..but I've bought and sold seven bikes without getting or giving a test ride; to be honest no-one ever asked to test ride my bikes before purchase. Ironically before I purchased my current bike, the owner offered a test ride (which really surprised me, and I declined). Paul

 

Have thought about this... How to handle it....
We all have different abilities of riding...

Thinking I'd also prob have anyone put the cash in hand before riding off on mine.

I had a cousin buy a brand new UC this past summer, having ridden a Su-Zoo-key for 4yrs.. He test rode it fine,, then after paying cash for it He dropped it in the HD lot before he got to the street on the way home...

Thank god the for the guards, they worked as supposed too as he was stopped and it fell over on him. The guards didn't let his bike go over very far.

He got his left foot caught in the lowers and didn't get his foot down. Again thank god, no damage, not even a scratch in the chrome guards.

Butttt.... I'd for sure want something if someone took off on my bike....

 

It is a big gamble for a seller whether a dealer or private. You get alot of noobs shopping for a bike, they can say they have been riding for years, take it for a spin and lay it down or worse.
To be honest, the two bikes i have bought were without a test ride. I didn't feel comfortable asking the seller to let me take an $8000 bike for a spin. At least it was a dealer i trusted and the bike looked clean, ran smooth at a stand still, and i got an agreement to take it back if i discovered mechanical issues after buying it. Not sure but there might be a insurance liability with test rides also.

 

I've offered to meet the buyer at his mechanics and let his mechanic look it over on his dime. That way at least I know he is serious and not wasting my time. I've also had seller's meet me at my mechanics shop. There will always be buyers and sellers and it's never taken me over a week to sell anything on craigslist.