10 Tips for Selling Your Used Motorcycle
You’ve had some great adventures with your motorcycle, but now it’s time to move on to something new. When it’s time to sell your beloved bike, you’ll want to make sure that your used motorcycle catches the attention of potential buyers so you can get the best offer. Cycle Trader is here to help with 10 tips for selling your used motorcycle.
1. Know Your Motorcycle’s Value
Before you can sell your motorcycle, you should first figure out how much you want to list your bike for. There are several factors that can help you determine the price of your motorcycle, such as the make, model, year, and mileage. You could spend some time researching how much similar makes and models are going for, then compare your bike to those.
One of the fastest and easiest ways to learn your motorcycle’s value is to use Cycle Trader’s Motorcycle Valuations tool. Backed by J.D. Power, this tool gives you a real-time value for your used bike. All you have to do is enter your motorcycle’s make, model, and year, and the valuation calculator presents an estimate instantly.
Understanding your bike’s worth can help you confidently negotiate with interested buyers and dealers, so you can make the most profit from the sale.
2. Decide How You Want to Sell
The road to selling your motorcycle has several different routes. You could trade-in or sell your bike to a dealership, use an old-fashioned for sale sign, or list your ride on an online marketplace. Each method of selling has its advantages; you’ll just have to decide which is best for you and your timeline. If you’re interested in selling or trading in your used bike to a dealership, utilize Cycle Trader’s Find a Dealer tool to locate a dealership near you. To learn more about the different ways of selling a motorcycle, read our previous article on five ways to sell your bike fast.
3. List Your Bike on a Trustworthy Website
Selling your motorcycle online allows you to reach shoppers both locally and nationally, putting more eyes on your for-sale bike. However, you want to make sure that you choose a reputable site, as some websites may leave you vulnerable to scams. Listing your motorcycle on a consumer-trusted online marketplace, such as CycleTrader.com, offers a sense of security and a more reliable experience. Plus, when you sell on Cycle Trader, you get access to millions of monthly shoppers, helping you get more eyes on your listing and sell your bike faster.
4. Take High-Quality Photos and Videos
When shoppers are browsing an online marketplace, the first things they notice are the photos of for-sale motorcycles. Using high-quality photos of your bike in the listing allows you to catch the attention of any prospective buyers before they learn the details of your motorcycle.
Avoid stock photos and take pictures of your bike to show shoppers exactly what could be theirs. Snap clear pictures, in good lighting, from multiple angles to fully capture the beauty of your motorcycle.
If you really want to wow shoppers, record a few short videos of your motorcycle riding down the road or in the driveway to give them a glimpse of your bike in action. You can also take a video walking around your motorcycle, showing the different components. This is definitely a good idea if you made any unique customizations to the bike.
5. Write a Detailed Description
Once you lure shoppers in with eye-catching photos and videos, keep them interested in your for-sale bike with a detailed description. Be sure to include basic information, such as the make, model, year, and mileage. You’ll also want to provide specific details, including information about the engine, riding position, and other features. The more information you provide in the listing description, the sooner a shopper can make a decision about if your for-sale motorcycle is the one for them.
If you’re listing your bike on an online marketplace, you should also include relevant keywords in your listing description. For example, if you have a touring motorcycle, shoppers could be searching specifically for “touring motorcycles for sale.” You’ll want to include the word “touring” in your description so your listing appears in their search results.
6. Keep Your Bike Clean
Of course, before you take any listing photos of your bike, you’ll want to get it shining bright. Show off that dazzling paint job and sparkling chrome by cleaning your motorcycle before taking any photos. You want to make sure your bike is in the best condition possible for shoppers to see.
Even after your listing is live, you should still keep your bike looking as good as new. During the selling process, you never know when a potential buyer might ask to video chat with you to see the bike, or even stop by for an in-person test drive. Keeping any dirt and grime off your motorcycle is a guaranteed way to impress a prospective buyer.
7. Keep Up with Regular Motorcycle Maintenance
While you’re in the process of selling your motorcycle, you may still be riding your bike for regular transportation or for fun on the weekends. Or, you already have a new motorcycle, so your for-sale bike is sitting idle. Either way, you should still keep up with your motorcycle’s regular maintenance to preserve its structural and functional integrity.
Of course you don’t want to spend a ton of money making major repairs, but taking care of a few routine motorcycle maintenance items can make a big difference on the quality your bike is in when you sell it. If you aren’t riding your motorcycle as often, take some time every now and then to start your bike up to make sure it’s still running smoothly.
8. Respond to Interested Shoppers Quickly
If you’re looking to quickly make a deal on your for-sale motorcycle, be sure to respond promptly to potential buyers. We live in a fast-paced communications world, so you can’t afford to miss any messages or calls from shoppers interested in your ride. Check your messages regularly on whatever platform you listed your motorcycle on. Shoppers are looking at multiple listings at once, so they might move along to the next if you take too long to respond.
9. Keep Your Records Organized
Be ready when it’s time to close a deal on your motorcycle by having all of the necessary paperwork and documents ready. You’ll want to have quick access to your motorcycle’s title and registration to transfer to the buyer when it’s time. You should also be ready to provide a bill of sale to the buyer, detailing the transaction.
It’s also not uncommon for potential buyers to ask for maintenance records before they actually sign off on a purchase. If you aren’t already, keep a record of everything you do, including regular maintenance, repairs, and any upgrades to the bike, to show that you’ve taken care of your motorcycle over the years. This also gives a prospective buyer some peace of mind that they’re buying a quality bike that’s been well maintained.
10. Offer Reassurance to Potential Buyers
During the selling process, it’s not uncommon to interact with skittish buyers who may be on the fence about purchasing a used motorcycle. Address any concerns the shopper may have about buying your second-hand bike, and reassure them about the quality of your motorcycle through open communication and detailed information.
Now that you’ve read these tips, it’s time to turn your used motorcycle into cash. If you’re ready to sell your motorcycle now, list it on the nationwide online marketplace at CycleTrader.com/Sell. And, for more selling tips and information, check out all of our articles and videos on Cycle Trader’s Seller’s Guide resource page.
Arielle Patterson
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