HOW-TO GUIDES

How to Sell Your Motorcycle

Today, selling your motorcycle is easier than ever thanks to a growing variety of online options for sellers. Of course, with all these options, you still have to know where to start.

Dig into this guide to selling your motorcycle and discover just how to move your motorcycle—whether it’s privately or to a dealer. Below, you’ll find tips and insights covering the whole process, from start all the way to final sale.

HOW TO GET A VALUATION ON YOUR MOTORCYCLE

Once you’ve chosen to part ways with your motorcycle, the first matter of concern is just how much you’ll sell it for—or at least how much you’ll try to sell it for. There’s a bit of art and science to putting a value on your motorcycle. To get to your number, you should do some research using the following sources:

Book values: Numbers from the likes of Kelley Blue Book and J.D. Power can serve as a helpful starting point.
Private sale listings: Peruse listings of the same or similar motorcycles. This is often the best and easiest way to gauge just how much your own motorcycle might fetch should you go the route of a private sale.
Dealer trade-in: Head to a Harley-Davidson® dealer with your motorcycle to get a trade-in appraisal. Or, if you own a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle, you can simply use our motorcycle listing form to receive an instant third-party valuation to trade in or sell your motorcycle.
Professional appraisal: Lastly, you can always hire a pro to inspect your motorcycle and provide a detailed report. This option is usually more expensive but can be useful if you are planning to sell your motorcycle for a high price or have a particularly unique ride that’s more difficult to find comps for.

As you learn more about the potential value of your motorcycle, however, it might help to start thinking of two prices, instead of just one:

Your asking price: the price you’ll list in your ad and ultimately hope for
Your selling price: the minimum price for which you’ll actually accept an offer

Of course, coming up with these two distinct price points is not entirely necessary: your asking price could ultimately be a firm number. If you wind up selling privately, be sure to make clear that you are not open to offers within your ad.

CHOOSE WHERE YOU’LL SELL YOUR MOTORCYCLE

With a price in mind, it’s time to make the next important decision in selling your motorcycle: where you’ll sell it. Consider the following options:

LOCAL DEALERSHIPS

You can approach local motorcycle dealerships to sell your motorcycle. Dealers will typically offer trade-in value or an outright sale. Even if making a deal is not right for them, they may be able to point you in the direction of another interested party.

ONLINE MARKETPLACES

Online sites are popular venues for selling all kinds of things, including motorcycles, thanks in part to their ability to extend the reach of your listing. The H-D1™ Marketplace, for example, helps get your motorcycle in front of a huge audience of enthusiasts, both in your area and around the country.

HOW TO SELL YOUR MOTORCYCLE ONLINE IN THE H-D1™ MARKETPLACE

For riders looking to sell their motorcycles, the H-D1™ Marketplace offers the flexibility and convenience of both dealership and private party selling. Each option can be completed easily online. As one of the fastest-growing sales sites in the motorcycle industry, your listing will reach a sizeable audience and help you get a serious offer and the best return on your motorcycle.

HOW TO SELL YOUR MOTORCYCLE TO A DEALER

The process for trading in or selling your motorcycle to a dealer on the Marketplace is simple. Simply submit your contact information, along with the details and photos of your motorcycle in our listing form. You will also be able to choose the type of deal you’re looking for—a cash offer, trade-in credit, or either. This information will be sent to dealers of your choice, from our entire network, who will review your information, and communicate an offer.

Once you’ve received your offer, you may review it and enter negotiations with the dealer until you reach a deal that’s satisfactory for both parties. The H-D1™ Marketplace streamlines the process of listing your motorcycle and finding a dealer to buy your motorcycle, with many deals being struck in just a few days’ time.

HOW TO SELL YOUR MOTORCYCLE PRIVATELY

To sell your Harley-Davidson® motorcycle privately and showcase it to thousands of individuals and dealers across the country on the H-D1™ Marketplace, you can create and place a listing for a small cost.

Listing your motorcycle is a breeze. All it takes is:

Submit contact information along with details about your motorcycle. This includes photos, title information, and more. After submitting, you can edit and manage your listing at any time.
Once your listing is approved and published, potential buyers will be able to see it on the H-D1™ Marketplace—and you will have a link that you can share on social media, in online classifieds, and beyond.
Potential buyers can indicate their interest, after which you will receive their contact information and engage directly regarding the sale.

Accelerating the connections made between sellers and thousands of potential buyers, the H-D1™ Marketplace makes it as easy as possible to sell your Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. Learn more about how to get started selling your motorcycle today. Also learn how to buy a used motorcycle on H-D1 Marketplace.