How to Sell Your Motorcycle

If you want to upgrade your bike to a brand-new one, selling or trading in your motorcycle is probably the best option as it will help you get some cash for your new purchase. Of course, you’ll want to get a good deal so there are a few things that you can do at your end to enhance the value of your motorcycle.

We’ve created this handy guide to help you get the best value for your bike. Remember, if you need any advice or you want to check out some quality motorcycles for sale, the experts at Biggs Harley-Davidson are here to help you. We are conveniently located in San Marcos, CA, where we proudly serve all those in San Diego.

Spruce Up Your Motorcycle

First and foremost, you need to prepare your motorcycle before you can sell it. Let’s face it, no one wants a vehicle that looks like it hasn’t been taken care of. It’s amazing what a good cleaning can do to your bike. You want to make your motorcycle appear as close to brand-new as possible, so there are some steps you can take.

Clean it as thoroughly as you can, scrubbing under the seat and in every nook and cranny you can find. Touch up any paint flaking or scratched parts. Replace worn-down parts that make the bike look worse. Sure, you’re spending money on your bike before you sell it, but you can recover the cost of what you replace if your bike is in good shape.

You may wish to have a professional mechanic inspect and evaluate your motorcycle, too. This will help you find and address any problems you might have missed. The service records will also be useful to hand potential buyers so they know they can trust you and the quality of your bike.

Set a Price

Many factors affect a motorcycle’s price, such as mileage, configuration, upgrades, and wear and tear. If you set your price too high, you likely won't get any buyers. If you set the price too low, you miss out on some potential buyers.

Use resources such as classified ads, internet listings, and dealership inventory prices to figure out your motorcycle’s worth. Look around on forums to see how popular that model is with riders. If more people are interested in it, then you can charge more. Make sure you’re accounting for the bike’s age and condition, as well as any upgrades you may have added that could improve its value.

Use this information to determine the absolute lowest price you’re willing to sell the bike for, then set your price higher than that so that you can negotiate with the seller on a cost that works for both of you.

Get the Word Out

Next, you’ll have to get the word out somehow that you’ve got a bike up for sale. Take some good photos of it in broad daylight against a simple background (or get a photographer friend to do so, putting the bike in its best light) and build online postings with as much information as you have, like mileage, year, repairs, and additional features. Post your ad to forums, Craigslist, and also on social media accounts.

Find a Reputable Dealership

When you’re searching for potential customers on your own, you’ll be competing against bigger dealerships and it could take you a long time to complete the sale. If you hand over your motorcycle to reliable professionals, they’ll do all the heavy lifting finding the right buyer at a price you and the dealer both agree upon. There’s also the possibility that the dealer might already have a customer who is looking for a used model. Most pre-owned bikes that aren’t purchased right away are sold within a few weeks or months.

Now you know how to get your bike ready for sale! For more information or if you’re interested in browsing our trade-in offers, drop by Biggs Harley-Davidson in San Marcos, California. Our knowledgeable and courteous professionals are ready to answer all your questions. We also carry a wide range of motorcycles for sale, so it will be easy for you to upgrade to a new model that fits your riding style. Our dealership welcomes all those coming from San Diego and Oceanside, CA.