Do you have a motorcycle to sell? This guide will take you through all the steps to help you get the best price and do it right the first time. The steps below will apply to an individual trying to sell a motorcycle you no longer, a motorcycle you fixed up and are selling for profit, or a dealership trying to improve sales.
Selling a motorcycle isn’t particularly hard to do, but it isn’t for everyone. Before we dive into the process let’s take a breather and look at all the issues so you can decide if selling a motorcycle is something you want to do. If the answer is no, then there are ways to enlist friends, family, or a professional to help you out.
Is this for me?
Individual sellers fall into three different camps, figure out which description best describes you, 1) Flippers who are fixing up bikes to sell for a profit, 2) Owners looking to buy a different bike, 3) Owners who have one or more bikes they no longer need. Dealers are usually pretty good at selling their inventory, but even the best dealers can fine tune their sales to increase revenues.
Flippers
If you’re fixing bikes to sell, then you by default have all the abilities required.
Owners buying a different bike
If you own a motorcycle and are just looking to get the bike sold so that you can buy a new bike or just something different, you may or may not want to sell your motorcycle directly to the buyer. Many of the steps below will still apply to you, but if you’re buying a new bike, it may be easier to just trade your old motorcycle in at the dealership. If you need to get top dollar then you are going to need to do everything you can to give your bike the best chance of getting the price you want.
Owners who have one or more bikes they no longer need
The most common reason this owner is selling is because of their health, age, an accident, or the motorcycle belonged to a loved one that has passed on. In some cases, the motorcycle is stored a long way from home so getting it sold is a challenge. If this is your situation, determine if you’re able to move the motorcycle around safely. Can you clean the motorcycle? Can you photograph the motorcycle to show it in the best light? Can you post an ad online at Facebook, Craigslist or an auction site? Do you have all the paperwork and details about the make, model and condition? Does the motorcycle need mechanical work? A running bike will bring a higher price. If you can do these things then you’ll save some money, but if you can’t try to enlist family, friends or contact a professional auction company to see if they can help. This is known as “White Glove Service”. Typically, white glove service is reserved for significant collections, or individual bikes that have great value. The only way to know for sure is to reach out and talk to a pro.
Why would anyone want that old thing?
There are many options available today to sell your motorcycle, online and locally. The pool of available buyers is incredibly large. COVID-19 and the lockdown we all experienced in 2020 brought about many changes, but one of the good ones is, more people than ever are interested in buying motorcycles. Some buyers are looking for inexpensive transportation, some are looking to buy and sell for profit and others are just looking for a hobby project to fix up for the fun of it. Don’t assume that your motorcycle doesn’t have any value just because you see an old thing taking up space. Someone out there may see the treasure they have always wanted and will pay handsomely to acquire it.
Where Do I Start?
The first mistake many sellers make is they go right to posting an ad or hanging a For Sale sign on the bike and hoping for the best. You don’t want to be that seller, spending your weekends talking to a dozen looky-loos and responding to emails “Is It Still Available”?
The best place to start is by doing a simple assessment and making a check list of what needs to be done to sell your motorcycle.
Make a check list
Can the bike be moved to an open space? If not determine what’s needed to move the bike (air in the tires, help from a friend, etc.)
Give the bike a quick wash so you can see all the flaws
Is your motorcycle a “Parts Only” bike? In this case just clean it up, photograph it well and move on, there’s no need to fix anything.
Does the bike run? What’s needed to make it run (Battery, gas, other repairs)
Every buyer wants to be able to ride their new purchase, if your bike isn’t running, determine what can be done to make it safe for a short test ride. A running, ridable bike will bring the best price. If you can’t make it rideable, just be 100% transparent and write down everything you know is wrong and adjust your price accordingly.
Itemize anything that you can fix on your own: Paint scratches that need touchup or can be buffed out, a torn seat cover, broken taillight, etc.
Itemize anything you can’t fix on your own and determine if investing in those repairs is worth it.
Check eBay, Craigslist, and online auction sites like Mecum, Bring A Trailer, Hagerty Valuation tool, and Motonexus for recent sales. Check the prices of your model and note the condition next to each price. Condition and location are everything to the value of a motorcycle. You should be able to come up with a price range so that you’re armed with the information you need before spending money on repairs.
Make it Shine, Or Don’t
If you have a nice motorcycle that runs well and can be ridden, investing a weekend in detailing every inch of the bike is well worth the effort. A polished bike says to a buyer, “I’ve been well maintained”. If you have a vintage bike, an antique, or a parts-only bike, your clean-up effort is going to be a little different. The primary objective for these bikes is to remove the dirt and grime but don’t harm any of the finishes. Even a faded paint job, rusty surfaces and rubber parts should just be cleaned or dirt, oil and grime. Don’t scrub or try to polish anything on these bikes as you could reduce the value.
Make It Shine
Give the bike a good wash. Dawn soap in warm water and a sponge should be all you need. For tougher spots like bugs and road tar just use a little hydrogen peroxide so that you don’t damage the paint. For greasy gunk use WD40. Be careful with some of the orange oil products, they do a really good job at removing all sorts of things like labels, graphics, and more. Make sure to clean under the seat, around the battery, the chain guard, wheels, hubs, basically, if a buyer can see it, it needs to be clean.
Fix Body and Paint Flaws
We’re really after the minor stuff like scuffs and scratches. Most surface scratches in the paint job can be buffed out by hand with some compound and polishing wax if the scratch isn’t too deep. If the scratch has gone through the top clear coat and removed paint or is down to bare metal you’re going to need to do some touchup. Paint touchups can take time and add a little expense but getting rid of those distracting scratches and scuffs can really improve your sale. There are several placed where you can order touchup paint, some our favorites are:
TouchUpdirect (https://touchupdirect.com)
VMR Paints (https://vmrpaints.com)
Randy Marbles Motors (https://marblesmotors.com)
Clean Metal Parts
A Scotch-Brite pad is safe to use on the hard metal of brake disks but may scratch other parts, so use caution. We would suggest using a brake cleaner spray to remove oily grime. Chrome parts are best polished with chrome polish, while aluminum is best cleaned with soap and water. Aluminum can pit easily so don’t use any harsh cleaners. Some cleaners will turn pot metal aluminum dark grey or black.
Clean Plastic and Rubber Parts
Plastic can be cleaned and polished with a variety of products like those from ArmorAll and Mothers. Our favorite for all the shiny plastic parts is Plexus. Plexus is great for the windshield and all the colored plastics. Just wipe with Plexus and a microfiber cloth to get a great wet look and crystal-clear windshield.
You can wipe the sidewalls of the tires with ArmorAll Protectant but don’t spray it on the tread. All the rubber parts can be cleaned and made to look new with ArmorAll. Do not use ArmorAll or anything else on the seat as that will make it very slippery which can be dangerous when riding.
If you have old rubber parts that have dried hard you can renew them by soaking in a 50/50 mixture of Wintergreen oil and 70% rubbing alcohol. Watch the parts closely as some parts will only require a few minutes and others may require a day or two of soaking. As the parts soak, they will expand, so be careful that your parts don’t expand to the point where you can make them fit properly anymore.
Clean The Chain
If you have a bike with a chain drive, inspect it for built up grease and grime. A clean chain is a sign of a well-maintained bike, and this is easy to do at home. If you don’t have a chain cleaning brush, you can find one online or at stores like CycleGear and other motorcycle shops. Layout a layer of paper towels under the chain. Use a chain cleaner or WD40 and a chain brush to remove all the old grease and grime. Then lubricate the chain with a quality chain lube.
Charge the Battery
Motorcycle batteries are notorious for failing, mainly because owners don’t keep them plugged in and charged. Check that your battery terminals are clean, and the battery cables are in good condition with no signs of corrosion. Connect the battery to a charger or plug it in if you have a charging connection on the bike. Be sure to follow all manufacturer’s directions for the battery charger and wear safety glasses anytime you are working with the battery.
Check the Oil
Has your bike been sitting for a long time? Changing the oil and filter is always a good idea, especially for a big that’s been sitting in storage for the winter or that’s been unused for months or years. If you can do this job yourself your money ahead, otherwise get some help from family, friends, or a local motorcycle shop. If you can’t get the bike to a shop, check Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for a Mobile Motorcycle Mechanic who can come to you and get the job done. A mobile mechanic may be just what you need to get several jobs done quickly by a knowledgeable mechanic.
Tune It Up
Assuming you have a bike that runs, make sure it is running at its best. A tune up usually consists of the oil change mentioned above, new spark plugs, carburetor or fuel injection adjustments, timing adjustment and possibly a valve adjustment. During a tune up, make sure to inspect spark plug wires for cracks and rubber parts at the carbs for air leaks. A good running bike will start up easily, idle smoothly, and respond well to the throttle. This is also the time to inspect the brake pads, brake fluid and radiator if you have one.
Complete a Final Inspection
Buyers will pay up and respect that you’re looking out for them when they know you’re being 100% transparent about the condition of your bike. To finalize your motorcycle before moving on the photography, use the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Inspection Checklist to identify everything that’s working and everything that’s not working. You can find a copy here: Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Inspection Checklist
Great Photographs Are Critical
To make your motorcycle to stand out from all the other listings you need great photographs. Fortunately, with the quality of today smart phone cameras you can produce professional quality photos yourself using a few simple techniques. This is it, all your hard work so far comes down to investing the time in producing great photos of your motorcycle.
Good Lighting
Find a good location and plan to shoot when the lighting in soft. Harsh sunlight doesn’t do anything to improve your photos. Outdoor locations are typically best, either late in the day or early in the morning. An overcast day or even a day can be excellent because the clouds will act as a natural filter to screen out the harsh light.
Good Location
Look for a location that doesn’t have a busy or distracting background. Fences, trees, poles, wires, other vehicles, yard toys and playground equipment, all these things distract from your motorcycle. A good contrasting background can help make your motorcycle pop in the photo. Often old industrial setting can offer up a good background with corrugated metal, a brick wall, peeling paint on the side of a garage, or rusty features in the background of an open lot. Parking garages can often make good photo shoot locations on floors that have an opening to natural light. Look for settings that put your motorcycle in its natural element. A dirt bike will look best in a setting with a trail or dirt track for the background. A sport bike will look best on a twisting mountain road or a track setting. A touring bike will look best on an open road, or in a campground setting or next to a lake. Think about who your buyer is and where that person wants to image your motorcycle.
Good Angles
If you browse through motorcycle posts on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist you’ll see a lot of really bad shots of a dirty bike in the corner of a garage. Often the picture is so bad that you can’t tell what model the bike is let alone if it’s something you’re interested in. Make sure the bike is in a good location with good lighting and then provide all the angels that a buyer needs. The photos are the salesperson. You may end up taking anywhere from 24 to 100 photos but the list below is an absolute minimum.
Front
Right
Left
Rear
Top
¾ angle from the front (right & left)
¾ angle from the rear (right & left)
Close up of gauges (show mileage)
Close up of motor (right, left, front, top and angles)
Close up of tank (right, left and top)
Close up of exhaust pipes
Close up of grips and controls (right & left)
Close up of the luggage or panniers (include interior shots)
Close up of wheels and brakes
Under the seat detail
Photos of the tool kit, manuals, or extra literature and accessories
The Jobs Not Done Until You Do the Paperwork
Now that your bike is prepared to list for sale it’s time to get all the paperwork in order so that you can advertise your paperwork and get the best price for your bike. This won’t be an exhaustive state-by-state review as the paperwork required will depend on your state laws, the type of bike you have and whether you are selling at auction. Auctions require a title for any vehicle that is street legal. A bill-of-sale is all that’s required for an off-road bike that cannot be registered for the road.
Title. The title is the most important document. Some states only title certain bikes by age or whether it’s a road bike or off-road bike. There are many posts online that discuss all the ways to get a title for a motorcycle that doesn’t have a title. As the owner and seller, you have the best opportunity to get a title and improve the value of the motorcycle you are selling. Lost titles are more common than most people think. The owner or record can request a duplicate from your state’s DMV.
Service records can give a buyer more confidence in the purchase
Loans. Do you have a loan on the motorcycle? Any loans will have to be settled. Request the payoff amount from your lender and request the title be sent to you so that you can sign it over to the new owner.
Bill of Sale. A bill of sale is always a good idea even if your states DMV doesn’t require one. The bill of sales is a receipt and details the sale agreement. You can hand write a bill of sale, but most motor vehicle departments have one available for free online.
VIN. Give buyers some peace of mind and include the VIN in your ads. Auctions will require the VIN. The vehicle identification number gives a buyer the means to check the vehicle history, identify the exact make, model, and year. In some cases, the VIN can be used to check if the motorcycle has had any accidents, recalls or if the bike is stolen. There is no reason to not display the VIN in your ads. The VIN can’t be used to steal your vehicle or do anything else nefarious, it’s safe to post the VIN. The VIN is located on your title, the registration, your insurance card and on the frame of the motorcycle. In some states both the VIN and the motor number are listed on the title.
Where to Sell Your Motorcycle
Your options for selling your motorcycle are 1) sell or trade it to a dealer, 2) sell to a cash now wholesaler, 3) sell to an individual locally, 4) sell online, 5) sell at auction, 6) sell at an online auction. Each of these venues have pros and cons and the choice you make will be determined by your personal situation and the motorcycle you’re selling.
Sell or Trade to a Dealer. When buying a new bike, you may have the option of trading your old motorcycle in. The dealership is going to do a quick inspection and make you a ‘wholesale’ offer. The lower price isn’t an attempt to rip you off, they simply need to be able to make a profit on the bike. This approach can be convenient for you if your primary objective is to get rid of the old motorcycle and get on with riding the new one.
Sell to a Cash Now Wholesaler. You’ve probably seen these companies online offering to buy you motorcycle for cash. Cash4Motorcycles, MotorcycleBuyers.com, and many others will evaluate your bike and make a cash offer, again at a lower, wholesale price. The pros are that you may get a deal you like from one of these companies, and the process is quick. The cons are you won’t get top dollar.
Sell to an Individual Locally. If you remember classified ads in the back of newspapers this approach is probably what you think of when selling any vehicle. The old process of run an ad and meet people in your driveway has evolved a bit, but in the end, you’re still meeting people one-on-one until somebody hands you the cash. Today this type of selling is usually done via Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, both excellent methods of selling locally.
Sell Online. Selling a motorcycle online usually means posting it on eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. The advantage of selling online is the exposure that can be obtained. eBay and Facebook can give your motorcycle nationwide exposure to find that one buyer that is willing to pay top dollar. Through an online ad you motorcycle could sell to someone in a nearby neighborhood or to someone on the other side of the country. Selling to a distant buyer may add a little extra work because the buyer will have to arrange for shipping, and you will need to meet the truck with the bike. The trucks used by motorcycle shippers are usually large semi-trucks with long trailers, so if the trucker can’t get to your house easily, you’ll need to arrange to meet the driver at a location where the truck can easily get in and out. Selecting a motorcycle dealership is often a good choice.
Sell at Auction. Auctions can be a lot of fun for buyers and sellers. Before you go this route, visit the web site of some major motorcycle auction sites, and make notes of all the fees, dates for their live auctions, any expenses you’ll have transporting the motorcycle to the auction, and any additional costs for your own travel. As a seller you’ll have a placement fee which will vary depending on the location and day of the week. If you can’t get the bike to the auction yourself, you’ll need to hire transport from a company like Haulbikes.com, or rent a trailer and deliver it yourself. Some live auctions don’t require the owner to be present, but it’s usually a good idea to be on hand during the auction. Staying for the auction could mean hotel, food, and other expenses for your stay. Selling at auction can be profitable if you have a valuable bike, or a collection. Selling at auction can also be a way to offset the cost of a vacation to a fun city.
Sell at Online Auction. Live auctions often have telephone and online bidding services, but those remote bidders usually pay higher buyers fees which could limit the number of potential buyers who are competing for your bike. Online only auctions like Motonexus.com, Bringatrailer.com, and eBay Motors auctions provide global exposure, low to no fees for sellers, and highly competitive fees for buyers. These sites can offer lower fees because the focus of an online only auction is on the development of the auction platform and promotion of their auctions vs. auction venues, event setup and equipment, employees, travel, and staff to handle all the business affairs. Live auctions are a lot of fun and can be profitable for sellers, but if you want top dollar with the least amount of work, an online only auction is probably right for you.
Watch Out
While selling online can open your motorcycle up to a larger market, there are some draw backs too. The biggest issue are scammers. There’s a host of clever schemes being used to scam you out of your motorcycle. Here are some common scams to watch out for.
Buyer Scam: The seller answers your questions and seems helpful but tries to pressure you into sending money before even seeing the motorcycle in person. Often the seller will claim to have other interested buyers or need to sell it right away because they're moving. If you send money, you are likely to never see the motorcycle.
Buyer and Seller Scam: The buyer is excited and wants to pay right away and offers to send you an unconventional payment, like a cashier’s check, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer. Anyone who can get a cashier’s check had the ability to get cash. Anyone with gift cards can convert them to cash if the gift cards are authentic. As a seller, never release the vehicle or the title until payment has been received, either cash in person, or a cleared wire transfer that you can see in your bank account. Even a check that’s accepted at the bank can be cancelled. The seller version of this scam is when the seller requests to be paid in an unconventional way. In this case either the motorcycle will never get shipped to you or the motorcycle is likely stolen.
Seller scam: The motorcycle isn’t as reported in the ad. If the seller says it runs great but doesn’t have a video demonstrating how well it runs and that everything works as advertised, you could be taking a big risk buying online and not seeing the motorcycle in person. Online only auctions usually have a walk-around video demonstrating the bike running and all electrical working.
Buyer Scam: Ghosting is a type of scam where a buyer bids up the motorcycle and then disappears and never pays for the bike. Often it can be hard to understand why anyone would do this, maybe they think it’s a joke, or more likely they are trying to force the seller to sell at a lower price. When you as the seller go back and try to relist and sell again, buyers think something is wrong and offer less than they did before.
Buyer Scam: The Accidental Check. The buyer pays the seller with a cashier’s check or money order and suddenly “realize” they paid too much. This scam is most common with buyers who say they are from overseas which seems like a plausible explanation for not understanding currency exchange. The buyer will next ask the seller to wire transfer the overage and arrange to have the motorcycle picked up by someone else (a relative or friend in the area). Eventually the seller will discover they’re holding a fake check and they’ve lost the motorcycle too.
What to Do
That’s a lot of scary stuff just to sell a motorcycle, however you can still make a good, legitimate deal online or in person. Here are the basic warning signs to watch out for.
Sounds Too Good to Be True.
The Buyer or Seller Doesn’t Want to Meet.
Overseas Money Transfers.
The Buyer or Seller has an URGENT need to close the deal.
No Contact Number or you can’t verify the number works.
Buyer or Seller has a Preferred Escrow Website. Hardly anyone has a ‘Preferred Escrow site’ this should raise all your red flags. Most likely the buyer or seller is trying to steer you to a fraudulent site to capture your money, and all your personal information.
Evaluate Escrow Sites Carefully. Google the business and domain name to see if the site is legitimate but don’t stop there. Use your states Department of Financial Protection website to research firm. The California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation is a good example.
Meet in Safe Locations
Once you’ve selected a method of selling, make sure that any in person meetings take place in a safe location. Avoid meeting a stranger alone if you can help it. Meeting at night or any location that’s remote or doesn’t have good lighting is best avoided.
How to Get Paid
When it's possible, cash is always the best form of payment, but there are other options.
Square Cash App is a debit to debit transaction that's basically instant. A transfer of cash to your debit account is as good as cash in hand.
Venmo is a debit to debit transaction that's basically instant. A transfer of cash to your debit account is as good as cash in hand.
Zelle is a debit to debit transaction that's basically instant. A transfer of cash to your debit account is as good as cash in hand.
PayPal is a good choice if you ensure the payment qualifies for seller protection. Seller protection will require a signature upon delivery for any sale over a specific amount (check with PayPal for limits). Transferring cash via the PayPal app is safe and very quick.
Escrow.com, is a licensed escrow service. Escrow.com provides a fee calculator to quickly determine the cost of their escrow service (calculator).
Credit Card. Many credit cards offer fraud and buyer protection, check to see what protection you may already have if you use a credit card to complete an online transaction. Online auctions may identify who processes their credit card and debit card transactions. Companies like PayPal, Square, Stripe and Braintree are all reputable companies who do their own due diligence before accepting sellers onto their platforms.
Shipping
You prepared your motorcycle for sale and found a buyer. Now that the transaction is complete you still need to get the bike shipped to the buyer. Make sure that your ad included “Shipping arrangements and cost are the sole responsibility of the buyer”. Also include that you’re happy to assist with shipping by meeting the trucker.
Shipping costs depend on the distance, size, weight, and how the trucking company transports motorcycles. In all cases, the transport should be fully enclosed. No motorcycle should be shipped to a buyer in an open trailer or pickup truck.
The way a shipper transports can make a big difference to the cost. Some companies will use a pallet and require that gasoline be drained, while others like haulbikes.com don’t require the gas to be drained and will secure the bike in the trailer with tie downs. Haulbikes.com is often the most convenient for sellers and their trucks are purpose built to transport motorcycles.
The shipping company won’t handle the title or any loose items. Some shippers will want the keys secured to the bike, others won’t. Be sure to read all the details before the trucker arrives.
Shipping rates are based on a 4’x9’ space in the truck. If your motorcycle is larger than this, you can expect the shipping cost to be higher. A trike, or an extra-long chopper may have an extra charge for the extra space.
While it is convenient to have a truck comes right to your house, the buyer may be able to save a lot of money by having the bike picked up and dropped off at one of the shipper’s warehouse facilities. The buyer should check with the shipper to see if they have warehouses in your location or theirs. Delivering the bike to a local warehouse is a little extra work, but if you’re making the buyer happier and delivering some extra confidence to the buyer that the deal is legit.
Follow Up
You’ve sold your motorcycle and the bike is on its way to the new owner. If the transaction has gone smoothly, the bike arrived at its new home and you’ve been paid, be sure to follow up with the buyer and thank them for the purchase and ask if the shipper did a good job. Sure, you may never see or hear from this one buyer again, but any feedback you receive will be helpful the next time you sell a motorcycle.
The Authors
Mandell Forest is a motorcycle enthusiast and a 5-Star, freelance writer. Originally from the United Kingdom, he was last heard from somewhere in rural Spain. Committed to his craft and seeing the world from the back of a motorcycle Mandell is also a trusted author for several clients worldwide and can be reached at Fiverr.
Clay Baker is a motorcycle enthusiast, collector, and restorer. Clay is also a managing partner at an investment firm where he analyzes companies and co-directs investment strategies. Clay's background in investing turned into a passion for determining valuations for collectible motorcycles and ultimately led him to launch Motonexus.
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