Purchase/Storage/Transport Support Group?

[NC Steve]

Since getting back into riding a couple years ago after a 20+ year absence - my lovely & talented ex-wife "forbade" it - I've been slowly trying to build up a group of friends, relatives & acquaintances across the US who could potentially be pressed into service to help acquire, transport or store bikes for me. I'm wondering if maybe the members of this forum could be formed into such a group, as we've all got the love of older bikes in our systems and seem to be spread out over the country.
Let me give a couple of examples of what I had in mind:

1) I live in NC, you live in Texas. You stumble across a bike for sale near me, but all the seller knows is that his Uncle Jed rode it for years and parked it in the barn: it's got 2 wheels and a motor. You contact me, I go check it out for you, maybe take a few pics, and you then make a more educated decision about whether or not to buy.

OR, and I see this one a lot:

2) You find a good deal on a bike near me, get all the good info from the knowledgeable seller, and are ready to buy, BUT, the seller's moving and you'll need to get the bike within a week. You either can't get here within 7 days, or don't want to send $5-600 to tote-a-sled.com. So, you contact me, I agree to pick up and/or store temporarily for you, and you go ahead with your deal to buy.

Personally, I think something along these lines could be totally workable. I'm sure there would be liability issues to sort out, and maybe someone here with some legal background could come up with a simple contract. Ideally, this could be done where there was no financial gain on the part of the "doer", beyond possible out-of-pocket expenses, ie: I need to rent a truck to pick up your bike: 50 bucks. And, as we're such a mobile society these days, just maybe I could bring your new bike to Houston or Chicago for you when I'm visiting my sister at Christmas, thereby saving you that $600.

Any comments, suggestions, opinions, etc?
Thanks.

Steve

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Sounds very workable.

Right now I qualify for vagabond status, so I would immediately eliminate myself.  In a few months that could change.

I don't know what the percentage of readers here have garage space.  I know I don't.  

You could do a poll of readers.  Do we have polling here, Justin?

[Justin B.]

There shoud be a button at the bottom of the thread to post a poll...

[SCJJR65]

It sounds (at least in theory) like a good idea to me! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]  Put up a poll and let's get some input from the others!  That's kind of how we got the ball rolling on the R65 patch project.  We may not have as many people at this site yet as we did at the old site who got involved on the patch idea, but I think the support group concept is a viable one.  The only thing to try and remember is when dealing with people scattered all over the country (or globe, in this case) who don't always check their computer often is that is can take a little time to get enough interest up to get the momentum rolling.  It may take a while to establish the framework for a project such as this, but it CAN be done!

[Justin B.]

Since everybosy seems to be afraid to "push the button", I'll do it.  


Wussies...

[NC Steve]

Thank you Jason, I was waiting for more posts and didn't want to appear pushy, being the "new guy" and all...
 :-/

[msbuck]

I think it's a great idea.  Although, I don't think I would have much use for it personally as I tend to buy a bike and stick with it.    I would be willing to help others out, though.    I think it's definitely worth pursuing.

[suecanada]

You certainly live in the ideal place for riding. I personally went to NC to get a bike..coincidence
da?? really but it was a spot I knew I wanted to ride the bike and not have to trailer it.

Your idea would solve some problems for others regarding time to get the bike after a sale has been finalized. And, winter buying sometimes finds good deals but driving or riding the bike back to our northern states is pretty iffy sometimes. A place to store it for awhile would be great. I guess there would be a fair bit of trust involved on both parties. I like the idea of having someone who could look at the bike before I bought it and assess it for me.

I have a friend in Cary NC and without her it would have been pretty hectic getting the F650GS this September. She knew the place and the ropes. Now I have another friend in NC...right, Aïda??? And you guys have a friend in Georgian Bay area, ON.

[NC Steve]

Thanks for your input, Sue and Aida, and yeah, that's pretty much what I had in mind, "From each according to his (her) abilities...", not unlike the BMWMOA's Anonymous Book. Obviously some folks are more mechanically minded, others good at talking to strangers and taking pics, some may have a spare storage bay or a pickup trunk heading your direction. Some may want no part of the idea and that's cool too.
Example: about 3 years ago when I decided to get back into riding, I bought an '88 K75C (hated it) and became friends with the female seller in Arizona. She rides, has no clue about mechanicals, but travels the pro horse circuit, has huge storage facilities, and crisscrosses the USA on a constant  basis towing a large trailer. If I find a bike that's within 100 miles of I-40 and time it right, she'll be going thru and can pick up and drop off here, or nearby, for a few bucks worth of gas.
Me, if you need someone to check out a bike for you, talk to the owner & get details, take pics, just holler. I'll store it for a reasonable amount of time too, but I want no involvement in the financial or purchasing end: that's your business.

Anyway, my 2 cents worth, again.
Steve

PS: Aida, a Laverda huh, and a '98 to boot? Wow, that's something you don't see every day!
People think I'm crazy for suffering from major Moto Guzzi lust...

[msbuck]

No, not many Laverdas around.  There are pics back on the old R65.org forum
 ( http://www.r65.org/nuke/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=229 )

I have a little Guzzi lust myself.  When I first started riding back in the 80s I really wanted a LeMans.    But those were hard to find, so I ended up on a Yamaha until I found my lovely R65! I added the Laverda to the stable in 1999 - New from the dealer.  I can't imagine ever getting rid of either one of them.  Garage space is full, so no more bikes for now.

Although, we are thinking some enduros bikes for some fire road riding in the mountains... something like Sue's F 650???

P.S. And Yes, Sue you have a new friend in NC!  When we head to Nova Scotia next year maybe we can hook up again!

[R65LSStan]

I have been building a network of people doing that very same thing and would be happy to help other in the TN & North Alabama area. I have a friend that's has a 4 car garage with an alarm system who lets me store as many bike's as I want. Feel free to call me Stan Davey 615-642-0173

[suecanada]

This idea is taking off pretty well.

Aïda....I am about 10 hours riding from the Vermont/new Hampshire area and brother Rich lives in Nova Scotia on Cape Breton island outside of Baddeck. We were contemplating a ride south on the Blue Ridge and maybe right into NC western side. There may be possibilities for a hookup somewhere.