Price difference of bikes in winter and spring/early summer

[BakesBeans]

So?

Looking for a 2013 ZX6R, although won't ride it much until spring. Do you think there will be a big price difference between now and spring?

Generally, do bike prices jump at the start of summer?
____________________
Current: Kawasaki ZX636
Previous Bike: Honda CBR600F ABS, Yamaha XJ6 F Diversion ABS, Honda VFR400 NC30

[MC]

Summer yes.

I'd say you can still find bargains in spring time. However the bargains are people normally people throwing in the towel (at this time of year) because it has got too cold for them, so 125's and more typical 'first' big bikes.

Before and after xmas can also be a good time as people are short of cash.
____________________
Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[Pigeon]

You may have just missed it. I've been keeping an eye on ebay and gumtree. There was a noticeable increase of bikes and lowering of prices around November.

Now there are bikes which are overpriced and have been on for 8 weeks. So you might be able to put an offer in and the owner will have realised it's time to accept less.

I was looking last year from Jan to March and there was nothing, just really expensive stuff (in my mind). I bought the cheapest bike on ebay (within 20 miles of Guildford). I swear, in April a bunch of better priced (and better condition) bikes came on.

Just because November and April had bikes, doesn't mean it's a concrete pattern, but it was definitely noticeable that Jan-Mar was dead.

[TallPaul_S]

Yeah prices might be down a little, but so is the choice. I've noticed a lack of used bikes coming into dealers - people aren't buying new (to them) bikes at this time of year, which means they aren't part exchanging their current bikes, which means dealers aren't getting much new stock in. Some dealers I've been looking at have had the same bikes since October.

Selling privately, unless they're desperate to sell most people will wait until spring to get more money.

If you're looking for a new bike though dealers will chomp your arm off to get your custom!
____________________
00 Honda VFR800 | 09 Aprilia Tuono Factory
CBT 06/03/2014 | Mod 1 and Mod 2 passed 15/10/2014

[stevo as b4]

This is definitely true!
The seasonal variation used to be more noticeable 10years ago. More people used to buy and sell move bikes on in the autum and spring.
Even the 2strokes were cheap then.

You have the lack of bikes secondhand in the market problem now, but you also have the economic situation, where people are not going out buying £12k bikes for fun/summer leisure use as it's not a good use of their money.

The same people will hold on to good new/newer bikes longer, again due to money/economy issues, and also the ones with a bike to sell, are not always desperate to get rid to fund the next bike with. They just want as much money back as possible, so they will wait until prices are at their strongest.

Add to this that sometimes winter bike prices of useless old junk, or non MOT'd and or non running bikes often go up, as their are restorers and project builders looking for a winter project bike. Their are less project bikes to go around now too, so prices have risen for these bikes too. Say you want an XT500 or a KR1S or whatever there are fewer non restored salvageable examples left, but both these bikes and 100's more are very sought after for projects and resto's so you have a lot of people competing for them on ebay etc.

[thepuma]

Not much in it...buy when you want to rather than when you think you may save a few quid.
____________________
YBR125 (SOLD) - CBR250R(SOLD) - CBR650F(SOLD) Current - Street Triple
765 RS

[Polarbear]

Maybe in January when the christmas credit card bills come in, but then only if you are flexible on the bike you look to buy.
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[c-m]

I've noticed a fair few bikes are more expensive now than they were in spring summer.

I've never seen this supposed drop in price in used bikes during the winter. There's less demand for bikes for in the winter, but also a lot less bikes for sale.

[image riot]

For the bikes that have been for sale for a while it's worth going in for a low offer. 'He who dares' and all that. My 929 blade was up for sale in November 2010 for 2.5k and noticed it was not getting any takers so I went in with an offer of £1700. He accepted it on the condition I could pick it up quickly as he had already bought another bike. I was there the following morning At the time people were asking £3500 for a 929.
____________________
GSXR750 > GSXR1100 > ZX9R > CBR900RRP >CBR929RR>K1200S