Bike flipping
- Thread starter R3DS!X
- Start date
Z3n
Squid.
I did this for quite awhile. Definitely turned over more than 6 bikes in a year at times, never had an issue. It was never profitable, I just basically got to ride a pile of different bikes for free and sometimes hook up friends with sweet deals on bikes.
If you’re doing it for fun, it’s great. If you’re doing it to make rent, it sucks.
If you’re doing it for fun, it’s great. If you’re doing it to make rent, it sucks.
DannoXYZ
Well-known member
There’s always like tonnes of unknowns that’ll trip you up and rob profits out of last 5 bikes you did.
One bike I got in was super clean, engine cranked smoothly, just wouldn’t start. Got spark. Got fuel. That leaves air & compression. Let’s do compression test.... 0 psi!!!! Wtf?!@)-/ Further digging find out it’s missing pistons & rods!!!
Another bike, had to weld up rusted and busted frame. That took close to week just to get back to ground-zero.
Some cases may just be wash, wax and carb-clean. But there’s extreme cases of carb-cleaning needed. So you gotta buy ultrasonic cleaner, tonnes of scrub brushes, micro-soda blaster. And it’ll still take you full day of scrubbing ‘cause modern spray carb-cleaners suck. Or you need to get $100s in rebuild parts to restore thing back into working condition.
One bike I got in was super clean, engine cranked smoothly, just wouldn’t start. Got spark. Got fuel. That leaves air & compression. Let’s do compression test.... 0 psi!!!! Wtf?!@)-/ Further digging find out it’s missing pistons & rods!!!
Another bike, had to weld up rusted and busted frame. That took close to week just to get back to ground-zero.
Some cases may just be wash, wax and carb-clean. But there’s extreme cases of carb-cleaning needed. So you gotta buy ultrasonic cleaner, tonnes of scrub brushes, micro-soda blaster. And it’ll still take you full day of scrubbing ‘cause modern spray carb-cleaners suck. Or you need to get $100s in rebuild parts to restore thing back into working condition.
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auditude
Wut, bodda you?
Red = FALSE.
Not sure where you’re getting this info but that is complete and utter bull...
People do cash-only deals all day long and DMV doesn’t care whether cash or bitcoin for the sale. A sale is a sale. Period.
Every vehicle transfer in California goes through DMV; I’m unclear how one conducts a sale without “going through the machine”.
The DMV can’t force you to get a license but VC 11700 requires a dealer license to buy/sell vehicles. It is a misdemeanor violation; you decide whether or not it’s worth it.
The rest of your post is subjective but the first two points are outright incorrect and misleading.
If your trying to make money, mow lawns, work at McDonalds, etc.
Likes been stated, you need a bone yard for parts.
Most people who make money doing this kind of thing, repair bikes for customers, have a customer who doesn’t want to spend that kind of money to fix, buy the bike cheap, fix in their down time and make a small profit.
I’ve bought several bikes, take my time fixing, ride for a year or two then sell.
I end up owning a bike and riding for free. Make money, get a paper route!
Likes been stated, you need a bone yard for parts.
Most people who make money doing this kind of thing, repair bikes for customers, have a customer who doesn’t want to spend that kind of money to fix, buy the bike cheap, fix in their down time and make a small profit.
I’ve bought several bikes, take my time fixing, ride for a year or two then sell.
I end up owning a bike and riding for free. Make money, get a paper route!
scootergmc
old and slow
I've done this. I still do it occasionally, but I usually keep the bike and ride it for a bit. Also- I don't buy anything without a clean title (in seller's name) and current non-op/registration. So the deals are very few and far between. Most people who think this is a gold mine NEVER factor in their time/labor. Turning a $1k bike into a $2-3k bike requires labor and parts, and if you want to make good money, usually requires legit paperwork. By the time everything is said and done, if you factor in all the honest time it takes to hunt down "deal" bikes, hunt down parts, manuals, posting on forums asking about this or that, actual labor, etc., you're usually not coming out ahead. And then weigh that time vs. how much time you neglected your family or otherwise just could've done a side job or worked a little OT and made the "same" money. In the end, "flipping" is about as profitable as picking a random trifecta at the OTB.
Now if you enjoy motorcycles and tinkering as a hobby, keep it that way. Fix them, ride them, let them put a smile on your face. Sell them, recoup some of your costs, and otherwise enjoy life.
Now if you enjoy motorcycles and tinkering as a hobby, keep it that way. Fix them, ride them, let them put a smile on your face. Sell them, recoup some of your costs, and otherwise enjoy life.
Pushrod
Well-known member
Been there, done that.
Then one day all the salvage yards disappeared. Turns out all the donor bikes I used to pick from were containerized and shipped to South America. That left crashed units being parted out and the bidding or offering for that stuff killed positive cash flow down the road.
I still work on stuff, mainly just to have quality garage time, but the way of motorcycling today means the competition undercuts everything you do. And they starve, if it makes you feel better. Just look at BARF, the motos listed here are good stuff for pocket change. If that doesn't kill the flip in your garage, nothing will.
These days, it's just part of my secret life. . . .midnight in my garage, spotify, snap-on and medicinal. ("No dear, I'm not finished out here, you go on to bed, I'll be in shortly.")
Then one day all the salvage yards disappeared. Turns out all the donor bikes I used to pick from were containerized and shipped to South America. That left crashed units being parted out and the bidding or offering for that stuff killed positive cash flow down the road.
I still work on stuff, mainly just to have quality garage time, but the way of motorcycling today means the competition undercuts everything you do. And they starve, if it makes you feel better. Just look at BARF, the motos listed here are good stuff for pocket change. If that doesn't kill the flip in your garage, nothing will.
These days, it's just part of my secret life. . . .midnight in my garage, spotify, snap-on and medicinal. ("No dear, I'm not finished out here, you go on to bed, I'll be in shortly.")
flipstyledsm22
Lets go fishing!
Bill of sale.
There are hundreds of undocumented vehicle sales going on everyday. If you don't plan on riding/driving it, you don't have to necessarily register it immediately... Or even put the vehicle in your name. As long as all the paperwork is in order and you have proof of purchase, you can still sell the vehicle and the next buyer can finish the process of legalizing it for road use.
I'm pretty sure OP is not wanting to be a dealer, he just wants to tinker with cool bikes and make a little in the end... If any.
There's nothing shady about anything I stated. I'm sharing my opinion on the best possible scenario to 'flip' something and not blow a full wad of cash.
flipstyledsm22
Lets go fishing!
By limiting how many transactions you do a year, is pretty much forcing you to be a dealer.
It's a misdemeanor if you open a dealership and sell vehicles without a dealers license...
auditude
Wut, bodda you?
:facepalm
I can't even...
:rolleyes
The DMV isn't forcing you to buy and sell vehicles but the LAW requires you to abide by licensing regulations OR become a licensed dealer/salesperson.
You think the only place vehicle sales occur is on a dealership lot? One reason VC 11700 exists is to prohibit "curbstoning" i.e. unlicensed vehicle sales for consumer protection.
Just because there's thousands of illegal drug sales happening on the daily doesn't make it legal by your logic.
I didn't write the laws; if you take issue with the way they're written contact your congressperson, council member, etc. etc.
I cringe at inaccurate information somebody like the OP may take for gospel only to find themselves getting jammed up, or worse, in violation of a misdemeanor.
Do people buy/sell without a license? Obviously.
Is it illegal? Per VC 11700 it is if you fall in to the category of a person "acting" as a dealer; and if you buy and sell a vehicle not registered to you you're in violation of VC 12120. Both chargeable misdemeanors.
Can you buy any vehicle without registering it? Sure; but you SHALL submit transfer and registration documentation per the vehicle code within a specific time frame especially if you intend to operate the vehicle on public roads.
Race bike/vehicle? Nope
Private Farm or ranch bike/vehicle? Nope
OHV or street vehicle of any kind being operated on a public road? You betcha; either green or red sticker or plated with registration.
If YOU want to operate on a less-than-legal level, you do so at your own discretion.
I won't get in to the weeds about the "why" and "how" this is enforced but I have first-hand knowledge and experience so I'd rather information posted in the most-awesomest forum on the earth is accurate versus misleading.
@OP - if you "tinker", then "tinker" but just understand there are some guidelines which, in theory, must be adhered to. If you get your t!t$ in a wringer, call up any one of the highly skilled BARF attorneys to represent you in court and bookmark this thread for your defense. (sarcasm)
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ViperThreat
Well-known member
I've done it pretty regularly over the years. My 2c:
1. You've gotta really find a good deal in order to make anything resembling a profit. Since Covid started, all of the deals seem to have dried up - I'm seeing 15 year old bikes sell for 70% of MSRP.
2. You gotta know what you are getting into - work only on bikes you know inside and out. Working with the same bikes also helps to build up a stockpile of parts. Since I mostly flip GSXRs, I have a good amount of parts in storage now that help me keep my repair costs low.
3. Paint is a profit killer.
4. Chinese parts are often more trouble than they are worth.
5. The used bike market is pretty bumpy. Sometimes there's high demand, other times you'll be sitting on a bike for 6+ months before it sells.
6. Gov Taxes are lame. Paying Tax on buying the bike, only to turn around and sell it a month later burns.
1. You've gotta really find a good deal in order to make anything resembling a profit. Since Covid started, all of the deals seem to have dried up - I'm seeing 15 year old bikes sell for 70% of MSRP.
2. You gotta know what you are getting into - work only on bikes you know inside and out. Working with the same bikes also helps to build up a stockpile of parts. Since I mostly flip GSXRs, I have a good amount of parts in storage now that help me keep my repair costs low.
3. Paint is a profit killer.
4. Chinese parts are often more trouble than they are worth.
5. The used bike market is pretty bumpy. Sometimes there's high demand, other times you'll be sitting on a bike for 6+ months before it sells.
6. Gov Taxes are lame. Paying Tax on buying the bike, only to turn around and sell it a month later burns.
I’ve bought, fixed, and sold some cars over the years when I worked for a shop. I had a couple of coworkers made a killing doing it. I never did. Some people have the knack for it, the art of the deal. You have to be a little ruthless and a wheeler dealer, I think. I always spent too much time and money reconditioning the cars.
mrmarklin
Well-known member
I have a buddy who makes a living out of refurbishing Model A Fords.
The only way he will do business is if you have a car you want done, he will do it an charge accordingly. He will source parts, do the labor etc. These builds typically end up costing the customer upwards of six figures. These vehicles usually have some sort of sentimental value and the people that have this done are obviously well monied.
I asked him about flipping and he said, there's no money in it. The time and effort he would spend on the average vehicle is so much that the consumer would not pay for it.
The only way he will do business is if you have a car you want done, he will do it an charge accordingly. He will source parts, do the labor etc. These builds typically end up costing the customer upwards of six figures. These vehicles usually have some sort of sentimental value and the people that have this done are obviously well monied.
I asked him about flipping and he said, there's no money in it. The time and effort he would spend on the average vehicle is so much that the consumer would not pay for it.
R3DS!X
Whatever that means
I'm more thinking about getting something like this:
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/d/santa-rosa-2013-aprilia-tuono-v4-aprc/7192478685.html
Where it doesn't need much work but with better pictures and a better ad it could sell for way more. I'm pretty sure I could get 8.5-9k from that bike with my photos and ad.
I am just legit concerned that if i bought it i wouldn't sell it :laughing
Or something that is free or almost free and needs some work.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/d/santa-rosa-2013-aprilia-tuono-v4-aprc/7192478685.html
Where it doesn't need much work but with better pictures and a better ad it could sell for way more. I'm pretty sure I could get 8.5-9k from that bike with my photos and ad.
I am just legit concerned that if i bought it i wouldn't sell it :laughing
Or something that is free or almost free and needs some work.
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Aprilia are almost as hard to sell as triumphs
scootergmc
old and slow
I wonder if it has a clean title.
R3DS!X
Whatever that means
Sold my triumph pretty quick.