Ask for Proof of Ownership and a Daylight Viewing

A receipt, service records or the original owner's paperwork make a story harder to fake, and an honest seller rarely minds being asked. Arrange to see the bike in daylight with time for a short ride, because dim garages and evening parking lots hide cracks, rust and a tired drivetrain. A seller who won't allow a proper inspection, show proof of ownership or let you ride the bike is telling you something. So is a price far below what the same model fetches elsewhere: if it seems too good to be true, it usually is.