We have several programs available to make it as easy as possible for you to sell your motorcycle. See the FAQ (frequently asked questions) below for more details.
Trade-in
Whether you’re buying a new or used motorcycle from us, we can take your current bike in trade, even if it’s not a BMW. In fact, even if it’s not a motorcycle. Some of the items we’ve taken in trade over the years include cars, real estate, and jewelry.
Outright Purchase
Not buying a bike from us? That’s OK; we’ll still buy yours at a fair price. The quick, no-hassle way to sell your bike.
Standard Consignment
If we can’t get together on a trade or purchase value, sometimes consignment can be a good option. We sell your bike for you and we earn our commission when it sells. If the bike doesn’t sell, there is no charge to you.
Short-term eBay Consignment
This is a new program that we just developed. If none of the above options works for you but you still don’t want to deal with selling the bike yourself, this may be just the ticket. We will auction your bike on eBay where literally millions of people will have access to bidding on it. There is a minimal up-front fee to cover our costs and a small commission that is charged if the bike sells. Our typical bike auctions on eBay get in excess of 2000 hits. That’s a lot of potential buyers checking out your bike.
FAQ
Which of your options is best for me?
This will depend on your needs. Trade-in or outright purchases are the simplest and fastest way. We determine your bikes trade-in value and either credit it toward the bike you’re buying or write you a check. We pay off any outstanding loans, and you no longer need to worry about insurance or registration. We also deal with any cosmetic flaws or service/safety needs so you have no out-of pocket costs. Plus, you get your money today.
Consignment may be a good option if you think your bike has a higher value than what we offer you. With a consignment you set a price that you need to get for the bike. We will still need to make something on the sale, so we will add that on to establish the asking price.
The upside to consignment is that you might get a bit more for your bike, but the downside is that any cosmetic, service or safety needs must be fixed before we consign the bike. This may mean up-front cost to you. You will still own the bike until it sells, so you need to stay current on the registration and insurance. You will not get paid until the bike sells.
Our new short-term eBay consignment was developed to give you the advantages of consignment without the downside. For example, we allow more flexibility for “as-is” condition so you may not need to pay for needed service or repairs. (We will disclose these needs in the auction.) Since the auction runs for only 1 week the concern of keeping up the registration and insurance is reduced, plus you will get your money quickly provided that the bike sells.
How will you determine what my bike is worth?
“Bluebook” and other price guide information can be helpful, but remember that this data is collected quarterly from a few select sources. It is also nationwide. It does not account for regional or seasonal differences and also does not reflect mileage or condition adjustments. When we set a value to a bike, that number comes from lots of experience selling similar bikes. You may see ads for comparable bikes that are priced higher, but keep in mind that there can be a big difference between an asking price in an ad and what a bike will actually sell for. We base our values on selling prices.
So, here’s the inside scoop on how we set a value to your bike. First we determine the retail value (likely selling price) of your bike assuming that it is in good condition. Then we back out an appropriate amount to allow us to make a fair profit on the sale. Next, we have our service department evaluate the bike’s condition and give us an estimate for correcting any service or safety needs such as tires or brakes. We then adjust for these needs and that gives us the actual trade-in or purchase value of your motorcycle.
We’ll do our best to give you top dollar, but if you really need to get more for your bike and don’t want the hassle of selling it yourself, you should consider one of our consignment options.
What are your consignment fees?
For a standard consignment our fee will be the difference between the price you need to get and what we actually sell it for. We do not know how much that will be until the bike sells, but it is generally less than what we would make if we bought the bike outright.
For our short-term eBay consignment there are two fees. There is an up-front charge of $99 to cover our costs for evaluating the bike and listing it on eBay. If the bike sells there is an additional charge of $475. If it does not sell you will have the option of renewing the auction for $49 or taking the bike back, or we could also discuss the possibility of a standard consignment or outright purchase.
If I decide to sell it myself, what’s the best way?
There are several options for private party bike sales and you may want to use more than one. There are newspaper ads. Local papers have reasonable rates but they are not far-reaching. Larger papers like the LA Times reach a much greater area, but are quite expensive. Most newspapers have short run-time for your ad.
A better option may be the magazine type ads such as Cycle Trader. They will run a photo ad of your bike for a set fee and usually run it for about 2 weeks. You can pick these up at your local convenience store (7-eleven, etc.)
Then there’s the internet. There are enthusiast and club websites that generally let you post a free ad. Some will require you to join first. There’s eBay and other auction sites, and there are commercial advertising sites that charge a fee for posting your ad. If you’re internet savvy it should be easy to find sites to advertise your bike. If you’re not then the internet will probably be a very frustrating way to sell.
Why shouldn’t I sell my bike myself?
The truth is that for some people this is a good option, but for most it ends up being more trouble than it’s worth. First of all, if you still owe on the bike it is difficult to sell. Few buyers are going to be willing to pay you for your bike if you can’t give them the title. (Would you?) That means you will need to pay off the loan, wait for the title, and then begin the selling process.
Next comes the selling. Place and pay for the ads. Deal with the phone calls. Hang around the house all weekend waiting for the guy who said he would come over but never shows up. Then when he calls again and swears that he will make it next weekend you need to decide whether to waste another weekend waiting for him. And when he does finally show up he wants to test ride the bike. Do you let him? (If you do, and he crashes or steals the bike, most insurance companies will not cover the loss.)
When you do get past the test ride issue then he wants to know if you’ll take his beat-up old truck in trade, or if he can give you $100 down and $50 a week, or will you take a 3rd party check from his uncle’s next-door-neighbor. You get the picture.
Or worse yet, what about the guy who comes to see the bike and spends more time looking over your other vehicles and all the neat stuff in your house or garage. Yes, this has happened to many people. How well do you think you’ll be sleeping that week?
Still have more questions? You can contact our Sales Department by email or phone (909-629-2132 ext 4). Or better yet stop in and speak with us in person. We’ll be happy to help you.
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