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| Is it really what the ad says it is? |
But if you click through to enough of the ads you'll soon develop a sense of which claims are reasonable, and which are not.
For instance, a Royal Enfield Bullet that is described as "one of the last English produced Enfields," raises suspicions when it carries a seat typical of Royal Enfields made in India.
The ad claims that this motorcycle has had "no restoration of any kind but it looks near new."
But one of the reasons it looks near new is that the paint appears fresh, shiny, and possibly not a factory color. No restoration of any kind?
Suspicions might increase further when that same "1968" Royal Enfield is described as having only "300 original miles!"
What has it been doing for the last 46 years? The ad helpfully explains: "This bike was in a climate controlled museum since new."
Why would a museum — any museum in the world — have added a then brand new motorcycle to its collection? Sure, it's possible, but is it likely? New speedometers with zero-mile odometer settings are easily fitted, a much more likely possibility.
Perhaps this seller is truthfully relating what he was told when he himself purchased the motorcycle. Perhaps he doesn't himself realize that the story seems unlikely.
His asking price ($6,500) is on the high side. His claims and high asking price place a real burden of proof on this seller.
