Non-ebay auctions: any advice?

[Undinist]

I get the impression that a fair few bikes on ebay have been sourced at an auction elsewhere. So with my bargain-hunting hat on I'm looking for the best deals. Have found three auction houses so far:

- British Car Auctions https://www.british-car-auctions.co.uk/

- HBC https://bit.ly/19hTjfT

- Bawtry https://www.bmar.co.uk/Vehicle?VendorID=-2#rows=10

Anyone have experience or tips to share?
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Current bike: K1100RS. Previous: CD200, GSX250, GT550, VFR750, K100LT, K1100LT, R1100GS, R1150GS, ZZR1100, Hayabusa, RSV Mille, MV F4 750S, R1, ZX-10, KTM Adventure 950S

[27cows]

My one (and only) tip would be to avoid these sites. Bargains do crop up but not often. Even in 2013, word of mouth is pretty much the best way to find a really good deal.

Always worth keeping an eye on ebay and the like, of course, but not much gets past the resell vultures now.
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The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[Undinist]

Word of mouth is limited for me - I only know two other bikers and they never know anything useful! How would I go about finding out what's around? I'd like to hear about Cat C bikes with accident damage...what do I do, hang around at motorcycle recovery depots? Don't those bikes all get sent to auction by default? And if I was bidding against the resell vultures why wouldn't I get a good price?
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Current bike: K1100RS. Previous: CD200, GSX250, GT550, VFR750, K100LT, K1100LT, R1100GS, R1150GS, ZZR1100, Hayabusa, RSV Mille, MV F4 750S, R1, ZX-10, KTM Adventure 950S

[Rogerborg]

I had a look at Manheim Auctions in Glasgow last year. Very limited stock, and the closing prices weren't even cheap when their cut was factored in.

Just keep trawling Gumtree and eBay and slamming in low offers. Most sellers will shriek "TIME WASTER!" at you, but you'll get a bite eventually.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[27cows]

[Rogerborg]

It's worth chasing up eBay auctions after they've finished and telling the seller that you have cash to hand if/when their "bidders" turn out to be fantasists. I got my Burger that way.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[toadoftoadhal...]

Ebay is good, if you're canny.
Do a search for finished bikes to see average sale price. Find good ones on sale, local if possible, and even if its a auction, you can still make an offer. Often they never reach reserve price, but the seller may get back to you after the auction if it doesnt sell.

[Rockhopper]

There is a Manheim auction place just up the road from me, I wasn't that impressed with the bikes I saw go through there, not especially cheap or good quality. The finance company repossessions/stolen recovered ones were more interesting but the lack of keys on a modern bike can be a very expensive drama.

[Rogerborg]

That was exactly my impression at Manheim's.

I'd expect auction bikes - especially those with a chequered past - to go cheaply. But the ones I saw going through either went for what I'd consider private retail price, or didn't meet their optimistic reserve (I didn't expect there to even be reserves on a monthly auction) and a few scruffy ones didn't get any bids at all. It was quite a sad, tawdry affair compared to car auctions, I felt sorry for the poor bikes.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike