Should I sell my motorbike privately?

There are many riders out there who are still choosing to sell their motorbike privately. It can sometimes get you a better price for your bike, but this also comes at a cost.

If you have a motorbike to sell, here is what you need to consider when deciding whether to sell privately:

It's time consuming

When selling your motorbike privately, you need to be prepared to invest some time. You are going to have to research prices, take photos, and upload information about the bike’s mileage, service history, and features. If you do start to receive inquiries, then there is also the time you’ll have to invest in making yourself available for viewings. (And that’s if they turn up)

Be prepared to pay

Finding the right buyer is not at all easy. You can advertise your bike locally or on social media, but in most cases, you are going to have to pay to reach a larger audience. Many bikes are sold through websites such as MCN or Auto-trader, but these come with expensive listing fees, and it can be difficult to make your bike stand out from the crowd. There is also no guarantee that your bike will sell.

Watch out for time wasters and hagglers

With a private sale, you are going to have to meet with prospective buyers. You must be prepared to deal with time wasters, no shows, and aggressive hagglers who are after a bargain. You also need to be mindful of the security of your motorbike and yourself. Don’t leave people alone with the keys and maybe have someone with you when doing viewings.

Is the payment secure?

If you do manage to sell your motorbike, then you need to make sure that payment is taken in a safe and legal way. You need to be on guard for forged banknotes or cheques bouncing. Bank transfer is the quickest and safest way, but make sure you see the funds in your account before handing over the keys.

Post sale problems

Once the bike is sold, the problems don’t necessarily stop there. Conflict with the buyer may arise if something goes wrong or isn’t as they expected. You don’t want the hassle of returns and refunds.

Compared to a private sale, selling your motorbike to WeBuyAnyBike is a simple straight forward process. You’ll get a quick sale and avoid the hassle of having to list your bike and meet with potential buyers. You’ll still get a great price for your bike, and the time you save can go into looking for your next one.

Get your FREE motorbike valuation today!