Sounds like you missed out. Sorry about that. I've found that when shopping a good deal on a TW you have to have cash in hand and move immediately.
I replied to a craigslist add on a Sunday evening 15 minutes after it was posted, drove 2 hours with what cash I could get from an ATM on the way, bought the bike, took the paperwork for the legals, then went back Wednesday night and rode her home. Between the time I called and the time I made it to the seller's house, the seller had a dozen other calls. I was the first one there with cash in hand. Did it all on a handshake.
Someone else pulled in after we closed the deal.
The previous owner of my Nighthawk wiped it down, put a sign on it, and pushed it to the end of his drive. I was riding by on the TW, stopped, checked it out, gave him the $75 I had in my pocket before he even made it back to the garage. I then rode to the bank, rode to the courthouse, and had my son drive me over to pick up the bike. Less than an hour from pushed out to riding home.
I pulled up to a Suzuki dealer and the detailer was pushing a spotless 1980 GSX1100E with Progressive shocks and a luggage rack out to the line of used bikes. I stopped long enough to look at the overall condition and see that it had 17,xxx miles. I went in, walked up to the sales desk, asked for a price. In the meantime, a salesman had walked out with a price tag for the bike, sold it right there, within 2 minutes of it being pushed out front. Good deals go that fast.
Privately buying or selling, I offer or accept 15-20% down, take or provide the keys and paperwork for title transfer, reregistration, etc., then go back with the balance (and a concealed weapon) to transfer possession. I do not want people able to drive a vehicle registered to me for liability reasons. I show the same courtesy to sellers. I've never had a problem doing business this way.
