Buying

6 Benefits of Selling Your Used Motorcycle

Ryan Miller
Published: October 26, 2022 Edited: June 26, 2025
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6 Benefits of Selling Your Used Motorcycle

You ride your motorcycle to get around town, commute to work, and hit the open road. Therefore, it can be tricky deciding when to sell your motorcycle. Part of that decision is weighing the pros and cons of selling now versus selling later. To give you a better idea of what you have to gain from listing your bike for-sale, Cycle Trader is sharing six benefits of selling your used motorcycle.

1. Make Fast Cash Selling Your Used Motorcycle

If you need the money right away, selling your used motorcycle is a great way to get cash fast. With so many resources available on the marketplace, selling your used bike can be hassle-free and quick. And with high demand on the market, right now you can get great value for your motorcycle, even when you’re looking to sell immediately. Marketplaces like Cycle Trader make it easy to create a listing, reach buyers, and make a sale.

2. Save Money Before Your Motorcycle Depreciates

The longer you own your used motorcycle, the more it will depreciate, which means it loses value on the market and you’ll make less money from a sale. In the first two years of ownership, a bike will depreciate between 19–27%, then continue to slowly depreciate before this finally plateaus after about 10 years. If you own an older model, there can be a significant difference in the year-to-year listing price versus used as the market fluctuates. The more miles and wear you put on your bike and its various parts, the less value you’ll get for it as time passes.

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3. Avoid Expensive Motorcycle Maintenance and Repairs

If you’re worried that your bike is getting older and you expect more maintenance and repair problems in the near future, avoid the headaches and stress by selling your used bike. If you’re not looking to drop more money or time on fixing these issues with your motorcycle, then make plans to sell in the near future. Maintenance and repairs take more time out of your schedule, which means you’ll either be making more visits to a garage, waiting for a part to come in, or taking on the project yourself and trying to fix your bike. If you’re weighing the pros and cons of selling your bike, look at it this way: you should be spending the money on upgrades and add-ons to improve your motorcycle’s value, not on maintenance and replacement of parts.

4. The Motorcycle Market Can Work to Your Advantage

Disruptions in supply chain shortages, high demand for used bikes, more new riders and buyers on the market—you’ve probably heard it all in the past couple of years. Dealers are looking to buy used bikes for higher value than ever before, so now is the time to sell. Know how to sell your bike for the most money by learning the ways to talk and negotiate with dealers to get the right price for your motorcycle. Shop around and compare dealers to see who is willing to give you the best value for your used bike. You could get a better deal than you expect when you decide to sell your used motorcycle.

5. Upgrade to a Better Motorcycle

Your bike was perfect for you when you bought it, but is it still giving you all the functionality and comfort you want? Maybe you’re craving more power and speed, and want to upgrade to a sports bike. Or perhaps your riding hobbies have changed from racing and ramp-jumping to casual weekend riding, so you want to switch from a dirt bike to a cruiser or travel bike.

Selling your used motorcycle gives you a chance to upgrade to a better bike that fits your life now. Consider what you want to use your bike for and ask if there is another bike model that’s a better fit than the one you currently own. This is also an opportunity to save money by downsizing, if you’re looking to spend less money on fuel and maintenance.

6. Finance Your Next Motorcycle

Selling your used motorcycle gives you the chance to use the money to finance your next bike. With the money from your used bike sale, you can make a larger down payment or save the money to use for your upcoming monthly payments. And don’t forget, you might be able to get a deal when you trade-in at a dealership towards your next bike if you own one of the top-selling used motorcycles.

As a bike owner, you should always consider your options when it comes to selling your used motorcycle. Look at your bike’s condition, plan for spending money further down the road based on its age and use, check out what bike you may want that’s on the market, and look for deals you may get for your motorcycle. If you see the benefit of selling your motorcycle now, list it on our nationwide online marketplace at CycleTrader.com/Sell.

If you want more information or tips for selling, check out all of Cycle Trader’s articles and videos on our Seller’s Guide resource page.

Ryan Miller's profile picture Ryan Miller
Ryan Miller provides editorial support for Trader Interactive, including the company's core commercial brands.