Selling your motorcycle: our handbook with all the dos and donts!

In this handbook, we give you all the dos and donts when selling your motorcycle. We cover topics such as preps, setting the right price, writing a good advert and organizing test rides. Ultimately you’ll boost your chances of getting a good resale value for your bike whilst avoiding scams.

[updated Jan 2025]

Introduction

So, the season’s wrapping up, and maybe you’re thinking about getting a new ride. Since not everyone has the space or budget to keep multiple bikes, you’ll probably need to sell your current one.

In a previous article, we gave you some tips for buying a used vehicle (here).

This time, we’re flipping the script and giving you a checklist to maximize your chances when selling your bike.

Here’s how this article is laid out:

  1. Prepping the bike and documents
  2. Setting the right price and planning your negotiation strategy
  3. Where and when to sell your bike
  4. How to organize test rides
  5. Closing the deal
  6. Avoiding scams

If you’re thinking of trading in your bike at the dealership, this article might not be for you—unless you’re considering consignment (more on that in part 3).

However, keep in mind that you’ll likely get a lower price than if you sell it yourself directly to a buyer.

Let’s dive into the important factors you need to nail down to get the best resale value.
selling motorcycle handbook


1. Prepping the Bike

1.1 Preparing the Documents

There are usually two types of owners:

  1. Those who keep every receipt and meticulously fill out the maintenance log.
  2. And those who are, let’s say, a bit more lax.

Having documentation that proves your bike’s maintenance is a big plus for resale. Even if it’s not a 100% guarantee, it shows the bike’s been cared for according to the manufacturer’s standards.

Keeping a folder with the main receipts—not necessarily for every oil change but for regular services—will reassure the potential buyer that the bike has been looked after.

1.2 Prepping the Bike and the Ad

1.2.1 Thorough Cleaning

This might seem obvious to some, but as the saying goes,

you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

A potential buyer will decide within seconds whether they’re interested or ready to walk away.
And a dirty bike can be a major turn-off.

Now, it all depends on the bike you’re selling. If it’s a third-hand bike with 60,000 km on the clock, it might be overkill to polish every nook and cranny.

But a thorough wash—including the fairings, wheels, and chain kit, if applicable—is a good start.

If you’re selling a more “premium” or newer bike, a deeper clean using various cleaning products might be necessary to freshen up the plastics, remove chain grease stains, etc.
You can find these products in specialty stores, or you can make your own.

Here’s a little trick to make a 100% natural plastic shine restorer that’ll only cost you a few cents:

  1. In a container, pour 50ml of linseed oil
  2. Add 1 tablespoon of liquid black soap
  3. Add 100ml of water
  4. Mix well and pour the mixture into a spray bottle
  5. Apply to the plastics you want to restore
  6. Dry/buff with a microfiber cloth

That’s it! Simple as that!

For tougher stains, Vulcanet wipes can also come in handy.

And WD40, known worldwide for its lubricants/sprays, also offers a full range of bike cleaning products.

selling motorcycle handbook

selling motorcycle handbook

1.2.2 Taking (good) photos

With today’s smartphones and their high-quality cameras, there’s no excuse not to take decent photos of your bike.
Make sure to:

  1. Position your bike against a neutral background (a wall, garage door, etc.)
  2. Avoid backlighting and ensure good lighting
  3. Take photos of the whole bike,
  4. As well as close-ups of certain details, especially accessories that could add value

A good photo is worth a thousand words, and by preparing a good ad with quality photos, you can filter out some buyers right from the start.

1.2.3 Writing the Ad Text

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for success here.

But generally speaking, more information is better than less.

Sure, people today don’t always take the time to read everything thoroughly.
At Cruizador, we could probably write an encyclopedia on the topic 😉

But be sure to mention:

  • The type of bike (brand, model, year, etc.)
  • The mileage (whether it’s likely to change or not)
  • Factory options
  • Aftermarket accessories
  • Any work done and maintenance history
  • Date of the last technical inspection

Also, mention any issues or points that might concern a buyer, like a scratch on the fairing or a dent on the windshield.

This will help filter out buyers ahead of time and avoid situations where someone shows up for a test ride and, upon noticing something unexpected, either haggles aggressively or leaves as quickly as they arrived.

By being upfront and setting a fair price (more on that later), you can establish a healthier negotiation environment.

Finally, mention whether the bike is registered and available for a test ride.

If it’s not, that could be a dealbreaker for some buyers.
selling motorcycle handbook


2. Setting the Right Price

It’s only natural to try and get the best price for your bike.

But if you’re too greedy, you might turn off potential buyers.

Of course, the type of bike you’re selling will also have an impact:

  • Some brands depreciate faster than others
  • Some types of bikes are more or less in demand (adventure bikes vs. supersport)
  • Some models are inexplicably more sought-after…

Timing will also affect the price.

If you’re in a hurry to sell for any reason, setting a lower-than-market price might speed up the sale.
But setting the price too low could make buyers suspicious. So, avoid pricing it too low.

And let’s be honest, buyers will try to negotiate.

If you’re selling for a good reason (e.g., lack of use), don’t hesitate to justify your price in your ad, citing any upgrades or modifications, for example.

In any case, benchmarking will help you narrow down the price range.

Take a look at the various platforms (Anibis, Tutti, FB Marketplace, Motoscout) to see where the competition stands.

Sites like L’Argus and LaCentrale also offer estimates. But mainly for the French market.

And adjust your price accordingly.

2.1 How should modifications/options/accessories be valued?

Generally speaking, all options that are not factory options, and in particular all cosmetic modifications, are sold at a loss.

How can you expect a buyer to agree to pay for the covering of your bike, or your custom saddle?

As far as comfort accessories are concerned, such as a top case or side cases on a trail bike, heated grips or a GPS could add a little to the resale price, but no more than the residual value.

Now, if you’ve kept the original parts, you can also offer to give the buyer the original bike and reduce the selling price, while reselling the parts yourself.

For ‘standard’ parts such as Rizoma handlebar end mirrors, which can be easily fitted to almost any bike, you’ll find it fairly easy to find buyers.

Now, for model-specific accessories, such as a complete exhaust system for example, it could be more complicated…

2.2 What About Consumables (Tires, Brake Pads, Battery, etc.)?

If the consumables are in good shape, mention it in the ad.

This lets the buyer know they don’t need to budget for additional expenses and that the bike is ready to ride.

If that’s not the case, you have two options:

  1. Do nothing and be ready to lower the price a bit to account for the necessary replacements (e.g., new tires).
  2. Take care of the maintenance yourself to keep the selling price as high as possible.

But is it really worth spending money when you’re trying to sell the bike without knowing how long it’ll take to find a buyer?

It’s up to you to decide if you want to take that “risk.”

2.3 Negotiation Strategy

Based on the factors mentioned above, you can determine your desired selling price.

We recommend marking it up by 10-20% max to give yourself some room for negotiation.

You should also define what’s known in negotiation as a walk-away point (WAP), which is the lowest price you’re willing to accept and would signal the end of the discussion.

But think carefully and consider the costs of keeping the bike for an extended period.

Over time, you’ll need to maintain your bike, even if it’s not being ridden: tire rubber dries out, brake fluid needs to be bled and replaced, moisture and condensation can build up in the engine, etc.

So, wouldn’t it be better to lower your expectations a bit to free up space in your garage and get some cash you can use for other things?

Only you can answer that question…

In any case, mention in your ad whether the price is firm or negotiable. But we recommend wording it like this:

“Price negotiable in person, within reason.”

selling motorcycle handbook


3. Where and when to sell

3.1 Where to Sell Your Bike?

There are various options for selling your bike, depending on your budget and how much time and energy you want to invest:

Online Marketplaces

    • Anibis*, Tutti*, Ricardo**, Motoscout***, FB Marketplace, , etc.
    • Most platforms allow you to create an ad for free, but you might have to pay to increase its visibility or have extended features.

* Since December 2024, Anibis/Tutti charge 19,90 CHF/60 days for all ads having a price bigger than 5’000CHF more. This has resulted in a drop in visibility, with users turning to other platforms (such as Facebook).

** Ricardo takes a 11% commission on the resale price (max 290.- CHF).

*** Motoscout is the pricier option. They charge 39.- CHF per ad for 14 days, and 69.- CHF for 30 days.

Social Media

    • This includes posting in groups on Facebook, where you can reach a specific target audience.

Word of Mouth

    • Telling your friends that you’re selling your bike might help you find a buyer quickly. But unless you’re selling it to a friend, we wouldn’t recommend it. You could be held responsible if the bike breaks down later on.
    • “Yeah, but your bike just gave up on me, and you’re my buddy, so what are you going to do about it?”

Dealership/Consignment

    • If you’re really pressed for time or don’t want to deal with the hassle, you can go to a dealership and ask them to sell the bike for you.
    • But keep in mind, they’ll charge a commission (around 10%) on the sale.

Cruizador

    • On Cruizador, since 2023, you can also indicate in your ad whether the vehicle is for sale, the price you want and the mileage.
    • You can also indicate whether you want to offer 2 days’ rental if the prospect buys your vehicle in the end.
    • This will reassure the prospect about the condition of the vehicle in case of doubt.
    • During the hire period, the vehicle is fully insured by Cruizador.
    • And if the buyer decides to buy the vehicle on return from the rental, you can give him the rental costs as a gift. And that’s a good selling point.

In short, it’s in your interest to do so. And in any case, it’s also in your interest to publish your ad on as many websites as possible.

An ad in a German, French, or Italian-speaking region might generate additional interest.

3.2 When to Sell Your Bike?

Timing is key!

In theory, people ride more in the summer and sell more in the fall.

However, with the warming climate, the season is gradually lengthening, so it might be worth waiting for spring to sell.

And the longer you wait, the more you risk having to renew your technical inspection or do additional maintenance on your bike.

If you’re planning to sell your bike in October and it needs a new inspection by the end of the year, you’ll have to factor in the cost of a renewal if it doesn’t sell quickly.

Also, when setting your price, consider the following elements:

  • Is the technical inspection still valid for a while?
  • What maintenance will need to be done if you still have the bike next year?

selling motorcycle handbook


4. Test Ride

Now that you’ve

  1. prepared and cleaned your bike
  2. taken pictures
  3. set your desired price
  4. written and posted your advert

You’ll no doubt be receiving the first requests to visit, which will lead to, who knows, the first test drives.

Provided, of course, that the buyer hasn’t started haggling at 50% below the starting price without even seeing the bike!

If that’s the case, we’d recommend that you tell them to move on.

If the potential buyer has come and checked the vehicle while it was stationary, he’ll no doubt ask you to take it for a test drive.

Without warming up the engine and driving it, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to detect oil leaks, clutch problems, suspension problems and so on.

Etiquette would also dictate that you accede to his request, otherwise the buyer risks cutting short the negotiation.

But you’re entitled to accompany him as a passenger if you’re not really comfortable with the idea. But that also means playing the passenger with someone you’ve never seen drive before. It’s up to you…

But in any case, you’ll have to:

  1. Visually check the person’s driving licence and take a photo (both sides).
  2. And for non-Swiss licences, ask for proof of address (e.g. a telephone or gas bill, etc.).

With these documents, in the event of a traffic offence, it will be possible to clear you through customs with the regional DMV.

Finally, don’t hesitate to ask him to leave his latest smartphone as a deposit during the trial. Given the price of phones at the moment, this could put off any bad intentions.

selling motorcycle handbook


5. Finalizing the Sale

Great! After multiple viewings and a test ride, you’ve found a buyer who meets your criteria and is willing to pay the price you’re asking.

But you’re not done yet! So what’s next?

Payment

There are several options: payment in cash, bank transfer and, since August 2024 in Switzerland, instant payment.

This is an instant bank payment, as the name suggests, which allows an almost immediate transfer between 2 bank accounts. Usually in less than 5 minutes.

Although there is no legal maximum amount for cash exchanges, we recommend that you use bank transfers or instant payments to avoid problems such as counterfeit notes.

Without being paranoid, if you’re selling a motorbike for more than 15,000CHF, you’d prefer the transaction to take place in the more or less secure setting of a bank, rather than a cash transaction.

It also avoids having to walk around with a large sum of money and pay it into your account at the counter.

Administrative

Theoretically, there’s no need to draw up a sales contract. A handshake may suffice. But because 2 precautions are better than one, you can download a standard contract to seal the sale between the two parties. See, for example, the TCS or Comparis, which provide standard contracts free of charge.

As far as the vehicle registration document is concerned, the owner/seller will only provide it once he/she has received the full sale price.

We’re seeing an upsurge in attempted scams of the type where the buyer pays a deposit and only agrees to pay the rest of the amount after receiving the cancelled vehicle registration document.

And, of course, once they have the vehicle registration document in their possession, they change ownership without paying the full amount.

As a reminder, unless ‘code 178’ is written on the vehicle registration document, i.e. ‘change of owner prohibited’, anyone in possession of a vehicle registration document can go to the DMV in their region and change ownership without being asked for any proof.

The rule is as follows:

  1. Once the full sale price has been received
  2. The former owner cancels the vehicle registration document with his DMV and
    sends it by post to the new owner
  3. Who can then make the change at his local DMV.

It should be noted that there would also be the possibility, provided that the seller had received his full payment, of letting the buyer leave with the motorbike, its registration plate and the registration document.

The buyer would then be able to take the vehicle home, change it and post the registration plate back to the previous owner. Without having to come back another time to collect the motorbike after dealing with the SAN.

You can imagine this happening when the buyer and seller live far apart (e.g. a guy from Geneva buying a motorbike in Ticino).

However, the owner of the vehicle remains liable as long as his or her name is on the registration document. This applies in particular to third-party liability. Indeed, according to art. 58ss of the LCR, it is the holder of the vehicle registration document who is liable in the first instance for the vehicle.

We strongly recommend that you avoid this solution in practice, given the risks involved in the event of a problem.

selling motorcycle handbook


6. Avoiding Scams

The web is full of scams, and you should never trust anything blindly. In general, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Here are some of the most common scams to avoid:

  1. Overpayment Scam:
    • The scammer sends a cashier’s check or another payment method for more than the bike’s selling price and asks you to refund the difference.
    • Once you’ve sent the refund, you find out that the original payment was fake or canceled.
  2. Escrow Fraud:
    • The scammer suggests using an escrow service to handle the transaction but sets up a fake site that mimics a real one.
    • They get your payment and vanish, leaving you without your money and without a buyer.
  3. ID Theft:
    • Be cautious when sharing personal details like your address or bank account number.
    • Scammers can use this information to steal your identity or empty your bank account.
  4. There is a fairly common scam in this respect.
    • A foreign buyer is interested in your vehicle
    • He agrees to buy it without testing it or even seeing it
    • And to complete the transaction, you have to use a third-party carrier and
      pay a deposit, usually a few hundred francs, which will be reimbursed to you later.
    • You might as well say that neither the buyer nor the carrier really exists. And the only thing you can be sure of is that you will be cheated out of a few hundred francs.

Always trust your gut feeling. If a buyer seems too eager or if something feels off, take a step back and reassess the situation. It’s better to miss out on a sale than to fall victim to a scam.

selling motorcycle handbook


Conclusion

Selling your bike can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! With the tips in this article, you can avoid common pitfalls, set a fair price, and ultimately find the right buyer. Just remember to prep your bike, be honest in your ad, and keep safety and security in mind throughout the process.

Happy selling and do not hesitate do read up our other tips and tricks on our dedicated blog.

boost bike resale valueselling motorcycle handbook

Cruizador

Hey, I'm the founder and Chief Biker Officer of Cruizador. I've been a motorcyclist and travel enthusiast for a long time, and it was in 2018 that I decided to launch this new service, hoping that it would speak to as many bikers as possible who share the same philosophy and the same thirst for the great outdoors. I'd be delighted to take note of your comments, ideas for improvement, etc. Ride on!

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