Why is the 2nd hand bike market so flat?

[MD]

Looking for some feedback here peoples. Seems to me that there's a glut of 2nd hand bikes and very few are moving out of the shops or selling privately.
Is it just a winter thing? Or is it as I suspect that new bikes have been getting cheaper over the past couple of years, so more buyers are leaning towards buying new these days.
Being as I got myself stuck with two bikes in a moment of weakness. Ok so it was an idiot moment, but atleast I was a very happy idiot. I've been keeping an eye on the shops and private selling- as ya do when ya trying to sell a bike and sweet bugger all late model bikes are moving. I'm talking 1 to 4 year old bikes here. The sort that were usually snapped us as 'one owner' bargains compared to buying new. Seen some bikes ridiculously over priced in shops that I just can't see them shifting. I feel for the shops (neat, a place to use a new smilely) because, excuse the pun, we ride on the back of their survival as a business.
I'm not losing sleep over it but I have to get rid of one bike sooner rather than later so it's time to let depreciation screw me over and decide which one goes.
If anyone can still follow the drift of my rambling late night post I'd like to hear what some of you think about the second hand bike market at present.

[Da Bird]

Would have to agree with you that it seems slow but that is just my observations with browsing through the Trade Me bikes for sale. Seem to be a lot on there that have been there a while.

Having said that, there is a bargain or two to be had from the desperate (the desperate ones selling that is) ... one even had a $1.00 reserve (GS1200 I think).

[Beemer]

I feel your pain, MD, I'm in the same situation myself! Bought the BMW new three years ago but never quite got used to the seat width/height and weight so it's now up for sale. Had one guy very keen but he wants to sell one of his 14 (yes, 14!) bikes first, so no joy as yet. And then BMW NZ went and dumped about 16 of the same model on the market at about two thirds of the price I'd paid for mine. That means that NEW ones are selling for what I want for mine. Thankfully the ones they are selling don't have ABS, heated grips, etc. (one did and it sold very quickly), but it still makes people question the asking price I have on mine.

I did ask about it being sold on behalf but was told the bike shop would want between $1500 and $2000 - more if they had to take another bike as a trade-in. So that idea went out the window! So far I've spent about $100 on advertising but am still paying $65 a month insurance for a bike I don't use.

I'm hoping it's just a winter thing and in a few months it will sell - there have been a couple of reasonable nibbles in the past week, so I've got my fingers crossed.

[James Deuce]

I'm looking at getting an older bike as a commuter, thanks to petrol price increases (keep the R6 for the weekend ), and there is a huge amount of low mileage mid-80s to mid-90s bikes going for a song. GS500s, VF500s, BMW R65s, XJ600s and the like. I'm still gathering funds, but stuff just turns over and gets relisted on Trademe and Bikepoint, week after week after week.

I don't think it is just the top end stuff suffering.

[mstriumph]

i'm after a naked or semi-naked late model streetbike tourer 600 or above and would GLADLY look at a pre-loved if there were any such decent here in the dealers i've visited over the past three weekends in perth .....................

am having to look new --------- i'm not too bothered since i normally keep bikes a longish time BUT it makes it an expensive exercise. Am resigned to having to sell the triumph privately as its really an enthusiasts bike
and i'd get jack as a trade in.

mebbe i should come back to nz

[Brian d marge]

I can supply a few rumours from this end of the water ,,,,Firstly what is being bought at auction and shipped to NZ isnt sh't ,,they are/tend to be resonable ..hence command a price ( as the uk . australia and Europe are all after the same things )
Secondly there is a big company here am not sure of the name ) but has a lot of buyers for bike causing the auction price to artificially inflate ,,,

third ,,,late eighties bike are in demand here ,,see things like Z1 ..H1 super dreams ,,yup wet dreams here cost a fortune ..so ( Maybe a few people are restoring and selling )

But yeah I know the market here is being driven pushing up the prices ,,which would make new bikes attractive ,,,

( did I mention you can get a New Enfield for 7k approx ...does 100 km/h... can over take that pesky old biddy from the Glee club ...)

[Flyingpony]

Not sure about flat, but it's definitely very expensive.

Compared 2nd hand bikes of 10+yrs to those new and find they're too expensive. Some are also approaching end of life or a major repair yet their price is so high.

What I'm looking for a short-term cheap bike with a couple summers worth of weekend runs and a few brass monkeys in it. Not much to ask for is it?

Once I've learnt handling on that bigger cc bike, I'll make my next brand new purchase after deciding what I want in my next bike from that experience. I'd hate to buy a big cc bike today without knowing how they handle (single, v-twin, inline 4, sport, cruiser) and heavens Betty crashing it promptly from the sudden jump in HP/Torque.

Currently feeling market around 500cc size but there's nearly nothing selling around $750 with rego plate and in WOF condition.