The Ultimate Guide to Selling Your Motorcycle

Owning a motorcycle is the best feeling in the world, but having to sell your motorcycle is a different story. It is tough to have to sell your beloved motorcycle and you definitely want to get the best deal for it. Selling a motorcycle can be challenging because there are a lot of steps you must take to get the best deal, but it doesn’t have to be if you are prepared for it. Here is the ultimate guide to selling your motorcycle.

Get the Paperwork Ready:

Before you decide to sell your motorcycle, it is important that you have all of its paperwork ready. The last thing you want is to have missing paperwork and your potential buyer decided to not go through with the sale. Here is a list of the must-have paperwork needed to sell your motorcycle:

The Motorcycle’s Title - this pink slip is required to prove ownership and officially transfer the vehicle
Bill of Sale / Sale Agreement - this is what establishes the sale's conditions
Check with your lender - if you still owe money on your vehicle’s loan you must call the lender to see how you can arrange the sell
Check with the DMV to see what paperwork is required transfer ownership
Vehicle Test Drive Agreement - if you are going to let possible buyers test drive the motorcycle, have them sign an agreement first to protect yourself

Fix Minor Repairs:

If you want to get the best value for your motorcycle, you need to make sure the bike is prepped. There are a lot of minor and inexpensive maintenance jobs you can do to your motorcycle to make it look better to potential buyers and sell the bike a lot quicker. Here is a list of minor repairs you can do to your motorcycle before putting it for sale:

Adjust chain tension and rear tire alignment-
Adjust throttle, brake and clutch play
Replace any burnt out or malfunctioning light bulbs
Replace any missing screws, bolts, and nuts
Repair anything that is broken that is easily visible and inexpensively replaceable
Change brake fluid
Test the battery and replace if it has trouble staying over 12 volts
Clean/replace the engine air filter
Check brake pads & rotor condition
Inspect tires to see if they need to be replaced

Give the Bike a Good Wash:

You want your motorcycle to look its best when you are selling it. Before you make any advertising ads, make sure you prepare your motorcycle to be seen by many potential buyers. A must-do when selling your motorcycle is giving it a deep clean. Make sure you clean the hard to reach areas you normally would not clean. Here is a list of must-clean areas on a motorcycle to make sure it is squeaky clean to be put up for sale.

Clean under the seat where dirt may accumulate
Scrub battery terminals to remove any buildup
Remove any rust from chrome or metal parts
Buff our any scratched on the motorcycle
Clean off any tar spots
Wax the motorcycle
Clean the chain, engine, wheels, and body of the bike, including the seat
Remove scuff and boot marks
Polish any chrome pieces to make the bike shine

Take Great Photos of the Bike:

Taking great photos of a bike before posting them on any advertising site is super important because you want the bike to look its best. The photos must be clear and not too dark or washed out. The beauty is in the pictures so make sure you provide several photos from various angles such as each side and the front and back of the bike. If the bike has any damage, make sure you take clear pictures of that too so that potential buyers have a realistic idea of what you are selling.

Assess Your Motorcycles Value:

Once you have the motorcycle prepped and ready to go, you must determine its value. Although the motorcycle may be in good condition, imperfections like dents, scratches, or a high mileage can affect its value. Do some research and compare the value of similar bikes in your region. If your motorcycle is custom, it might be a little more difficult to determine a resale value because there are no similar bikes like yours. We recommend you check out the NADA Guide on our website to value your motorcycle. It’s really simple to use and you will get an idea of what your motorcycle is worth.

Advertise Your Motorcycle:

Once you determine the resale value of your motorcycle, it is time to advertise it. There are so many different online websites you can post your motorcycle on like eBay, Cycle Trader, Craigslist, Offer Up, Let go, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and much more. When you post the ad, make sure to include the year, make, model, mileage, and asking price of the motorcycle. Make sure to describe the motorcycle exactly how it is and include any issues the motorcycle may have. Potential buyers want to know everything there is to know about the motorcycle so make sure you are not hiding anything.

Insider Tip: Ask friends and family to share your advertising posts to expand the audience that sees your ad

Look out for Potential Scammers:

Although you may be super excited to sell your bike, be aware of potential online scammers. You will notice that about 10 to 50% of the messages you will receive are scams. Always look out for red flags when speaking to potential buyers. If people contact you with unnecessary and excessive information, bad grammar, odd methods of payment, or wanting the whole selling process to be done immediately are all red flags to look out for.

Make Time to Meet With Potential Buyers:

If potential buyers want to meet to test drive the motorcycle, you must arrange a time that works for their schedule even if it means rearranging your own schedule. For protection purposes, it is a good idea to meet buyers at a public place instead of your own home. Some buyers might want to test ride the bike before making the purchase so make sure the rider has a motorcycle license and that you keep something from them in case they decide to ride off.

Sell It to a Dealer:

If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of putting your motorcycle on different internet ads and having to wait for potential buyers to contact you, it would be a great idea to sell your motorcycle to a dealer. Many motorcycle dealers buy motorcycles from their customers. Here at Bert’s Mega Mall, we specialize in buying used vehicles all over the world. If you have a used motorcycle that you are considering in selling or trading in, please bring it to the experts at Bert's!

Accept the Best Offer:

Once you find the right buyer for your motorcycle, it is time to make the sale official. Make sure to create a bill of sale that includes the new owner’s name and contact information. Give the new owner of the motorcycle the keys, the title of the bike, the owner’s manual, and any maintenance records they might need. Remove the license plate and make sure to keep the registration card for the motorcycle. Make sure to let the buyer know that the sale is FINAL and that you are not responsible for any issues that might come up in the future.

Conclusion:

Selling your beloved motorcycle can be difficult, but selling it the right way will not only make the process a lot easier but also get you the best deal for it. Before you decide to post any odd on it online, make sure the bike is completely prepped with the right maintenance repairs and a deep wash. Once you are set with a price, post the best photos of the bike online and wait for potential buyers to contact you. If you follow every step, your motorcycle will be sold in no time.

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