6 Tips for Selling Your Bike to a Dealer
When you decide to sell your motorcycle, you have a few different options to choose from in order to turn your used bike into profit. If you’re looking for a way to sell your bike fast, and don’t want to go back and forth with prospective buyers, then selling to a dealership might be your best choice. Before you do, check out Cycle Trader’s six tips for selling your bike to a dealer.
1. Decide If You want to Sell or Trade In Your Motorcycle
Working with a dealership gives you the opportunity to either sell or trade in your used motorcycle. Selling allows you to make an immediate profit off your bike, which is a great option if you need the money fast or want to get rid of your motorcycle quickly. If you plan on getting a new motorcycle, then you could trade in your bike to a dealership.
2. Learn How Much Your Bike is Worth
Before you start shopping your motorcycle around to different dealerships, you should first learn how much your bike is worth. Determining your motorcycle’s approximate value can give you some leverage when you do speak with a dealer. You’ll have an idea of how much your for-sale bike is worth to use for a trade-in or outright sale.
To find out how much your motorcycle is worth, use an online resource, such as the Cycle Trader Motorcycle Valuations tool, to receive a real-time value for your bike in just a few clicks. All you have to do is enter the make, model, and year of your used motorcycle and the valuations calculator presents an instant estimate.
3. Make Your Bike Presentable
Before you start talking to dealerships about your bike, give it a wash so it’s more appealing to the dealer. You’ll definitely want to do this if you’re trying to sell your dirt bike that you’ve recently taken to the track. If you haven’t ridden your bike in a while, bring it out of storage and start up to make sure the engine is still roaring the way it should. While you don’t want to make any costly repairs to your motorcycle, a few easy mechanical and cosmetic touch ups can make a difference.
4. Get Multiple Offers from Dealers
Just as you’d shop around for a dealership to buy a motorcycle from, you should do the same when you’re looking for a dealer to sell your bike to. Reach out to different dealerships to learn which will give you the best offer. Each dealership could have different inventory needs, and if your type of motorcycle is in demand, you could receive a higher value for your bike. You can locate a dealership in your area with the Cycle Trader Find a Dealer tool.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Negotiate
Discussing price with a dealer may seem intimidating, but don’t forget that you can negotiate a higher offer. Before you start communicating with a dealer, establish the lowest acceptable offer you’re willing to take for your motorcycle. If a dealership offers below this amount and doesn’t want to negotiate, then you know it’s time to walk away.
Along with knowing your motorcycle’s estimated value, you can also have some negotiating power by proving your for-sale bike is a quality model. It may help to bring along any paperwork, such as maintenance and upgrade records, to show that you’ve cared for your motorcycle during your time of ownership. For more tips on setting and negotiating price, read our previous article.
6. Be Ready to Close On the Spot
After a couple years of manufacturing delays and inventory shortages, some dealerships might be looking to make a deal fast and close a sale right on the spot. If you do get an acceptable offer the same day you first visit a dealership, don’t miss that opportunity. When you visit a dealership in person, bring any necessary paperwork to complete a sale. Fortunately, unlike selling to a private party, a dealership will take care of most of the sales paperwork. All you should need is your motorcycle’s title.
Selling your motorcycle to a dealership can be a quick way to get a great offer on your used bike. By following these tips, you’ll be ready to meet with dealers and hopefully make the most profit on your ride. Or, you can also sell your motorcycle on a nationwide online marketplace by visiting CycleTrader.com/Sell. And for more selling tips and resources, check out all of the articles and videos on Cycle Trader’s Seller’s Guide page.
Arielle Patterson
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