View Full Version : Pricing your bike to sell
EliteAlex
09-05-18, 11:34 AM
Hi all,
I'm thinking of parting ways with my beloved SV650S. I don't quite know how much to price it for. I want to be fair but obviously don't want to be ripped off.
How should I price it? Is there a website, like there is for cars?
Thanks!
Alex
My first port of call would be https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bikes
You can search for similar bikes, similar condition, similar area etc. The only issue is that you get a list of the ones that haven't sold yet :rolleyes:
EliteAlex
09-05-18, 11:45 AM
Good idea! It's quite difficult as each bike has a different number of modifications!
Would you suggest I simply list it for what I think it's worth and then be prepared to be knocked down on price a bit? It's quite difficult!
Mods aren't worth that much on resale unless they're spectacular and the buyer actually wants them. Stock bikes often command better resale value as they haven't been messed with.
EliteAlex
09-05-18, 02:32 PM
I think i’ll have to hold out the right buyer then, as mines got quite a lot of mods, although all are functional, or purely cosmetic. However all tasteful! Although i would say that haha!
Talking Heads
09-05-18, 02:43 PM
A "completed listings" search on eBay might shed some light.
The harsh reality... any bike is only worth what someone is prepared to pay.
Generally speaking modifications do not tend to add any value and in some cases can make a bike more difficult to sell.
shiftin_gear98
10-05-18, 08:11 AM
You could always list it in the for sale section on here - listing all your mods and a price you think it's worth.
You might just sell it, or in reality peeps on here will comment if it's over priced.
At least we would know what age, mileage, mods, service history, crashes or marks your bike has.
Oh and if it's a naff Curvy, their not worth much at all - Pointy's are better. :smt064
EliteAlex
10-05-18, 08:18 AM
I think that’s probably a good idea. I’ll post it on here once i’ve got a fresh mot on it. Should be tomorrow! It’s also got a brank new tyre on the back, with less than 50 miles on it!
There are a few marks but nothing major! Haha, no its a K8 sport! Not a curvy!
Red Herring
10-05-18, 09:57 AM
My only advice would be that if it's a tidy modded bike you're going to get a better price from someone who is looking at it rather than from someone on the end of a phone. It follows that finding a potential buyer near enough to you for that to happen is key so consider taking some half decent photos of it and putting them on a flyer in your local biker cafe/meeting place, or better still going there and leaving one displayed on the bike itself. Obviously this only works if the bike really does have that initial "wow" factor when people see it, and be super careful about disclosing where the bike is kept until your satisfied they're genuine. If it doesn't actually stand up to close inspection it's sometimes better to have them travel a fair way to see it, that way they've pretty much convinced themselves they want to buy it by the time they arrive so as long it does what you said it did enthusiasm overcomes disappointment......
EliteAlex
10-05-18, 10:55 AM
This whole selling thing is a bit of a minefield! Haha!
So it would appear that i shouldn’t include images of any marks, and just see what the buyer picks up on then?!
Red Herring
10-05-18, 01:41 PM
I don't think anyone buying a ten year old bike is expecting it to be completely blemish free unless you have described it as such. Anything ugly such as a dent in the tank, cracks in the fairing or proper scratches I would expect to see mentioned but otherwise a general "usual wear and tear" covers such things. Like I said, a proper mint bike will sell itself for good money providing someone sees it as such, the problem is getting people to travel a decent distance for a bike advertised for top money because there's always a certain amount of scepticism around it's description/condition.
EliteAlex
10-05-18, 02:14 PM
I would hope that expectations are realistic. I think it a pretty good looking bike. I took it to have the rear tyre replaced and when the fitter rode it round to the bay, i was like, damn it looks good!
I’ll post it for sale tomorrow and see what people come back with.
Thanks for the assistance!
Talking Heads
10-05-18, 02:45 PM
A new tyre doesn't add value but a worn one definitely reduces value ;)
You can walk into a Suzuki dealer with £300 and ride away on a brand new SV.
So your used one needs to be really cheap to compete.
https://bikes.suzuki.co.uk/offers-and-finance/finance-calculator-pcp/?vehicleId=5c515f79-1ca2-420e-acc1-4a11bd5160bc&gradeId=5c515f79-1ca2-420e-acc1-4a11bd5160bc&basePrice=%C2%A35%2C699&FirstPayment=88.78&NoOfPayments=35&FinalOptional=2834&CashPrice=5842&Deposit=200&TotalCredit=5642&PurchaseFee=10&TotalPayable=6230.08&Duration=37&Apr=3&FinanceType=0
garynortheast
10-05-18, 03:56 PM
Oh and if it's a naff Curvy, their not worth much at all - Pointy's are better. :smt064
Heretic! Burn the heretic!! :-D
EliteAlex
10-05-18, 07:06 PM
A new tyre doesn't add value but a worn one definitely reduces value ;)
You can walk into a Suzuki dealer with £300 and ride away on a brand new SV.
So your used one needs to be really cheap to compete.
https://bikes.suzuki.co.uk/offers-and-finance/finance-calculator-pcp/?vehicleId=5c515f79-1ca2-420e-acc1-4a11bd5160bc&gradeId=5c515f79-1ca2-420e-acc1-4a11bd5160bc&basePrice=%C2%A35%2C699&FirstPayment=88.78&NoOfPayments=35&FinalOptional=2834&CashPrice=5842&Deposit=200&TotalCredit=5642&PurchaseFee=10&TotalPayable=6230.08&Duration=37&Apr=3&FinanceType=0
Yeah, i agree they do some good deals but if someone wanted a new bike they wouldn’t even be considering a bike like mine! Again, i think it depends on the person. I won’t ever buy anything on finance, where others won’t do it any other way.
This whole selling thing is a bit of a minefield! Haha!
So it would appear that i shouldn’t include images of any marks, and just see what the buyer picks up on then?!
Bit of advice...I've never EVER struggled to sell a bike for the same as, if not more than I bought it for. How do I do this....
I basically go into extremely granular detail about everything, from any quirks, noises, marks and issues, through to all the positives of the bike.
People want honesty. Most are happy to take something with issues/marks as long as they're clearly stated and the bike is priced accordingly, to allow them some wiggle room to fix it.
Obvious one: Clean the bike, thoroughly, before taking pics. Even get at the shock linkage and what not, take pics of it, lots of up close pics, lots of 5 yard pics. etc.
If it's due a service, do it. It'll cost you (assuming you do it, rather than a garage) all of £50-£60 and an afternoon, but you'll easily be able to command an additional £100 for it being done. People, again, want honesty and the ability to simply ride something away without worrying about the oil and filters. Also refresh the brake fluid, 20 minute job for those who are remotely logical.
A new tyre doesn't add value but a worn one definitely reduces value ;)
You can walk into a Suzuki dealer with £300 and ride away on a brand new SV.
So your used one needs to be really cheap to compete.
https://bikes.suzuki.co.uk/offers-and-finance/finance-calculator-pcp/?vehicleId=5c515f79-1ca2-420e-acc1-4a11bd5160bc&gradeId=5c515f79-1ca2-420e-acc1-4a11bd5160bc&basePrice=%C2%A35%2C699&FirstPayment=88.78&NoOfPayments=35&FinalOptional=2834&CashPrice=5842&Deposit=200&TotalCredit=5642&PurchaseFee=10&TotalPayable=6230.08&Duration=37&Apr=3&FinanceType=0
£400 for the belly pan :cool:
Yeah, bargain.
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