Does the winter bargain mentality still exist?
Discussion
Hi all
So I'm in the market for a second bike. I'm not in a rush. I don't "need" it therefore I can choose to select the time of purchase. My question is then...does the winter bargain mentality still exist?
If I were to pop along to a local dealer and attempt to get a bargain/good deal (not main dealer as I won't be buying new). Lets assume 31st Jan, presumably business post Xmas will be dead, end of the month sales staff keen to meet their quota. Does this kind of thing actually exist in the real world?
You hear of it all the time, or at least people talk about it, is it actually a thing?
I've been spending way too long on AT/Ebay looking at bikes and second hand prices seem stupid to me.
Best strategy for obtaining a winter bargain? Will dealers really be that keen to make a sale?
I'll be a full cash buyer, no trade in, no finance.
So I'm in the market for a second bike. I'm not in a rush. I don't "need" it therefore I can choose to select the time of purchase. My question is then...does the winter bargain mentality still exist?
If I were to pop along to a local dealer and attempt to get a bargain/good deal (not main dealer as I won't be buying new). Lets assume 31st Jan, presumably business post Xmas will be dead, end of the month sales staff keen to meet their quota. Does this kind of thing actually exist in the real world?
You hear of it all the time, or at least people talk about it, is it actually a thing?
I've been spending way too long on AT/Ebay looking at bikes and second hand prices seem stupid to me.
Best strategy for obtaining a winter bargain? Will dealers really be that keen to make a sale?
I'll be a full cash buyer, no trade in, no finance.
Its not really a thing but this time of year is a good time as its longer to hold out until Spring.
If you go looking in January dealers know sales will pick up in 2/3 months and they need stock.
If you buy in November its possibly a bike they've had hanging around since the Summer and its still 5+ months until sales pick up.
There are also more buyers than sellers in winter. In years of following the market I think August is a good time as there are loads of bikes and not that many buyers.
You might get lucky but with fewer bikes for sale you are likely to have to travel farther for exactly what you want.
In my experience Superbike Factory will hoover up loads of bikes in the winter ready for next year.
If you go looking in January dealers know sales will pick up in 2/3 months and they need stock.
If you buy in November its possibly a bike they've had hanging around since the Summer and its still 5+ months until sales pick up.
There are also more buyers than sellers in winter. In years of following the market I think August is a good time as there are loads of bikes and not that many buyers.
You might get lucky but with fewer bikes for sale you are likely to have to travel farther for exactly what you want.
In my experience Superbike Factory will hoover up loads of bikes in the winter ready for next year.
I have a couple of bikes for sale at the moment, and the people that have made offers way below asking price seem to do so "as winter is coming up"..
When I ask them why that matters.. their reply is usually something along the lines off "well I can't use the bike until spring".
They think their choice of when to ride should affect the bikes value and they should get a deal because they only want to use the bike a few months a year.
I ride all year, so I don't get the winter mentality, nor am I selling bikes as a business, so they can stay and be used by me as they currently are.
I don't like selling to people in general mind you.. f
king waste of time..
When I ask them why that matters.. their reply is usually something along the lines off "well I can't use the bike until spring".
They think their choice of when to ride should affect the bikes value and they should get a deal because they only want to use the bike a few months a year.
I ride all year, so I don't get the winter mentality, nor am I selling bikes as a business, so they can stay and be used by me as they currently are.
I don't like selling to people in general mind you.. f
king waste of time.. the cueball said:
I have a couple of bikes for sale at the moment, and the people that have made offers way below asking price seem to do so "as winter is coming up"..
When I ask them why that matters.. their reply is usually something along the lines off "well I can't use the bike until spring".
They think their choice of when to ride should affect the bikes value and they should get a deal because they only want to use the bike a few months a year.
I ride all year, so I don't get the winter mentality, nor am I selling bikes as a business, so they can stay and be used by me as they currently are.
I don't like selling to people in general mind you.. fking waste of time..
Yeah that's just silly really. My angle was more aimed at dealer wanting to make a deal because winter is slower sales wise, rather than being owed money because it's winter and bikes should be cheaper for that same reason which is obviously false. When I ask them why that matters.. their reply is usually something along the lines off "well I can't use the bike until spring".
They think their choice of when to ride should affect the bikes value and they should get a deal because they only want to use the bike a few months a year.
I ride all year, so I don't get the winter mentality, nor am I selling bikes as a business, so they can stay and be used by me as they currently are.
I don't like selling to people in general mind you.. f
king waste of time.. Depends what you're looking for.
Used bikes are currently the cheapest they've been in a long time and most things up to 8 or so years old are well priced.
Anything older than that tends to be overpriced for its age and mileage.
There's a reason why decent £1000 bikes aren't a thing, even if they're 20+ years old.
Used bikes are currently the cheapest they've been in a long time and most things up to 8 or so years old are well priced.
Anything older than that tends to be overpriced for its age and mileage.
There's a reason why decent £1000 bikes aren't a thing, even if they're 20+ years old.
My experience is that there are always bargains to be had over winter.
Big dealers still have targets to meet, smaller dealers need some cashflow, private sellers either have debts to pay or have realised they have an expensive lump of metal sitting in the garage doing nothing that they have barely used this year.
Private sales tend to hit rock-bottom for prices in mid-late January when the credit card bill from Christmas has hit the doormat and the seller's Mrs is in full-on nag-mode.
Big dealers still have targets to meet, smaller dealers need some cashflow, private sellers either have debts to pay or have realised they have an expensive lump of metal sitting in the garage doing nothing that they have barely used this year.
Private sales tend to hit rock-bottom for prices in mid-late January when the credit card bill from Christmas has hit the doormat and the seller's Mrs is in full-on nag-mode.
Well this is a good point. Maybe a top tip for buyers out there who don't know.
Autotrader doesn't tell you how long bikes have ben listed for. I feel this is key information when looking into a bike. Both from a buyer power perspective but also it raises the suspicion flag in my head. However, if you look at the URL in the listing the first 8 digits show the date of listing, for example:
This lovely BMW R1250RS (picked at random) has been listed since 27th Aug 2025 (20250827). See the faint circling of the URL section at the top of the image.
Autotrader doesn't tell you how long bikes have ben listed for. I feel this is key information when looking into a bike. Both from a buyer power perspective but also it raises the suspicion flag in my head. However, if you look at the URL in the listing the first 8 digits show the date of listing, for example:
This lovely BMW R1250RS (picked at random) has been listed since 27th Aug 2025 (20250827). See the faint circling of the URL section at the top of the image.
Edited by Evo Sean on Friday 7th November 09:33
Evo Sean said:
Well this is a good point. Maybe a top tip for buyers out there who don't know.
Autotrader doesn't tell you how long bikes have ben listed for. I feel this is key information when looking into a bike. Both from a buyer power perspective but also it raises the suspicion flag in my head. However, if you look at the URL in the listing the first 8 digits show the date of listing, for example:
This lovely BMW R1250RS (picked at random) has been listed since 27th Aug 2025 (20250827). See the faint circling of the URL section at the top of the image.
13k for a 3/4yr old bike?!Autotrader doesn't tell you how long bikes have ben listed for. I feel this is key information when looking into a bike. Both from a buyer power perspective but also it raises the suspicion flag in my head. However, if you look at the URL in the listing the first 8 digits show the date of listing, for example:
This lovely BMW R1250RS (picked at random) has been listed since 27th Aug 2025 (20250827). See the faint circling of the URL section at the top of the image.
Edited by Evo Sean on Friday 7th November 09:33
In my own head, Id view that bike at 7500/8k max.
Evo Sean said:
Well this is a good point. Maybe a top tip for buyers out there who don't know.
Autotrader doesn't tell you how long bikes have ben listed for. I feel this is key information when looking into a bike. Both from a buyer power perspective but also it raises the suspicion flag in my head. However, if you look at the URL in the listing the first 8 digits show the date of listing, for example:
This lovely BMW R1250RS (picked at random) has been listed since 27th Aug 2025 (20250827). See the faint circling of the URL section at the top of the image.
That is a good point, I never knew that.. thanks.... off to AT to stalk bikes.. Autotrader doesn't tell you how long bikes have ben listed for. I feel this is key information when looking into a bike. Both from a buyer power perspective but also it raises the suspicion flag in my head. However, if you look at the URL in the listing the first 8 digits show the date of listing, for example:
This lovely BMW R1250RS (picked at random) has been listed since 27th Aug 2025 (20250827). See the faint circling of the URL section at the top of the image.
Hugo Stiglitz v2 said:
Evo Sean said:
Well this is a good point. Maybe a top tip for buyers out there who don't know.
Autotrader doesn't tell you how long bikes have ben listed for. I feel this is key information when looking into a bike. Both from a buyer power perspective but also it raises the suspicion flag in my head. However, if you look at the URL in the listing the first 8 digits show the date of listing, for example:
This lovely BMW R1250RS (picked at random) has been listed since 27th Aug 2025 (20250827). See the faint circling of the URL section at the top of the image.
13k for a 3/4yr old bike?!Autotrader doesn't tell you how long bikes have ben listed for. I feel this is key information when looking into a bike. Both from a buyer power perspective but also it raises the suspicion flag in my head. However, if you look at the URL in the listing the first 8 digits show the date of listing, for example:
This lovely BMW R1250RS (picked at random) has been listed since 27th Aug 2025 (20250827). See the faint circling of the URL section at the top of the image.
Edited by Evo Sean on Friday 7th November 09:33
In my own head, Id view that bike at 7500/8k max.
Seriously though, I think they're leaning heavily into the mileage and specs of that one, colour is gash, with a 2 year main dealer warranty I'd think £10k.
3 of my 4 last bikes that I bought brand new were for cash, in winter, with considerable amounts off list.
Honda Fireblade - 18% off list
Honda Transalp - 19% off list
Yamaha MT10 - 15% off list
If you don't have a bike to sell or trade and don't expect mega discounts of certain brands and bikes, it's very much still a thing. If you are not set on a brand new model and like the run out models too over winter, then awesome new deals are also available in winter. KTM are always only worth buying in the winter when they have their big discounts. BMW less so, but still some deals on new and approved used that aren't seen in the summer. My R9T was 1 year old approved used with a £1k discount due to winter.
I've always found it the best time to buy over the years. Get the bike delivered, run in on the odd nice day over winter and it's all set for spring.
For my Transalp, I bought it winter on a great deal, toured on it to Europe, decided it wasn't for me and sold it at 6 months old with 2500 miles for about a £600 loss.
Honda Fireblade - 18% off list
Honda Transalp - 19% off list
Yamaha MT10 - 15% off list
If you don't have a bike to sell or trade and don't expect mega discounts of certain brands and bikes, it's very much still a thing. If you are not set on a brand new model and like the run out models too over winter, then awesome new deals are also available in winter. KTM are always only worth buying in the winter when they have their big discounts. BMW less so, but still some deals on new and approved used that aren't seen in the summer. My R9T was 1 year old approved used with a £1k discount due to winter.
I've always found it the best time to buy over the years. Get the bike delivered, run in on the odd nice day over winter and it's all set for spring.
For my Transalp, I bought it winter on a great deal, toured on it to Europe, decided it wasn't for me and sold it at 6 months old with 2500 miles for about a £600 loss.
Evo Sean said:
Autotrader doesn't tell you how long bikes have ben listed for. I feel this is key information when looking into a bike. Both from a buyer power perspective but also it raises the suspicion flag in my head. However, if you look at the URL in the listing the first 8 digits show the date of listing, for example:
This lovely BMW R1250RS (picked at random) has been listed since 27th Aug 2025 (20250827). See the faint circling of the URL section at the top of the image.
Extremely useful and entertaining. I know it exists for Edge and Chrome browsers, not sure about other ones.
Edited by FullyReclined on Friday 7th November 15:47
Edited by FullyReclined on Friday 7th November 15:48
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