Tips for selling a bike / scooter

Londoner2015 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 09 Nov 2015 Karma :

Hi all,

I plan to sell my Honda SH125 scooter, and would like some advice on how to go about it.

Where do you recommend advertising? I was thinking of ebay's classified ads + autotrader. Or would you recommend an ordinary auction through ebay? How about motorcyclenews.com ?

How about payment? Banker's drafts are common in other countries as they can't bounce, but here they seem to be rare, plus I wouldn't be sure I could spot a faked one (I had to pay with one once, and Natwest gave me a hand-written thingy which I, as a seller, would not have accepted!).

I was thinking: the buyer could meet me at my bank with cash, I deposit it into my account (so the bank checks the bills are genuine). Or maybe I could meet him at his bank, and he issues a wire transfer right in front of me. I would probably also accept a wire transfer issued right before we sign the V5c, but if I were a buyer I wouldn't do that!

How about exchanging copies of documents? I know what needs to be done with the V5c etc; what I mean is if it is customary to exchange, say, copies of driving licences and proofs of id, to give each other some piece of mind.

I was also thinking of setting up an email address and getting a 2nd mobile number just for this, as I am afraid of being pestered by spammers and fraudsters long after the sale.

Licence plate: would you disclose it when a potential buyer contacts you? on one hand a buyer wants to check the bike's not stolen, and the other hand I'm worried they might get my address from the plate and try stealing the bike from my home address.

I bought 2nd hand from friends in the past, so never had to worry about these points.

Thanks!

andyscooter · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 May 2009 Karma :

ebay gumtree or local facebook selling pages are good

or scooter forums like maxi muppets would be good for that one in particular

payment I would only ever take cash on collection

wouldn't worry too much about people seeing reg as when they come to your house to view they will know were you live anyway

you should have the new persons address if they buy the bike as they fill out v5c and you send it off Thumbs Up

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Londoner2015 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 09 Nov 2015 Karma :

angryjonny · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Karma :

Last bike I sold privately, I stuck on Ebay. By the time I got back from the corner shop, someone had clicked buy-it-now. He phoned, arranged a collection time and turned up on the dot, peeled 26 fifties off a bundle the size of a house-brick, filled in the V5, loaded the bike into his van without even taking it around the block and I never heard from him again. His girlfriend stayed in the van the whole time.

It felt, at the time, like I'd just been mugged, but the monies were kosher and all was good.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

eBay classified, Gumtree freebie. Keep the text and pictures in a folder locally so it's easier to post another copy every few days.

Londoner2015 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 09 Nov 2015 Karma :

faffergotgunz · Nova Slayer Joined: 10 Feb 2016 Karma :

Ebay is good
Gumtree is better in my opinion (but more timewasters)

Cash only. Everyone knows this is how you buy things.

Be honest with the description. More info the better. If it's a shed, you need to say why. Too many robbing/unhonest bastards out there.

Be polite and answer questions. The amount of dickheads that have given me 3 word responses is surprising. I don't buy from people like this anyway.
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Londoner2015 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 09 Nov 2015 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

It's a 125 scooter, it'll sell quickly without any problems or fuss if you price it right.

If you try to price it anywhere near new then you'll be waiting a long time, since any buyer can go and give Honda-San £99 and ride away today on an actual new scootay at 0% over 3 years.

Double the trouble if you require that potential buyers answer me these questions three.
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Londoner2015 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 09 Nov 2015 Karma :

Polarbear · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :

As Roger said, don't over think it. Advertise and wait for phone calls. If you don't get them there is something wrong. Your price is too high, something in the advert doesn't sound right... etc.

I have sold loads of things including bikes and cars from my house. If I don't like the look of the buyer, they don't come in to do the paperwork.

Selling a bike from a car park is something scammers and thieves do with illegal machinery, not honest sellers.
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andyscooter · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 May 2009 Karma :

You bought the extended warrantybut double check it passes onto a new owner

When mum bought her second kia because it wasn't from a dealer the wwarranty(7 year) ddidn't pass on
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

Londoner2015 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 09 Nov 2015 Karma :

angryjonny · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Karma :

Londoner2015 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 09 Nov 2015 Karma :

Crumbso · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Karma :

As others have said, it's all about making it easy for the buyer. It's simple customer service, put as few barriers between your prospective buyer and them riding away as possible.

You can put all the caveats and 'only ifs' you want on the advert and the in the phone call but the other person will just sod off to someone who doesn't.

One piece of advice is don't be sniffy about test rides, that appears as super dodgy. Just request a negotiated price for the bike be in your hand before they do it. If I couldn't test ride a bike I'd instantly walk away.

Price wise:
https://www.wisebuyers.co.uk/index.jsp?guide=prices&page=used_bikes&no=2&make=Honda&bikeid=2578&yearplate=2015%2F15&x=50&y=9

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Motorcycles-Scooters-/422/i.html?_from=R40&LH_Sold=1&_udlo&_udhi&_samilow&_samihi&_sadis=15&_stpos=RH12%200AG&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=50&LH_Complete=1&_nkw=honda%20sh125&_dcat=9806&Model%2520Year=2015&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

Crumbso · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Karma :

Londoner2015 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 09 Nov 2015 Karma :

Crumbso · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Karma :

Fair enough. I've added a little price help onto my first post for you.

faffergotgunz · Nova Slayer Joined: 10 Feb 2016 Karma :

Hahadumball · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Oct 2015 Karma :

ive got no problems them knowing my address unless they sound like a scrote.

ive sold bikes away from my house if i didnt think they where legit.

if they dont want it then no loss.

losing a sale is better than losing a bike.
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