Selling a crashed bike (not an ad)

[Bikefanatic]

Hi guys and girls,

A question on bike selling etiquette:

Earlier in the year in had the misfortune to have a slow speed crash on my bike (10-15mph soft surface) (Litre sports) and the fairing panels down one side were scratched, the rest of the bike was fine and after repairing the brake lever it rides just as perfect as ever. To put new fairing panels on one side will I estimate cost £600ish). Potentially a mint condition one is £3500 using autotrader as a guide. Would I get more for a mint bike with replaced panels or is it better to sell it as is with noticeable scratches down the side (the tank etc was all fine).

If someone asks me if it has ever been crashed am I obliged to tell them? Would you? Maybe the stigma of a crash bike would be enough to knock several £100 off even though it will be mint condition with replaced panels.

Any advice appreciated.

[Ruttager]

well what you've just said I'd condense and put in the add. - obviously the scratches will lower the price but probably not by 600 if the rest of the bike is in good nick.

Easier to just go with the truth

[wiliferus]

I'd get it fixed.... I'm currently looking for a new bike, and any that have been dropped i pass by. Problem is you never know whats underneath ie bent frame, forks etc.
I think if you fix it you'll be opening it up to more potential buyers. Think about how many bikers you know who are anally retentive freaks (me included!) about their bikes, i don't know many blokes who would buy a dropped bike. I think those that would are after a cheap bargain and won't have the money you want anyway.

I'll take it off your hands for a fiver....

[Chilli]

Hello mate.
I'd replace the fairings. As there was only cosmetic damage, I woudn't say anything but if I was asked I'd tell them. I assume a large proportion of bikes get dropped....whih is pretty much what happened to yours. Tried sourcing them from ebay?

Cheers.

[Muffles]

wiliferus said:

I'd get it fixed.... I'm currently looking for a new bike, and any that have been dropped i pass by. Problem is you never know whats underneath ie bent frame, forks etc.
I think if you fix it you'll be opening it up to more potential buyers. Think about how many bikers you know who are anally retentive freaks (me included!) about their bikes, i don't know many blokes who would buy a dropped bike. I think those that would are after a cheap bargain and won't have the money you want anyway.

I'll take it off your hands for a fiver....

Hang on...you're after a new bike, but you wouldn't buy a dropped one in case it had suffered more than cosmetic damage....

But you'd buy one that has been repaired (cosmetically), might suffer from other damage, and you'd never know?

I would have thought you'd want to know it had been dropped, if your consideration was for other damage, so surely it's better to know it's been dropped so you look a bit more carefully?

[wiliferus]

Muffles said:

wiliferus said:

I'd get it fixed.... I'm currently looking for a new bike, and any that have been dropped i pass by. Problem is you never know whats underneath ie bent frame, forks etc.
I think if you fix it you'll be opening it up to more potential buyers. Think about how many bikers you know who are anally retentive freaks (me included!) about their bikes, i don't know many blokes who would buy a dropped bike. I think those that would are after a cheap bargain and won't have the money you want anyway.

I'll take it off your hands for a fiver....

Hang on...you're after a new bike, but you wouldn't buy a dropped one in case it had suffered more than cosmetic damage....

But you'd buy one that has been repaired (cosmetically), might suffer from other damage, and you'd never know?

I would have thought you'd want to know it had been dropped, if your consideration was for other damage, so surely it's better to know it's been dropped so you look a bit more carefully?

I know where you're coming from, but i was responding to the OP's question about selling it.... IMO if he fixes it he will find it easier to sell.
Obviously as a buy i would want to know the history of a bike and would rather know if its been dropped, but not everyone's that honest unfortunately. If a bike is fixed up well, sometimes ignorance can be bliss!

[Muffles]

wiliferus said:

Muffles said:

wiliferus said:

I'd get it fixed.... I'm currently looking for a new bike, and any that have been dropped i pass by. Problem is you never know whats underneath ie bent frame, forks etc.
I think if you fix it you'll be opening it up to more potential buyers. Think about how many bikers you know who are anally retentive freaks (me included!) about their bikes, i don't know many blokes who would buy a dropped bike. I think those that would are after a cheap bargain and won't have the money you want anyway.

I'll take it off your hands for a fiver....

Hang on...you're after a new bike, but you wouldn't buy a dropped one in case it had suffered more than cosmetic damage....

But you'd buy one that has been repaired (cosmetically), might suffer from other damage, and you'd never know?

I would have thought you'd want to know it had been dropped, if your consideration was for other damage, so surely it's better to know it's been dropped so you look a bit more carefully?

I know where you're coming from, but i was responding to the OP's question about selling it.... IMO if he fixes it he will find it easier to sell.
Obviously as a buy i would want to know the history of a bike and would rather know if its been dropped, but not everyone's that honest unfortunately. If a bike is fixed up well, sometimes ignorance can be bliss!

Fair enough, in terms of selling, it would probably sell more easily if it didn't have any damage. I'm not sure if it would go for a whole £600 less when the bike is £3500, but it may save a whole lot of time/hassle/having to put up with cheeky offers from it...