Expert tips provided by Anna from Sell Your Motorbike
There are plenty of avenues you can take when you need to sell your motorbike, and going online is certainly effective. Here are seven steps to a successful sale.
1. Clean your bike
It seems so obvious; however, the number of people that offer their motorbikes for sale covered in filth is surprising. In addition to a general cleanup, it is very important to clean areas (such as under the seat) where tell-tale dust and mud can deter keen potential buyers. You should also see to it that any surface rust from metal or chrome parts is washed off and that battery terminals do not have any calcium-build.
2. Remove most of the accessories
You may like the way you’ve pimped up your motorbike, but not everybody will. You may, in fact, get more when you individually sell its accessories online than it would add to the price of your bike. Performance accessories can reduce the price of the motorbike because it looks as if it’s been thrashed. If you want to sell it with the accessories included, ensure the original parts (e.g. mirrors, bars, exhaust pipes, and racks) are included as well.
3. Mechanical condition
Don’t start the motorbike just before a potential buyer arrives to look at it. They may be suspicious about the bike’s ability to perform when they feel the warm engine. But, if you have a lot of time for it to cool down again, it is advisable to start it and perform another final battery check.
4. Research the price
Visit reputable websites on the internet to find out what the bike is currently worth. Although some online motorbike sales websites offer puffed up views of what people are looking for, a majority of them are often realistic.
Quoting a high price on your bike hoping to negotiate a lower price just deters inquiries from potential buyers. It is, therefore, best to quote an honest and fair market price by visiting several motorbikes valuation company websites.
5. A picture says a thousand words
One thing to keep in mind is that your online classified has to fight for people’s attention, as it gets bumped down continuously by newer ads. If someone is not searching for precisely what you are selling, they might never see it. You are going to require some good photos of your motorbike for an online ad. Take clear photos of the motorbike against a clear, visible background.
A closed garage door is one of the best locations for the photographs. The photos should be taken on a clear day, mid-afternoon or mid-morning and using flash to rid of shadows. Photograph the bike from all sides, and you might want to draw attention to some of the key selling points such as rego sticker indicating plenty of time left or the odometer indicating low kilometers.
If you have owned up to any dents or scratches, photograph them, because the potential buyers might imagine them to be worse than you pointed out.
6. Sell Your Motorbike Online on Craigslist or EBay
Everyone knows eBay and Craigslist: they are the best places for online ads. Listing your motorbike on any of these sites is quick, free and easy. Upload the photos you took of your motorbike, write a clear description and it will be listed online within seconds. Getting the most out of your motorbike is once again the greatest concern here.
Those who browse Craigslist and eBay as well as host of other similar sites are diverse, and range from experts, to complete knobs, to enthusiasts. Always be wary of scammers when selling online. There are people who will spam your e-mail with bogus offers for your motorbike in some of these sites.
The most important thing when meeting and dealing with people you don’t know on the internet is to ensure transactions are secure and safe. There are special areas set aside for such transactions in a majority of police stations today.
7. Transfer Documents
Have the motorbike transfer documents ready when a buyer shows up. You don’t want to turn a prospective buyer away just because you cannot complete the transaction for lack of documentation. They may never return if they get cold feet!
There are plenty of avenues you can take when you need to sell your motorbike, and going online is certainly effective. Here are seven steps to a successful sale.
1. Clean your bike
It seems so obvious; however, the number of people that offer their motorbikes for sale covered in filth is surprising. In addition to a general cleanup, it is very important to clean areas (such as under the seat) where tell-tale dust and mud can deter keen potential buyers. You should also see to it that any surface rust from metal or chrome parts is washed off and that battery terminals do not have any calcium-build.
2. Remove most of the accessories
You may like the way you’ve pimped up your motorbike, but not everybody will. You may, in fact, get more when you individually sell its accessories online than it would add to the price of your bike. Performance accessories can reduce the price of the motorbike because it looks as if it’s been thrashed. If you want to sell it with the accessories included, ensure the original parts (e.g. mirrors, bars, exhaust pipes, and racks) are included as well.
3. Mechanical condition
Don’t start the motorbike just before a potential buyer arrives to look at it. They may be suspicious about the bike’s ability to perform when they feel the warm engine. But, if you have a lot of time for it to cool down again, it is advisable to start it and perform another final battery check.
4. Research the price
Visit reputable websites on the internet to find out what the bike is currently worth. Although some online motorbike sales websites offer puffed up views of what people are looking for, a majority of them are often realistic.
Quoting a high price on your bike hoping to negotiate a lower price just deters inquiries from potential buyers. It is, therefore, best to quote an honest and fair market price by visiting several motorbikes valuation company websites.
5. A picture says a thousand words
One thing to keep in mind is that your online classified has to fight for people’s attention, as it gets bumped down continuously by newer ads. If someone is not searching for precisely what you are selling, they might never see it. You are going to require some good photos of your motorbike for an online ad. Take clear photos of the motorbike against a clear, visible background.
A closed garage door is one of the best locations for the photographs. The photos should be taken on a clear day, mid-afternoon or mid-morning and using flash to rid of shadows. Photograph the bike from all sides, and you might want to draw attention to some of the key selling points such as rego sticker indicating plenty of time left or the odometer indicating low kilometers.
If you have owned up to any dents or scratches, photograph them, because the potential buyers might imagine them to be worse than you pointed out.
6. Sell Your Motorbike Online on Craigslist or EBay
Everyone knows eBay and Craigslist: they are the best places for online ads. Listing your motorbike on any of these sites is quick, free and easy. Upload the photos you took of your motorbike, write a clear description and it will be listed online within seconds. Getting the most out of your motorbike is once again the greatest concern here.
Those who browse Craigslist and eBay as well as host of other similar sites are diverse, and range from experts, to complete knobs, to enthusiasts. Always be wary of scammers when selling online. There are people who will spam your e-mail with bogus offers for your motorbike in some of these sites.
The most important thing when meeting and dealing with people you don’t know on the internet is to ensure transactions are secure and safe. There are special areas set aside for such transactions in a majority of police stations today.
7. Transfer Documents
Have the motorbike transfer documents ready when a buyer shows up. You don’t want to turn a prospective buyer away just because you cannot complete the transaction for lack of documentation. They may never return if they get cold feet!
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