Selling a motorcycle can be a joyful experience or a time of nostalgic remembrance. Maybe you’re selling because you’re buying a bigger and better bike. Or perhaps you are selling because you’ve had another child, and it’s time to buy a minivan. There are various rationales behind why bike owners would want to sell their motorcycles. Regardless of the reason, the process can be stressful for all, particularly the inexperienced.
But as they say, knowledge is power, so here’s everything you need to know about how to sell a motorcycle.
Before listing your bike for sale, keep in mind that motorcyclists are a picky lot. Selling a motorcycle isn’t like selling a car, where you can hand over a few maintenance records, give the buyer a Carfax report, and call it a day. Motorcyclists are notorious for wanting detailed information.
Does the bike slip effortlessly into second gear but stick while going into third? Did you install aftermarket, crack-resistant fuel lines? If your motorcycle has quirks, these are things that a buyer wants to know. Keep a list of anything that comes to mind throughout the selling process, as it keeps you prepared to answer any questions that may arise about the motorcycle.
If you’re like most bike owners, you’ve probably installed an aftermarket upgrade or two. New seats, exhausts, bars, and other bells and whistles are practically a requirement for making a motorcycle truly your own.
The thing is, these upgrades don’t typically add much retail value. The reason? Just like you customize your bike, many buyers also want to make their own customizations. Those cool handlebars you installed? They either likely don’t care about them or are planning to replace them anyway.
The good news is that you can actually use this to your advantage. If you’ve kept your original parts on hand, consider restoring the bike to its original condition and selling the aftermarket parts separately.
For example, a $500 aftermarket exhaust will add little to nothing to the value of a used motorcycle. But you can likely fetch around $300 for it on the open market. For enthusiasts familiar with working on their bikes, replacing these old parts are well worth the time investment.
Just like an automobile, selling a motorcycle requires a clean title and, in most states, a bill of sale. Make sure your title is clean before you advertise your car, and obtain a replacement if necessary. Each state has different procedures for title replacement applications, so check with your local DMV for more information.
Also, having your maintenance and repair records available is a big plus. While not required, they can help demonstrate to a prospective buyer that you’re a responsible owner. This can give you much-needed leverage when negotiating the sale price.
Another useful (though not required) document is a vehicle history report. Services like Carfax are relatively inexpensive and provide a brief history of your motorcycle’s ownership, including any major repairs or accidents.
Before advertising your motorcycle, take some high-quality pictures of your bike. We live in a digital age, far removed from the days of classified ads in the newspaper, and people want to see what they’re buying.
High-quality photos can make a huge difference in the number of inquiries you receive. Does this mean that low-quality photos doom your sale? Not necessarily. But fewer inquiries translates to fewer offers, meaning less room to negotiate the price.
With that in mind, take well-lit photos from several angles, making sure to include at least one shot from each side of the bike. Get some close-up shots of the dash, with the odometer legible. If you have a digital display, turn on the bike if necessary, but make sure the odometer is easily visible in at least one photo.
Now that you’ve got all your ducks in a row, it’s time to list your motorcycle for sale. Make sure to include the make, model, mileage, and model year of your bike in your listing. You should also note any major repairs, modifications, or damage that buyers need to be aware of.
Another important thing to include in the listing is your contact information. Without your email or phone number, people will have no way of reaching out to you. And don’t forget to upload your pictures! Try and choose a flattering, wide-angle shot of the bike to use for your main photo. If you’re able to select the order of your images, we suggest placing the odometer photo next, so it’s easy to find.
When it comes to choosing a listing price, don’t rely solely on resources like Kelley Blue Book. Though it’s a good starting point, different types of bikes can vary in price by region, and other resources like JD Power base our ratings and values on feedback from hundreds & thousands of confirmed owners. Sellers should also check local listings for similar bikes and use that as a point of reference.
First and foremost, it’s best practice to make sure your bike is clean, waxed, and presentable before you show it to a prospective buyer. If you haven’t changed your fluids recently, you should do so, as this is a common courtesy before making a sale.
Once the bike is presentable and you are ready to meet with an interested party, be prepared to answer any questions they may have. Remember that list we mentioned above about knowing your bike and its quirks? Go over it before you meet with any potential buyers, so you’re as prepared as possible. And don’t forget to keep your maintenance records handy if you have them.
Another thing to think about before you meet with anyone is what to do about test rides. On the one hand, you probably just met this person five minutes ago, and now they want to ride your bike, so you may be understandably hesitant. As a proud motorcycle owner, your instinct is to say no. At the same time, if you don’t offer a test ride, the buyer is likely to walk, as they won’t have any idea about how the bike performs. They want to know what they’re getting, after all.
Whether or not to allow a test ride is up to you, but know that not allowing a test ride is likely going to hinder your ability to sell it. At least for your desired price. The easiest solution is to have the person leave their bike or car keys with you, along with any other collateral you can use to ensure the buyer can cover any potential damage to your bike - or them simply running off with it!
At a minimum, start the engine, rev it, and sit on the bike. This will at least let them know the carburetor and ignition are in good working order.
When you buy or sell a car, you expect to haggle. It’s expected in the car sales business, and it’s often rare for anyone to pay the full sticker price for a vehicle. Selling a motorcycle works in a similar fashion.
If you are realistic in setting your listing price, you’ll want to stay as close as possible to that number when negotiating with a prospective buyer. If you listed at a higher price, you may have some room to be more flexible. There’s no “right” or “wrong” strategy here; it’s solely dependent on what you are willing to accept for the bike.
As is the case with any negotiation, there’s a balance to keep for both parties. If you bargain too hard and stand too firm on a higher price, the buyer may walk. But if you give in too quickly, you may end up leaving some money on the table.
Once you have agreed upon a final sale price with the buyer, it’s time to collect payment and complete the sale. Remember that not every buyer will have both cash and financing as a payment option. If you’re selling a bike for $2,000, most people will likely show up with cash. However, if you’re selling a bike for $20,000, most buyers will probably end up financing the vehicle. With this in mind, communicate what payment you’ll accept (and what you won’t accept) in your ad. This makes a buyer’s life easier — and will help whittle down the questions you’ll receive after that.
Yes, doing the paperwork can indeed be a pain. But in all actuality, it’s not as bad as you’d think.
For starters, you need to sign over the title. This is the most vital document in a motorcycle sale. The title is what determines the legal owner of a motorcycle, and every bike with a VIN has a title associated with it., which is needed in order to get a license plate for the bike. The title contains vital information about the motorcycle, including the year, make, model, and VIN, including the name and address of the current owner or lienholder.
If there is no lien on the title and the seller owns the bike outright, transferring ownership is as simple as having both parties sign the title in the designated areas. But even with a title, it’s best practice to have a bill of sale when selling your motorcycle. A bill of sale protects both the buyer and the seller. A properly filled-out bill of sale containing the signatures of both parties legally transfers ownership of the motorcycle. The deal is considered valid between the point of sale and the time that the new owner gets the bike registered in their name with the DMV.
For the sake of legal protection, make sure you have two copies of the bill of sale - one for the buyer and one for the seller - and that each party signs both documents.