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Avoiding Scams	Searching this site	Placing an Ad	Selling
Buying	Dealers	New Riders	More Answers

Avoiding Scams

Deal locally as much as possible with buyers and sellers you can meet directly. This will GREATLY reduce the likelihood of a SCAM.

We discourage international transactions due to the difficulty in shipping, payment authenticity, and the likelihood of fraud. This site is designed to be used by verifiable members in the USA.

Use the recommended payment services of PayPal and escrow.com to buy or sell. Beware there are FAKE escrow and payment service companies online. DO NOT use any other companies.

PayPal and Escrow.com offer payment protection against fraud and fake cashier checks and money orders which are common and can take weeks to discover by your bank. Also, if you buy with a credit card, it offers additional payment protection from the issuing bank .
When you connect online to either service or to Cyclehound.com checkout, be sure it shows a secure connection; the address should begin https:// and show a locked padlock at the top of your web browser next to the address.

Never give out financial information not directed by you (credit card numbers, bank accounts, Social Security numbers, passwords, etc.). In other words, unsolicited calls or emails from any person or organization. Reputable organizations do not request this information via email. They instruct you to do it in a secure manner.

Deal with verified PayPal members and Cyclehound.com members with good feedback history as much as possible. Be cautious dealing with new or non-verified members, especially for expensive items.
If it sounds too good to be true…IT IS A SCAM.
Use CycleHound recommended shippers. See our Links page, otherwise it may not be a legitimate shipper.
NEVER wire funds via Western Union or Moneygram!
Once the funds are sent they are gone FOREVER.
Anyone requesting you to do so is a SCAMMER.
IF you see a suspected FRAUDULENT AD posted on CycleHound, FLAG IT via the Watch Dog link.

Report fraud or scam attempts to:

Internet Fraud Complaint Center: www.ic3.gov
Federal Trade Commission: www.ftc.gov
FTC free hotline 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-435
Local police department (Not 911)

Searching this site

Use the Advanced Search option to focus your desired results for motorcycles, parts, accessories, atv's or snowmobiles.

You can select more than one option in each of the search categories.

Example 1: Search Cruisers, Standards and Sportbikes to exclude all other styles if you desire.
Example 2: Search location radius can be selected to keep the search within a specific distance from your selected zip code.

Save your search setting to your My Stuff page for future or continual searches of the same settings.

If you use the general search be sure to spell the item correctly. Sounds obvious, but it is a common error.

If an item or vehicle has multiple names, then list as many as possible (Example; Honda Shadow VT1100 Ace Aero Spirit).
If you get too many results, use Advanced Search option to narrow your results (use smaller range of prices, locations, models, etc.).
If you get too few or no results, use general search or broaden search options in Advanced Search (use larger range of price, locations, models, etc.).
Sort your Search results by your preferred criteria; Model, Price, Location, etc.

Placing an Ad

Register or Login. Member Login is required to post an ad. It’s free and takes only seconds.

Be prepared. Read the Selling tips prior to posting.

Have good digital pictures of your item or vehicle ready to upload.
Have the details of your item or vehicle ready to input. Price, mileage, color, VIN, model (spelled correctly), size, condition, history, your contact information, etc.

If it is a Featured Ad, have your credit card in hand and ready at ad confirmation and check out.

Follow the easy step by step process after selecting the category in which you wish to post an ad.

Selling

Read the Avoiding Scams tips and abide by them.

Research the value of your motor sport vehicle or item PRIOR to posting.

Setting a realistic price will increase the likelihood of a sale.
Setting a competitive price will increase the likelihood of a quick sale.

Post good pictures of your item or vehicle.

Use pictures with GOOD FOCUS
Pay attention to background and lighting. (Is that your shadow casting over the bike?
Is there a tree growing out of your motorcycle seat?)
Use recent pictures of YOUR item or vehicle, not stock photos.

Give honest, detailed descriptions of the item you are selling. If it has blemishes, mention it, so the potential buyer knows what to expect.

If your item has NOT sold after 60 days, consider the following:

Are you asking too much?
Is it posted in the correct category?
Is it the wrong seasonal timing to advertise? (Snowmobiles in May) If yes, consider price reduction or removing and re-listing later. Potential buyers notice ads posted for a long time (stale ads) and tend to avoid them.
Is my picture or description clear?

Be negotiable. If a potential buyer makes a reasonable offer, work with them. It may be the only offer you get. The bottom line is the ACTUAL selling price of anything is what a buyer is WILLING to pay for it, basic supply and demand.

Communicate! Post your desired contact information. If you do not respond to emails or calls and are difficult to contact, you will have a hard time selling anything and you are likely to get poor feedback ratings.

Ship SOLD items promptly. If you received a confirmed secured payment for an item, send it. Also, follow up with shipment tracking information. You will get positive feedback.

Use escrow.com and/or PayPal especially if you are selling out of your local area. The buyer pays the inexpensive fee for the service and you get the security of knowing the payment is good.

Buying

Read the Avoiding Scams tips and abide by them.

Research the item or motorsport vehicle as much as possible to be sure you know what you are buying.

Compare pricing. If you pay too much, you only have yourself to blame.

Be reasonable and tactful when you make offers for less than the advertised price. If you insult a seller, you will have a harder time buying that item.

Be serious and follow through. If a buyer agrees to your offer, buy it. Do not waste sellers time with questions and offers unless you are a seriously interested buyer of their item.

Pay PROMTPLY and via recommended secured means. It provides you and the seller security. Once you have agreed to a price and are comfortable with the seller, pay them. You will get positive feedback.

Communicate! If you do not respond to emails or calls and are difficult to contact, you will have a hard time buying anything and you are likely to get poor feedback ratings.

Use escrow.com or PayPal especially if buying out of your local area. It is inexpensive insurance to make sure you get what you paid for.

Dealers

Read the Avoiding Scams tips and abide by them.

Offer good customer service. We want you to do well. We expect you treat our and your customers well.

LIST your price! Buyers are VERY turned off by “Call for Pricing”.

Don’t be worried your price might be a little higher than another dealer or a private party. You might offer better service or have a better location.
However, be realistic. If your price is substantially higher, it is a hard sell.

DO NOT bait and switch. If we hear about it, we will ban you from this site.

MANAGE your ADS. Be sure they are current priced and current stocked. It is really, really, reaaaaallly ANNOYING, if your posted ads are of SOLD items.

New Riders

GET TRAINING. Just because you had a mini-bike or rode your friend’s bike does NOT mean you are ready to jump out on your own.

There are many accredited training programs and they usually provide the bike for you. Some also offer licensing upon successful completion of their program. This is the best and safest way to start.
Use an Internet search engine (Google, Yahoo, Ask) to search the internet for motorcycle training in your area.

Start on a smaller sized, lighter weight bike. Then move up to a bigger bike after a year or so.

DO NOT buy your dream bike for your first bike, unless it is a smaller sized bike.
You WILL drop your first bike; in a parking lot, the driveway, loosing your footing, getting use to the clutch action, etc.

Wear proper riding gear. This applies to everyone. We have all see the MORONS out there riding helmetless, shirtless, and/or with sandals on. Don’t be a moron or you WILL be an organ donor. Surely you can find some good gear at a decent price on Cyclehound.com.

Do your research.

Find the best bike for you. Go to dealerships, motorcycle events and shows. Read magazines and online forums.
Check insurance rates before you buy. Premiums vary A LOT among different model vehicles and among different insurance companies. You can save hundreds of dollars per year by making a few calls and getting multiple quotes.

Ride safe.

Do not try to keep up with experienced riders. Your bike might be fast enough, but you may not be able to keep it under control.
Act like all the other drivers are trying to hit you. Riding defensively will help keep you safe.