wife told him he knew it was an '01.

I liked her. Too bad she's married to a liar.

 

[showtime586]

I guess it takes all kinds...............:( This guy had a small kid with him, I wonder what kind of values he will grow up learning?............:(
I also think this guy (and I am being nice) may possibly be related to a long time member of this board. The last name of the member is the same, and so is place of residence. Talk about a small world.............Oh well.

 

[KTM Mike]

Should be easy if he shows up without his brain bucket :p

And if you have ever ridden with creeper9, you know REALLY how easy and quick of a process it is! :nener:

Particularily when he center punches you on a grass track because he can't corner! :nener:

(actually he is a better rider than I am, we just have incompatible cornering styles!!)

 

[Tomck]

Mike,

It is a shame that you had to make the long drive, but I believe that you absolutely did the right thing in not rewarding that type of seller behavior. Your son may have been momentarily disappointed, but I bet that you saved yourselves a bunch of hassles by not buying that improperly maintained bike. The KDX is a very popular bike, so you will likely find a better one for sale.

Tom

 

[pontiac]

Sadly, I've had similar experiences numerous times over the years and one just last week on a WR426 that was supposed to be in mint condition, one owner, low hours, etc. If anything looks fishy, it's best to walk right then and there and not look back. It's also important not to be in a hurry to buy something or else you may end up getting stuck, unless you're very certain the deal is really that good. If you bide your time until you find what you want, you'll generally find the product you want at the price you're willing to pay even though the wait can sometimes be painful.