How to sell high mileage bike?
How to sell high mileage bike?
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Discussion

mikey_b

Original Poster:

2,432 posts

66 months

As mentioned in other threads, I’m pondering changing my 2013 Tiger Sport to a different bike. Mostly, just for the sake of a change after 12 years. The problem is, the Tiger is now a fairly old and very high mileage bike - 80k miles, which is about double the next highest one on Autotrader or eBay. Even ‘we buy any bike’ don’t want it. There’s nothing wrong with it, everything works OK and it handles its role of ‘get me to work in central London a couple of times a week’ perfectly. But with that high mileage I don’t really know what to do with it. I’m not even sure what it would be worth - probably not much in cash terms! I haven’t yet asked, but I suspect any trade-in price would be extremely low. EBay with a low reserve? Facebook marketplace?

trickywoo

13,419 posts

251 months

I’d eBay it at a fixed few hundred less than the next cheapest.

It’s definitely an advantage being the cheapest roadworthy bike on the market.

Rubin215

4,196 posts

177 months

Honest, warts-and-all description, plenty of decent photos and a 99p start price auction on ebay with the reserve set at the minimum you would accept.

Ebay is a great leveller between what people think something is worth and what someone is actually willing to pay for it.

ssray

1,258 posts

246 months

eBay , Facebook marketplace would leave you in tears at the stupid offers

A500leroy

7,487 posts

139 months

Honestly?

It's not even worth selling, if you have space just keep it as your winter hack.

darkyoung1000

2,367 posts

217 months

Rubin215 said:
Honest, warts-and-all description, plenty of decent photos and a 99p start price auction on ebay with the reserve set at the minimum you would accept.

Ebay is a great leveller between what people think something is worth and what someone is actually willing to pay for it.
This seems like very good advice. I sold my high mileage Ducati 749 (eventually) in 2024 and there has to be a big enough gap in price between the high mileage one and the next most expensive one with half the mileage for people to be willing to take on the perceived risk of a high mileage bike.

I found it really helped showing that you’d taken good care of it and fixed stuff/done preventative maintenance. That said, I didn’t get what I was hoping for on mine, but was ultimately happy to have sold it on.

General Price

5,968 posts

204 months

Never mind selling it,how the hell have you gone in and out of central London for 12yrs and still have it?

biggrin

thepawbroon

1,275 posts

205 months

Interesting conundrum.....I would be interested where you end up.

I am in a fairly similar situation, I have a 2007 Tiger 1050. The mileage is lower (36,000) and it's a little scruffy here and there. But the main issue is that the headers are cracked - getting replacements or repair seems to be a well-known problem.

So other than trade-in, I reckon it might be hard to shift.

My biking has changed, I used to commute and tour regularly, but since WFH / kids came along, all that has gone. So I think I would like something more "Sunday morning" - the Royal Enfield Bear is grabbing my attention. So as soon as the roads thaw, I will head up to the RE dealer and see what deals might be possible.


Pebbles167

4,345 posts

173 months

I often buy high milage bikes.

I bought a 60k Yamaha Fazer, a 50k BMW K1200R and the last SV650 was a 2009 with over 70k when I bought it.

I also saw a 2018 Versys with over 100k with a lot of interest. I'd have bought it had I not found a 50k mile honda locally.

My point being there is definitely demand. My opinion is that if it's made it this far, it's working well and has been looked after, at least somewhat.

In my case each bike was at least about 20-30% cheaper than an average miler. Price yours sensibly and you shouldn't have a problem selling it.

P675

646 posts

53 months

Getting up to 27k on my 2019 s1000r and feeling like I'll just have to keep it forever redface

s p a c e m a n

11,494 posts

169 months

The problem with making it the cheapest on eBay is that you'll have to pay sellers fees which means you'll get even less for it. I'd try making it the cheapest on Facebook first, you're near London and people are always looking for a cheap commuter hack about. Mileage never puts me off of anything, it's all about the condition and price.

Have you still got it
What's your lowest price mate
Will you take an Xbox and £200? wink

LunarOne

6,734 posts

158 months

Yep, same here. I only ride for fun so I don't care too much about reliability or age or mileage. Just want to be avle to try something different. I'm in the market for something old that I can spanner on, which is why newish bikes hold little appeal. There'll be plenty of demand. If you're not too far from the South-Western part of the M25 I might help relieve you of it!

dibblecorse

7,247 posts

213 months

General Price said:
Never mind selling it,how the hell have you gone in and out of central London for 12yrs and still have it?

biggrin
Because London isn't the lawless metropolis that the media would have you believe, I've commuted regularly into central London over the last 15 -20 years on a mixture of Ducatis inc a 996, Monster, Multi and Hyper ...

Not lost one yet !

LunarOne

6,734 posts

158 months

dibblecorse said:
General Price said:
Never mind selling it,how the hell have you gone in and out of central London for 12yrs and still have it?

biggrin
Because London isn't the lawless metropolis that the media would have you believe, I've commuted regularly into central London over the last 15 -20 years on a mixture of Ducatis inc a 996, Monster, Multi and Hyper ...

Not lost one yet !
Are you talking about London, UK? Not some London in Kentucky or Nebraska or somewhere?

Pebbles167

4,345 posts

173 months

s p a c e m a n said:
The problem with making it the cheapest on eBay is that you'll have to pay sellers fees which means you'll get even less for it.
£20 or so for a classified ad? Hardly expensive stuff!

s p a c e m a n said:
Have you still got it
What's your lowest price mate
Will you take an Xbox and £200? wink
Yes you'll get plenty of this though for sure, not as much as on Facebook though. Fairly easy to ignore.



warnie

1,367 posts

220 months

P675 said:
Getting up to 27k on my 2019 s1000r and feeling like I'll just have to keep it forever redface
I'm on over 30k with my Multistrada. 30k on a bike seems to be the equivalent of 150k in car terms.

Superbike factory wouldn't even make me an offer.

TurboHatchback

4,226 posts

174 months

A500leroy said:
Honestly?

It's not even worth selling, if you have space just keep it as your winter hack.
I would agree, presumably the value is low enough that insurance is minimal so I'd just keep it.

ChocolateFrog

34,268 posts

194 months

eBay no reserve unless you want to hold onto it.

Or accept a silly low trade in price.

Obison

190 posts

104 months

If you can, keep it for rubbish weather duties?
People in the main still don't understand that a bike can last indefinitely if looked after, it's far more basic than a car, an engine, frame and wheels.
Modern-ish engines will go forever with some maintenance, 90s-2ks japanese and triumph stuff in particular.
Mileage wouldn't put me off at all.

dibblecorse

7,247 posts

213 months

LunarOne said:
dibblecorse said:
General Price said:
Never mind selling it,how the hell have you gone in and out of central London for 12yrs and still have it?

biggrin
Because London isn't the lawless metropolis that the media would have you believe, I've commuted regularly into central London over the last 15 -20 years on a mixture of Ducatis inc a 996, Monster, Multi and Hyper ...

Not lost one yet !
Are you talking about London, UK? Not some London in Kentucky or Nebraska or somewhere?
Yep, I grew up in the cultural melting pot of SE13 ....