Hello Everyone,
I have been looking into buying a used bike (Wee), and I realize to get one with the right price, and the right farkles, a fly-and-ride might be involved. This makes me a little uneasy, I am not sure if I could buy a bike I haven't ridden yet, or commit enough to buy one that I fly to the other side of the country and get stuck if it isn't what it is said to be.
What have your experiences been?
Thanks,
Mike

I'm too much of a wuss.. couldn't bring myself to take the chance. Very interested in hearing how its done, maybe for next time.

My biggest Q is how you deal with the plate?

I think most states have provisions that allow for return riding of bikes just purchased, as long as you're en route to your home state.

As long as I am insured I should be good, right?

Ummm...I don't know about licensing and registration issues. You might check your home state and a couple of states along your route. Perhaps short term trip permits from your home state will work. Or maybe just carrying the signed-off title and bill of sale. Check and pls let us all know what you find.

Yes, some states require insurance even for passing through and some don't.

__________________
2007 DL650A Whee! (SV cam transplant)

Manage the unavoidable.
Avoid the unmanageable.

My state issues temporary plates. But you need a signed bill of sale and/or title in hand to secure those.

MA doesn't even do temp plates. You can't drive the thing until its registered. And you can't register until its insured.

I've never heard of a 'provision' for riding something home without a tag. And I imagine no tag => quite a bit of attention.

Can't you just ride it home on the plates it has and then do a re-registration in your home state?

__________________
2007 Suzuki DL650 K7 (With a few farkles)

RIP Bucko - Riding on forever

That's what I thought.
I am also interested to hear if anyone has done it themselves, and how their experience with the quality of the bike has been.

Is it as advertised?

Thanks,
Mike

I wouldn't leave my plates on a bike I sold. My experience buying a bike in Ohio involved getting a 30 day temporary Ohio registration. When I got the bike back to Illinois, I got permanent registration there along with the title transfer. Check with the state where you are purchasing the vehicle for their regulations.

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Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A is just getting started.
Nicknames for posting ease on my part, Vee = all DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 DL650s. Glee = 2012+ DL650s

V-Stroms aren't that rare or unusual that it would pay to take a plane flight. They're also reliable enough that there's not a huge risk of problems.

I did take a train down to ride a bike back but had already seen it. My tolerance for bike pickup is about 200 miles.

__________________
2009 DL650A
2008 Tiger 1050 ABS

I wouldn't mind working buying a strom into my fall vacation, though.