I am willing to buy a bike without a ride, but if the seller is going to be that persnickety, I do want to sit on it, start in, and put it in gear and check the clutch action, working it back and forth as they made you do in motorcycle school. Although I understand the seller who wants to hold the money first, it ruins some of your ability to dicker....he will count it while you are riding and know you have what his asking. Part of dickering is that you give the impression that the price you are willing to pay is pretty much all you have brought, and only show that amount all balled up in roll so it looks enticing. Of course you have to be fair, but if he wants to hold onto his ask, I am going to think seriously about not riding it at all, and sizing it up where it sits. Of course that might make me shave more off.