The best time to sell your motorcycle is when you don’t need to. This means you can comfortably wait till the buyer with your price comes along. The same rule goes for buying. Buy when you don’t need it. You can be far more aggressive on negotiating price if you are happy to walk away.
However, we rarely sell or buy anything when we don’t need to – generally we aren’t selling because we still want to use it. And why would you buy something when you don’t need it yet!
So if you’re more like me and are never organised enough to sell or buy something before I don’t desperately need to then read on. Below are the things to take into consideration when selling and buying motorcycles.
How do I price my motorcycle?
Jump online to see what other models with the same make/year/kilometres are going for. Check classified websites, Facebook marketplace and mostly importantly check Redbook. Redbook is likely to be the most accurate price guide you will find. If you need to sell your bike quickly, look at advertising it just under your competitors’ price.
If you think your beloved two wheeled bestie couldn’t possibly go for such a low figure and you don’t want to follow the guide, bump up that price tag and see what happens. Selling when you don’t need to is very handy in this circumstance, giving you the freedom to wait it out.
Another way to increase what ends up in your pocket is by throwing in riding gear or aftermarket accessories. Strip your bike of any accessories and when the buyer comes to look, start bringing out them. They couldn’t possibly buy the bike without also buying the custom made panniers.
Condition and history
It’s a good idea to have a mechanic do a thorough once over when you are getting the roadworthy. A well-maintained, ‘clean’ bike is an easier sell so if you have any documentation of previous repairs and maintenance, then have them handy. You can demand more for a bike that does not need repairs. You will need to answer questions around if the bike has been in any accidents or been dropped. And be honest – lying isn’t helpful and could come back to bite you later on.
Advertising your bike
Make sure you take lots of clear photos of the motorcycle and all its details. You need soft light so shoot the bike outside sometime in the morning or afternoon. Find a plain background – nothing too busy or ugly i.e. bins. And not in a dark garage – an iPhone flash won’t save you.
Season
Sell in the spring and summer – the perfect time to ride, everyone is out and about. It is prime moto time and there are lots of buyers in the market.
Buy in the winter. The number of people highly motivated to spend their precious disposable income (does that still exist?!) when it’s raining and frosty and the thought of going for a ride is equal taking a cold shower in all your gear, is low. So this is obviously the best time to go shopping, competition is low and if you have found a seller, they are likely in need of the money so it’s possible to negotiate a little harder.
This obviously depends where you live, if you’re somewhere warm for most months you have more flexibility here.
Negotiate to buy
Always, always negotiate. All they can say is no and you never have to see them again. Start low and work your way up. Or ask the question.. “what else can you throw in for the price?”
Location
Search for bikes outside of the big cities. Bikes and cars are generally cheaper the further out you go. The catch is you have to go get them or drive five hours to look at the vehicle but if it saves you a few avocados (100 dollar bills) or a grand then it’s worth it. Make a road trip adventure out of it with your buddies.
Fuel
When fuel price is high, I’d recommend not selling your car and waiting for the prices to come down. However, motorcycles are an excellent option when looking to save money on fuel.
EOFY
Get in touch with your local dealership and see what end of year deals they have on the go before the June 30. This also give you bargaining power, knowing the dealership needs to clear stock.
Happy selling, happy buying!
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