Break bike or sell whole?
Discussion
I’m in a strange position here - I’m trying to sell a bike and whether through my own poor advert or the fact that nobody has any money, I simply cannot sell. It’s meant to be desirable, it’s now the cheapest (non-CAT) one in the country and I haven’t had the slightest bit of interest. Not one single call or enquiry. Im baffled.
It’s at the stage where I think it’d make more money if I dismantled it and sold it piecemeal.
Im pretty sure the motor, frame with V5 (and 12 months Mot), forks, swingarm, wheels would be more than I can sell the bike for. Then there’s the rest of it. Bits I can’t sell - take them to the tip.
Anyone done this? Worth it? I realise it’ll mean the money comes in dribs and drabs as the parts sell, but at least they’ll sell.
It’s at the stage where I think it’d make more money if I dismantled it and sold it piecemeal.
Im pretty sure the motor, frame with V5 (and 12 months Mot), forks, swingarm, wheels would be more than I can sell the bike for. Then there’s the rest of it. Bits I can’t sell - take them to the tip.
Anyone done this? Worth it? I realise it’ll mean the money comes in dribs and drabs as the parts sell, but at least they’ll sell.
What kind of bike?
A lot of people just do not want to buy privately.
Nobody loves traders, but the general public are often worse to deal with.
So many peole need finance
So many people don't want to take a risk, if they buy from a dealer they have some comeback if it's faulty.
So many people have some crap to PX.
So many private sellers are just plain dishonest.
Against traders, you have to be >20% cheaper, not just a few quid cheaper.
Also, the other stuff you see advertised, is it shifting?
A lot of people just do not want to buy privately.
Nobody loves traders, but the general public are often worse to deal with.
So many peole need finance
So many people don't want to take a risk, if they buy from a dealer they have some comeback if it's faulty.
So many people have some crap to PX.
So many private sellers are just plain dishonest.
Against traders, you have to be >20% cheaper, not just a few quid cheaper.
Also, the other stuff you see advertised, is it shifting?
If you do break it up and sell the desireable items you might exceed the whole bike sale price But, you need to factor in the time and effort to strip the parts, store them, pack them up and ship. So it'll be a lot more effort and some parts shipping may be prohibitive due to size or weight.
And then what to do with the parts that inevitably won't sell.....
If it's a desirable bike it could be a good way of recouping some $$$§but if it's a snotty commuter or scabby streetfighter, you might end up with a lot of parts cluttering up your life....
And then what to do with the parts that inevitably won't sell.....
If it's a desirable bike it could be a good way of recouping some $$$§but if it's a snotty commuter or scabby streetfighter, you might end up with a lot of parts cluttering up your life....
I've done it but it was with a written off Bandit that I'd rebuilt myself.
While it was fine and I'd done a few thousand miles on it since I repaired it I just didn't want any comebacks so sold it in bits.
Probably made a little more than I would have got whole for it.
You do end up binning a lot though unless you plan on sitting on random bits for ages. I couldn't even give a big box of bits to the local breakers.
Postage and packing is also a bit of a ballache.
While it was fine and I'd done a few thousand miles on it since I repaired it I just didn't want any comebacks so sold it in bits.
Probably made a little more than I would have got whole for it.
You do end up binning a lot though unless you plan on sitting on random bits for ages. I couldn't even give a big box of bits to the local breakers.
Postage and packing is also a bit of a ballache.
If it’s the one on eBay I’d be wary of buying unless I could hear the engine running.
The fact it was binned and then laid up could mean the previous owner was never able to get it restarted. Possibly a simple electrical fix but could be more.
I’d try to sell it as a runner if possible.
trickywoo said:
I’m going to guess it’s the 4XV R1 from his profile.
If so I’d hold on to it until the spring.
You’ll only really shift a ‘project’ one of those at this time of year.
It is. It’s also so much cheaper than anything else that the time of year ought to be irrelevant, it’s in really nice nick. It’s just taking up space and costing me money. If so I’d hold on to it until the spring.
You’ll only really shift a ‘project’ one of those at this time of year.
I’m just a bit baffled and frustrated really. I guess anything is only worth what someone is willing to pay at the time.
Drawweight said:
If it’s the one on eBay I’d be wary of buying unless I could hear the engine running.
The fact it was binned and then laid up could mean the previous owner was never able to get it restarted. Possibly a simple electrical fix but could be more.
I’d try to sell it as a runner if possible.
It’s not on eBay - I’m going to try an auction next. It’s perfectly running and rides like new. I also don’t want it lying around as (it’s the OHs bike) she’s a Tenere coming next week so the old one will be uninsured. The fact it was binned and then laid up could mean the previous owner was never able to get it restarted. Possibly a simple electrical fix but could be more.
I’d try to sell it as a runner if possible.
Dog Star said:
It’s not on eBay - I’m going to try an auction next. It’s perfectly running and rides like new. I also don’t want it lying around as (it’s the OHs bike)
Oh. Assumed it was the 41k mile Streetfightered one in Trowbridge at just under £2k. Those ones are very much sensitive to the time of year when they sell and 90% of people will regard them as a project.Dog Star said:
It is. It’s also so much cheaper than anything else that the time of year ought to be irrelevant, it’s in really nice nick. It’s just taking up space and costing me money.
I’m just a bit baffled and frustrated really. I guess anything is only worth what someone is willing to pay at the time.
Yep. I just laid my bike up for winter yesterday. There's no point buying a sports bike in October unless it's literally too good a deal to be true. I’m just a bit baffled and frustrated really. I guess anything is only worth what someone is willing to pay at the time.
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