The reasons for selling a bike could be many. You could have tired of it; you wish to buy a more expensive model or your wife hates it, and many other similar reasons. Whatever be your reason for selling your bike, it is time to say good bye to this old faithful and sell it to someone who will take care of it as much as you did.
Once you have decided to sell your bike, you need to know how to get the best deal out of the sale. Here are some pointers:
Clean and polish your bike. Make your bike look attractive enough so that buyers fall in love with it at first sight. Just as no one wants to buy an old and dilapidated house, no one would buy a bike that is dirty, unkempt and looks uncared for. Bring back that gloss and glitter to your bike before any buyer sees it.
Make necessary repairs to keep it in running condition. Buyers would easily agree to your asking price if they find the price is justified. They would look at its maintenance and working condition as well as small chips or dents which needs repair. Remember, first impressions are impressions that last.
Give it a tune-up. Make sure that the engine revs up right when the buyer starts the ignition. Tune the engine properly so that the buyer feels excited about the sound of the engine.
Keep records of your maintenance. Not everyone would know how much money you have spent on your bike over the years, on small and big repairs and overall maintenance. A good idea is to keep all the receipts of such maintenance efforts and show them to the buyer. This will give him an idea of how much was spent and when. It will also show the buyer how much care you took of your bike.
Tell the truth. Every bike like any machine will have some aspect that is worrisome in its performance and maintenance. You need to be truthful and upfront about such issues to the buyer.
Know your blue book value. Do not have an inflated idea of the price of the bike. If you do not set the price well, it will never sell.
Have the title ready to transfer. Keep all the relevant papers in the right condition and at the right place. In case the buyer wants an instant purchase you also should be ready to sell the bike instantly.
Be prepared to say no to a test drive. If a motorcycle dealer can not trust a prospective customer with a test ride of a bike, how can you afford to put your money and bike at stake?
Parting with your bike is always a high-strung emotional event. Following these tips will make the task of selling simple, fast and less painful.
