Advice on selling a bike?

[placidfemme]

In December I'll be looking at selling my ZXR to fund my R6, but I have some questions on whats the best method... as I've never sold a vehicle before.

My bike was written off and is now road legal again.

So when I come to sell the bike, do I have to state the bike was a write off and then fixed? Would that reduce the value of the bike, even if its returned to pretty much the same condition, if not better becuase it has new parts.

Would showing a dyno run report with the sale ad help any?

I've kept all the reciepts for EVERYTHING I've brought for the bike... should i list all the new/fixed parts?

Thanks

[MSTRS]

Don't think you need to mention it. BUT, if asked (anything) you must answer honestly. Of course, the unethical thing to do would be to pretend you know nothing.

[iwilde]

Best to be straight up and honest about it being crashed, dont think it would be much of an issue as most of those bikes have gone down at some stage due to being a great learners bike. The more reciepts and info you have on the bike the better. Also be very carefull about letting people go on test rides, and it may sound sexist, but have a big bloke hanging around so they don't try and talk to much shit. Good luck, btw I've had great success with trademe.

[placidfemme]

Thanks... If they want to test ride should I ask for some kind of deposit or anything? How can I protect myself again them (A) just riding off with my bike or (B) crashing my bike while test riding it or (C) getting a fine while test riding my bike?

Of course I will check that they have a current license...

[adiddy]

you getting an r PF??
LET ME know when you get urs because im getting one toooo:rockon:

[placidfemme]

you getting an r PF??
LET ME know when you get urs because im getting one toooo:rockon:

Yeah I'm going to call and book my full license test for Dec 16th or close to if I can. I don't see any reason why I'd fail, and then once I've passed I wanna sell the ZXR and buy the R6 :)

So hopefully I'll be riding an R6 in Dec or early next year (all depends on my xmas payout... otherwise I'll have to spend some more time saving lol)

[adiddy]

lol, yerr ill be around april next year i think
no harm in waiting prices will drop

[Jimmy B]

Hi Placidfemme,

I have recently purchased a bike and my experience maybe of some use:

If you allow someone to test ride then you must sight their license. Also check to see if your insurance policy will honour a claim in the event the unnamed additional rider has an accident. If they do then perhaps the prospective buyer should leave you with sufficient deposit to cover your excess etc. Up to you and your appetite for risk.

Some people will not allow test rides but are quite happy to pillion the buyer,
Again up to you, its your bike.

In the case of my new bike I agreed a price subject to inspection and made out a bank cheque in favour of the vendor. His insurance would not cover an additional rider so he had no comfort that I would make good if I went down during the test ride. I gave him the bank cheque in exchange for the bike. If I was happy he kept the cheque if I was not happy he would give it back.

I wasn’t expecting any monkey business but I took my father and law along with me. Always handy if the situation turns into a he said she said etc. So good earlier suggestion by iwilde.

Hope this helps and good luck

JB

[MSTRS]

PF - it's often better to just trade at the dealers. Sure, you get less than for private sale, but you may be surprised at what the dealer offers, and it removes all the risks you mentioned.

[placidfemme]

I don't think my insurance would cover someone else riding my bike... they gave me grief just putting Sam on the policy as an additional rider... they didn't want to do it... and took about 6 calls to get it done...

By the sounds of things I don't want people to do test rides, but then personally I wouldn't buy a bike i couldn't test ride... so I'm pretty torn on that...

[Paul in NZ]

This is good

http://www.buyausedmotorcycle.com/selling_a_used_motorcycle.htm

Personally I would be VERY wary of anyone that calls you from a pre paid mobile and won't give you a land line number for you to call back on. I'd be very wary of someone that wants to come to your place to look at it as well.

Arrange to meet them someplace, offer to take them for a ride as a pillion and if they insist on riding it, make sure you have their car keys etc. Under no circustances let someone take it for a ride if they turned up in a taxi etc with a helmet. You will probably NOT be insured for theft because you gave them the keys!!!

Having a friend with you at the veiwing helps. They are not so tied up with the deal and are better observers of dodgy intent.

To sell the bike, make sure you sweeten the deal, in the ideal world, both people walk away thinking they got a deal! Maybe a full tank of gas, a fuel voucher, a few spares or something else will help if something goes wrong. Above all, make sure it is groomed withion an inch of it's life. The purchaser my never clean it again or care but 99 times out of 100 a really clean bike gets a higher price.

Most of all - price it realistically. You either want to sell it or you are just putting it on display. Bikes get advertised for all sorts of prices but find out what they sell for and be prepared to accept a realistic price.

Hope that helped

[The_Dover]

i'm always wary of pre paid mobiles anyway.

they are for poor people (that can't be trusted) and drug dealers(that usually can, as long as you've got the cash).

[Jimmy B]

Yeah I wouldnt buy a bike without a test either so is a bit tricky, all I know as a serious buyer was that I was prepared to leave something of value with the vendor as "insurance". Really the test ride was the last to do item so I had basically made up my mind to buy it if that panned out OK, In this case I was happy to leave the full payment behind, maybe you should be thinking along these lines - will at least sort out the test pilots i.e. show me the money and then you ride

Forgot to mention that I had also arranged short term insurance cover in the event that I did bin it so both the Vendor and I would not lose out.

By the way R6 phwoaar, nice bike

JB

[placidfemme]

Thanks for the link Paul in Nz :)

I thought of selling through a dealer... but I want a slightly higher price (private sale) so I don't have to save as much when I buy the R6.

As for sweetening the deal... I'm prepared to sell the pack rack and pack with the bike, along with a cover and a chain (cover and chain are spares since Sam doesn't have a bike anymore), a spare brand new 48 tooth sprocket, and a spare (scratched) engine cover thingy... And depending on how hard it proves to sell I may even throw in a free alarm (not installed). Bike will also be sold with current WOF/Rego.

Depending on how my finances go over the next two months the bike will also be painted and have a gold racing chain added :)

~~

As for test rides... All veiwings will be from my place of work, not my home (cause then i can time it right and have my boss present...) and if I decide to let them test ride... I'm thinking I'd have to feel pretty confident with the buyer/tester

[Jimmy B]

"As for test rides... All veiwings will be from my place of work, not my home (cause then i can time it right and have my boss present...) and if I decide to let them test ride... I'm thinking I'd have to feel pretty confident with the buyer/tester"

Sounds pretty good. I have a boat in Mangawhai that is hired out to punters for fishing and diving so go through this most weeks and essentially it really comes down to the gut feel as to whether or not they can take it e.g. the car load of hoons with crates clinking in the boot are unlikely to get out but the Guy who turns up with his family or mates and seems upfront is more than welcome. Only been let down once and that wasnt too major

[GR81]

will your feet reach the ground on an R6? hehe :D

[placidfemme]

will your feet reach the ground on an R6? hehe :D

lol I'm sure they will :)

[James Deuce]

My advice would be to begin the sale process now. It always takes longer to sell something than you expect, and I'm the only person I know who has bought a brand new bike on Christmas Eve.

[Macktheknife]

Another option for test rides is to have someone else on a bike to 'escort' the potential buyer around a pre-arranged route, they ride lead and monitor the behaviour of the rider. I have done this for others and it works well. You also make it clear to the buyer that if they drop it they bought it for full price, it pays to hold a deposit while the test is on.

[James Deuce]

it pays to hold a deposit while the test is on.

Minimum of 2/3rds the value of the bike, IN CASH. No credit card numbers, no cheque, bank or personal.

[adiddy]

or they give you a liscene, keys to their vehicle etc...

[NotaGoth]

Keys to their vehicle is something I have seen done.... When mum went to look at a car (my car) she left her car, *cough* and me with the seller....

How much are you going to be asking for your bike PF..?

[placidfemme]

Keys to their vehicle is something I have seen done.... When mum went to look at a car (my car) she left her car, *cough* and me with the seller....

How much are you going to be asking for your bike PF..?

lol your mom left "you"... and she came back? Thats a good sign! :)

I'm not sure on what I want for the bike. It has a list of modifications... not huge ones... and will be freshly painted and come with some extras when i sell it...

I paid $5000 for it, so I'm not really prepared to get less than that. it has a full aftermarket header/pipe system on it (those who have ridden with me will can tell you that it doesn't sound like a 250...), braided brake lines in pearl white, a rev limiter (or de-limiter... whatever its called)...

So yeah..... basically $5000 will be my reserve price.

[JeremyW]

I have test riden a few bike recently and I havent had any problems with people letting me go on test rides. I think it because I have been totally honest, turning up in my car, handing them keys and whatever else and if possible having someone else there.

What would be a good thing to do is say to potential buyers who are coming is that they need to have a deposit, bring someone else and leave car keys with you if they want a test ride.

Buying is a lot about trust, I think I would feel pretty sour if someone said they wouldnt let me test ride the bike or offered to pillion me, plently of bikes out there, and especially if you are asking a highish price. Dont want to go losing potential buyers....

Also a good idea to run down the basics with them, irrelevent of how experienced they may seem. :)

Just my 2c worth from my experiences. I hope the sale goes sweet, you have picked the best time of year to sell a bike :)

[Ixion]

One wee problem, since it is a 250, odds are a fair proportion of your market will be beginners. I experienced this when disposing of Li'l Ratty (:cry: I miss the little fella. Oh well, at least he went to a good home). So you get people wanting a test ride who either have no licence at all, or a learners and, plainly, no experience at all. Worse in your case since the ZXR is going to attract the "Godda be FAST FAST FAST" young fellows with huge balls , loads of testosterone, but little skill and less sense.

Dunno about your insurance, but might be an idea to have an L plate handy ?

[placidfemme]

One wee problem, since it is a 250, odds are a fair proportion of your market will be beginners. I experienced this when disposing of Li'l Ratty (:cry: I miss the little fella. Oh well, at least he went to a good home). So you get people wanting a test ride who either have no licence at all, or a learners and, plainly, no experience at all. Worse in your case since the ZXR is going to attract the "Godda be FAST FAST FAST" young fellows with huge balls , loads of testosterone, but little skill and less sense.

Dunno about your insurance, but might be an idea to have an L plate handy ?

I think I threw my L plate away, but I'm sure I can get one easily enough...

I will not be letting anyone test ride the bike without a current Bike license (even if its just a learner), if they don't have a license I will ask them to bring a friend or someone who can ride to test the bike. Unfortunaltey I can't do the pillion thing, as of yet I've never riden with a pillion (I'm still on my restricted... and I'm trying hard to be law abiding lol).

[placidfemme]

My advice would be to begin the sale process now. It always takes longer to sell something than you expect, and I'm the only person I know who has bought a brand new bike on Christmas Eve.


Thats a good idea... but I want to sell the bike with the new paint job... otherwise it'll look shit and won't get as good a price... Also if I decide to get the bike painted soon (like say in the next 2-3 weeks) then I'll have to dip into my savings for my citizenship (and Sam will shit all over me lol), plus i'm terrible with money... if I sell the bike now, and I have the money in my account... it won't be enough to buy the R6 right away, and I may get tempted to spend it lol

Also... one last thing... I'll need my 250 to sit my full license on... and the earliest I can sit my full is on Dec 16th (which is a Saturday so more likey I'll be sitting it on the 18th)... So I'm thinking of listing it from the 11th Dec...

I don't know... theres a lot to consider... hense why I'm asking for advice...

[R6_kid]

Not sure on the legality of things, but i've always just said what i know.

As for selling it, if you go the trademe way set it as no reserve for the price you want (reasonable) or that you know you can get it for, and then have a buy now as the most YOU would pay for it that way you'll be happy no matter the outcome.

[jim.cox]

There is also the Yankee way of handling the test ride thing.

They buy subject to satfisfactory test ride

That is: you get the money before they ride

And if they dont like it, you give the money back

You might even want to transfer the rego too depending on how paranoid you are about revenue cameras etc

Jim

=mjc=
.

[placidfemme]

Not sure on the legality of things, but i've always just said what i know.

As for selling it, if you go the trademe way set it as no reserve for the price you want (reasonable) or that you know you can get it for, and then have a buy now as the most YOU would pay for it that way you'll be happy no matter the outcome.

Some like...

Starting bid $4500
Reserve: $5000
Buy now: $5500

??

[LilSel]

If your worried bout letting people test ride bike incase of like taking off...
You could always just use mine n follow them??
I dont mind helping out family :)

[placidfemme]

If your worried bout letting people test ride bike incase of like taking off...
You could always just use mine n follow them??
I dont mind helping out family :)

Sweet thanks :)

Would it be possible that on the rare chance that I sell it before my full test that I can borrow yours?

[R6_kid]

Some like...

Starting bid $4500
Reserve: $5000
Buy now: $5500

??

nope, set reserve and start bid the same, at the price you would want to pay for your bike, the buy now is the most you would pay for it. The CBR/ZXR 250 market is so fucked now i wouldnt know what a reasonable price is.

I sold my '89 model for $3750 with a new paint job, new tyres and a CF pipe. Had about 48,000km on it i think. To be honest that was probably a bit cheap but i didnt bother putting it on trademe so that was my loss. I would have put it on trademe for $3900 S=R then had buy now at around $4700

Also dont get emotional/pushy about getting the R6, you want the best offer you can for your bike, not the first one thats gonna get you closer to the R6 - another thing that i did that i kick myself about.

[placidfemme]

nope, set reserve and start bid the same, at the price you would want to pay for your bike, the buy now is the most you would pay for it. The CBR/ZXR 250 market is so fucked now i wouldnt know what a reasonable price is.

I sold my '89 model for $3750 with a new paint job, new tyres and a CF pipe. Had about 48,000km on it i think. To be honest that was probably a bit cheap but i didnt bother putting it on trademe so that was my loss. I would have put it on trademe for $3900 S=R then had buy now at around $4700

Also dont get emotional/pushy about getting the R6, you want the best offer you can for your bike, not the first one thats gonna get you closer to the R6 - another thing that i did that i kick myself about.

Sweet...

I know the average "private" sale price for the ZXR "C" models are about $5000, from a dealer your looking at $5500 to $6500.

Mine a 92 model with 32,000K's. However my speedo is showing 37,000K's due to my new instruments... I need to take my old set and my new set into Robinson Instruments so they can turn my new one back to the correct milage for my bike (will cost about $250)

[LilSel]

Would it be possible that on the rare chance that I sell it before my full test that I can borrow yours?

Of course :D

[Squeak the Rat]

I'm with the Jims.

Most people know what sort of bike they want, and a test ride is just to make sure everythings behaving ok.

Tell noobs to go test ride some bikes at a dealer.

No test rides until cash is handed over. Sale is conditional on satisfactory test ride assuming bike is returned in one piece.

Taking some ones car keys doesn't mean jack. If I crash your bike you can't just keep my car. It means I owe you a new bike, but I'm on a benefit so it'll take 10 years to pay off.....

[Satch]

nope, set reserve and start bid the same, at the price you would want to pay for your bike, the buy now is the most you would pay for it. The CBR/ZXR 250 market is so fucked now i wouldnt know what a reasonable price is.

I sold my '89 model for $3750 with a new paint job, new tyres and a CF pipe. Had about 48,000km on it i think. To be honest that was probably a bit cheap but i didnt bother putting it on trademe so that was my loss. I would have put it on trademe for $3900 S=R then had buy now at around $4700

Also dont get emotional/pushy about getting the R6, you want the best offer you can for your bike, not the first one thats gonna get you closer to the R6 - another thing that i did that i kick myself about.

Yeh hes right ive sold 10's of bike on trade me now with all but one being 250's Theyve mostly been CBR's , ZXR's and gsx's. about 90% sold without a single relist!!

R6_Kid is also right that the market for 250's is fukd up , they go for silly money! (suits me, just sold one! another on the way)

Take some real nice pics by the water (image is everything) give it a good well worded add, and ask for what you want for it i mean top dollar minus a bit and if its a decent sound bike itll sell just like that.

also when it comes to buying your next bike take your time and save yourself some money

hope this helps