Maybe you are thinking of selling your Yamaha Motorcycle. Perhaps you are just not riding as much as you once did and could use the extra cash. Or, you are planning on buying a new bike and think you can get a little extra cash putting your Yamaha motorcycle for sale on the street instead of trading it in to the dealer. Whatever your reason, here are some things to keep in mind when you are ready to sell your Yamaha Motorcycle.
Determine Your Asking Price
Before you even begin to think about advertising, the first thing you should do is find out what your bike is worth. You don’t want to undercut yourself, but you also don’t want to price yourself out of the market either. The first thing you should do is check out the NADA website and see what the average “market” price is for your Yamaha. The next step is to list all the accessories you’ve added to the motorcycle, including the ones you had installed when you first bought the bike, generally people will take half the cost of accessories and add that number to your asking price. If you are going to do that, then make sure you list detailed information about your accessories on all your advertising to justify your asking price. Check out similar bikes in trade magazines, Ebay and the Internet, this will give you a realistic view of what your starting price should be.
Preparing Your Yamaha Motorcycle For Sale
Before you start running the ad, make sure your bike is spotless. Don’t waste your time advertising until you’ve invested some time cleaning. This includes the inside of the bike as well as the outside. Make sure your bike is in good running condition. If necessary, get a tune-up and make those repairs, if not, then be sure to lower the asking price, as your buyer will have to invest in getting the motorcycle in proper running condition. Gather up all your receipts for maintenance you’ve had done on your bike, this way you can have them available for potential buyers to read.
It’s Time to Advertise
Now that your bike is ready for sale, it’s time to start advertising. Write down all the important information about your motorcycle; the model, the brand, the year, engine, color, condition, miles, your contact information and the asking price.
Then, decide where you are going to advertise. Will it be on the Internet, the local newspaper, a local magazine, or flyers in the local supermarket? Whatever you decide to do, make sure that it looks appealing. Make sure you put more than one photo in the ads, the more pictures you put, the more attention your ads will attract. Don’t forget the “For Sale” sign attached to the windshield, it’s a free advertisement everywhere you go.
How to Handle Prospective Buyers
When somebody calls you about your Yamaha motorcycle for sale, be prepared to answer all kinds of questions about your motorcycle. “Did you ever crash it”, “How does the engine sound”, “Did you take care of it?” “What’s your bottom asking price”, and two of my favorites, “Will you take a personal check?” and “Can I test ride it?” I would recommend the answer “no” to the last two questions. First of all, there is no reason someone can’t leave you a deposit, go to the ATM and come right back with the cash. Secondly, most dealers don’t allow test rides for a reason, why should you?
As long as you spend some time doing your homework, getting the bike ready and advertising, you should be able to easily sell your Yamaha motorcycle in no time.
We’d love to hear about your selling experience, please send us your comments.