Questions about selling a used bike

[ex-walker]

I bought my son a bike last year, so we could ride together (02 kawi zr-7) but he moved to Seattle a few months ago,so now I guess I am going to sell it.
1st questions. The bike looks and runs good, but has a pretty good dent in the tank. I am thinking that brings the price down about $500 less than what it might be worth. Thoughts ?
2nd questions. I have never used CL. What are some of the do' s and don'ts when placing a CL ad.

Thanks

 

[motomania2007]

Lots of threads on this but, if the bike is pretty clean, other than the dent, then it won't affect price too much unless it is a big, ugly dent. Small dents on a 16 year old bike are expected.

 

[Gary856]

Put yourself in buyers’ shoes. What questions would you have on a used bike? Answer them preemptively. Typically: asking price, year, mileage, title status, registration due date, ownership history, maintenance history, damages and repairs history, running condition, tire mileage/condition, reasons for selling, etc.

Also, include clear photos from different directions (12-2-4-6-8-10 o’clock), plus photos of the dash to show mileage, and any damage.

 

[ScottRNelson]

I have never used CL. What are some of the do' s and don'ts when placing a CL ad.

Expect approximately half of the people who contact you to be flakes. It's annoying when you say you'll hold it until someone can come see it then they don't show. Make sure you get a number to call them back too. I remember putting a Ducati Monster up for sale and someone was going to come look at it, then my neighbor down the street said that he wanted it and I had no way to contact the guy who was going to come. Fortunately he called before leaving and I told him I already had a buyer. He wasn't too happy about that. He probable classified me as a flake that time. :laughing

Otherwise, just put all of the information you think a buyer would want to see in the ad. I tend to have a lot of information when I sell a bike. Do a search here on BARF for "Ducati" in the subject line and me as the original poster for a couple of examples. When I put my KTM up for sale it will have a similar amount of information. Hopefully that one can get sold here and I won't have to resort to Craigslist and the additional hassles of dealing with potential buyers there.

 

[Marcoose]

Expect approximately half of the people who contact you to be flakes.

And half of the other half to be low-ballers.

 

[GPzPop]

Jesse, what are you thinking of asking for it?

teh BARF has classifieds with a marginally less flake percentage than CL

--Simon

 

[ex-walker]

Hey Scott, hope all is well.
Thanks guys for the info. I hate selling stuff and dealing with the flakes, but with carbs I don't want it sitting around to long

 

[ex-walker]

Hey Simon. I was thinking about starting at $2000
If I can figure out how to post pictures, I will list it on barf.

 

[norcalkid]

On CL I found most of the flakes were too lazy to call, just sent a will you accept XXXX$ text. Most people I actually spoke with and arranged to meet were legit buyers(my last car and bike).

EDIT: My biggest concern is the test drive/ride. I make them pull out license and show me, I state this in the add. Last bike I sold was to a complete newbee who brought a licensed friend to test ride it and he actually rode it home for the kid.

 

[Gary856]

I hate selling stuff and dealing with the flakes

I don't find it too bad selling on CL. A friend hates it so much he asked if I would sell his RT for him for 10% of the selling price of ~$8k. Tempting, except I don't have the garage space to house and show his bike.

 

[Butch]

I won’t let anyone I don’t know test drive. Bad things can happen.

They can buy it, test it, and have a refund if they don’t like it.

 

[GPzPop]

Hey Simon. I was thinking about starting at $2000
If I can figure out how to post pictures, I will list it on barf.

posting pix is easy peasy

you can resize ( to smaller) by emailing the pix to yourself from phone to computer

when you post, at the bottom of the page is “manage attachments” button

select file to download, down load it , close the pop up window, and set your cursor where you want the pic to be and good to go

test it out in the “test “sub forum to perfect the steps

good luck!

 

[norcalkid]

I won’t let anyone I don’t know test drive. Bad things can happen.

They can buy it, test it, and have a refund if they don’t like it.

And there's the problem W selling bikes. Guys don't want to allow test ride and I won't buy w/o a test ride. I have only had one guy not allow a test ride when I showed up to buy a bike. I basically said this is what I'm willing to pay for the bike(we agreed on price), I understand if you don't want to allow a test ride. No problem, if that's the case I'll buy it without test ride after a full pre purchase inspection at the local shop at your expense(around a hundred bucks)(they do ride it). He didn't agree to an inspection or a test ride, red flags went off and I walked.

I think you gota protect yourself(liability), he's over 18, has a license, wearing legal helmet, has cash on him, etc. But unfortunately allowing a test ride is a necessary part of buying and selling bikes. I also think there's a little buyer evaluation that comes into play. Am I guna hand the keys over to an idiot vs what appears to be a responsible professional that's licensed, has his own gear and cash in hand.

I would never hand over 1-10k cash to a stranger and expect a refund if test ride didn't go well.

 

[Schnellbandit]

Did your son enjoy riding the bike and having some good time with pops? Depending on his age, woukd have been a great time to have him do the legwork to sell it and gain experience and knowledge for that aspect of motorcycle ownership.

I buy more than a few bikes a year and here are things that make.me pass on if they aren't in the ad.

No service records or reciepts for maintenance items. To me, no reciepts means it wasn't done, don't care about the story.

No OEM parts for things taken off.

Tracked bikes - sorry

Ran when stored. Dude, go out and start the damn thing, change the oil first.

Ad says it looks good and I get there and it has dings and dents and then seller wants to say thats normal for a bike that is 10 years old. No it is not and I've bought enough bikes 20 years old that look like new, don't need your beater.

The next major service is due. You probabaly added oil just to sell it.

No current registration and/or no title.

You love the bike and don't care if you sell it. Good for you, keep it.

No mileage stated. There is a reason it isn't stated, probably because it was never serviced or maintained properly.

You dropped it and tell me parts are only $35. Fine, then for $35 put the parts on it.

Yeah, nit picky but then the seller wants someone's money and they want to be rid of the bike.

 

[fubar929]

I would never hand over 1-10k cash to a stranger and expect a refund if test ride didn't go well.

Exactly! There's no way I'd buy a used bike without test-riding, so when I'm selling bikes I expect the same. That said, I don't let random people test-ride my bikes. I want people to show up with an M1, gear, and cash in hand before I allow a test-ride. I generally spend 20-30 minutes talking to people and getting to know them before I let them on my bike. In my experience, it's pretty easy to spot people who are likely to be a problem and send them on their way without a ride...

 

[ScottRNelson]

I won’t let anyone I don’t know test drive. Bad things can happen.

This is an issue I'll have to deal with soon when I put my KTM up for sale. Anybody that shows up on a motorcycle wearing proper gear will probably get a test ride. And anybody who shows up in a car but has full riding gear that looks to have been used a bit by them will probably get a test ride.

Anybody else will probably get to ride on the back of it as I show them how well it runs shifts and brakes with me at the controls.

For any test rides, I'll probably follow along on my XR650L.


I've had very few people refuse to let me test ride a bike. Especially when I've shown up on another motorcycle.

 

[Marcoose]

I would never hand over 1-10k cash to a stranger and expect a refund if test ride didn't go well.

Same here. I don't turn up at the seller's with $10K in my pockets. If I like the vehicle, I'll go to an ATM.

OP, if you don't yet have a purchase and sale agreement, shoot a PM and I'll share mine. It's just one page and catches most common problems with selling a vehicle.

 

[Marcoose]

I don't let random people test-ride my bikes.

You only advertise among friends or at least acquaintances?

 

[ScottRNelson]

Same here. I don't turn up at the seller's with $10K in my pockets. If I like the vehicle, I'll go to an ATM.

I would like to find an ATM that will let me take out $10K. The best I can get is three hundred bucks.

 

[Marcoose]

I would like to find an ATM that will let me take out $10K. The best I can get is three hundred bucks.

That indeed is a problem (for you). Some ATMs put a limit on withdrawals, withdrawals per day, withdrawals per day per card, sometimes it's the bank that imposes that limit, sometimes it's your personal setting, and then combinations of all these things. I can withdraw up to my balance, and once buying a bike in San Jose, the ATM limit was $3K. I went to the next ATM and withdrew the rest.

But neither here or there. Building expectations and creating barriers for buyers can result in a prolonged selling experience.