What It’s Like to Sell a Bike on CycleTrader.com
Have you decided it’s time to sell your motorcycle? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Cycle Trader is an online marketplace that connects millions of active buyers to sellers across the country. The process is fast, simple, and safe, guaranteeing a smooth and reliable experience. Here’s everything you need to know about selling a bike on CycleTrader.com.
Getting Started
Click the “Sell” tab at the top of the Cycle Trader webpage or the “Menu” button in the top-right corner, then click “Sell My Motorcycle” to be taken to the page where you can view available listing packages. Simply scroll down or click “Get Started” to view package options and make your selection.
Choosing a Package
Cycle Trader offers three package options for sellers.
- Basic: The basic package ensures that your ad will be listed on the website for two weeks. Your listing will allow up to four photos.
- Enhanced: The enhanced package offers six weeks on Cycle Trader’s website, as well as up to 20 photos and a YouTube or Vimeo video.
- Best: The best package features a 12-week-long listing, up to 50 photos, a video, premium placement on the website with a highlight in search results, and a featured spot in carousels on the homepage and search results.
Log In or Create Your Account
If you have an existing account with My Trader, you can log in now. If not, it won’t take long to make one. Enter your email and a password, then verify your password. After that, you’ll be signed up for My Trader and be able to create, edit, and share listings, save your progress when creating listings, and see leads and activity on your listings.
Start Building Your Listing
Once you select your package, you can start building your unit listing. Keep in mind that this is the first impression you make with a consumer, so you want the information to be clear and accurate. Building a listing is done in three easy steps.
- Enter Your Vehicle Information: Enter the year, make, model, and trim of the motorcycle you want to sell. Add your price and choose a tagline; this is your opportunity to tell potential buyers if the price is firm, negotiable, cash, or open to trade. From the drop down, select a category that your motorcycle would fall under, such as: classic, dirt bike, electric, or scooter. This information can also be included in the listing description, where you have a maximum of 2,500 characters to tell buyers all about your bike. There is also a drop down for additional details, including features, color, engine information, and mileage. The more information you give a consumer about your unit, the faster they can make their decision. If you’re selling gear, parts, or trailers, entering the item information will look slightly different—simply follow the prompts and you’ll be able to list them just as easily as a bike.
- Add Photos: Depending on which package you choose, you can upload up to four, 20, or 50 photos. On Cycle Trader, listings with pictures generate 1.3X higher search result impressions and 5.4X higher vehicle detail page-views than listings without photos. Remember to take clear photos at different angles so potential buyers can see as much as possible. For more tips, read our eight tips for taking great listing photos. If you have an Enhanced or Best package, this is where you’ll add the link for a video on YouTube or Vimeo.
- Enter Your Contact Information: Some of this may auto-populate if you’re logged into your account. You’ll also need to fill out your first and last name, address, and phone number. To protect your privacy, only your city, state, and zip code will appear on your listing—not your street address. You can also choose to hide your phone number if you prefer for shoppers to only contact you via email.\
Pro Tip: Use Cycle Trader’s Vehicle Valuation powered by J.D. Power to get your online vehicle estimate within two minutes. It’s easy, all you have to do it answer a few simple questions about the condition of your bike, then you’ll get a real-time value for your motorcycle.
Get a Pre-Sale Inspection
Sellers have the option to get a pre-purchase inspection through Cycle Trader Assurance powered by Lemon Squad™. If you choose this service, an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)-certified Lemon Squad inspector comes directly to you for an on-site inspection of your for-sale motorcycle. This thorough inspection covers a computer diagnosis of the engine, along with a comprehensive examination of the mechanical and cosmetic condition of your bike, along with a road test, tire and wheel condition, and more. Following the inspection, your listing will receive a certified Cycle Trader Inspection Badge, which showcases your ability to provide an inspection report to prospective buyers and makes your listing stand out on the marketplace.
Preview, Review, and Check Out
At the bottom left of the page, you’ll have the option to preview your listing with the photos. Put yourself in the shoes of a buyer to make sure you’re seeing everything someone would need to know about the bike you’re selling.
Once you decide it looks good, you can view a receipt for your listing.
When you sell your bike on CycleTrader.com, you can take advantage of our digital marketing solutions to help advertise and reach more buyers. In just a few quick and easy steps, your listing will be available to consumers nationwide.
Another option for private sellers is to connect with dealers who are buying inventory directly. Skip the listing all together and look for the “We Buy Motorcycles” button on a dealer’s gallery page to sell your unit right to a dealership.
Visit the Cycle Trader Seller’s Guide for more great advice and tips when listing your bike online.
Arielle Patterson
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