first time selling bike

[bigdom86]

hi guys

just after a bit of advice. i use my bike year-round everyday for commuting in and out of london so wouldn't want to be without a bike for more than a couple of days most.

i have a 2015 honda cbr125r on finance with about 1.5 years left on it. passed my full A licence last month so looking to upgrade.

the honda has around an estimated £700-800 worth of damage due to a collision with a pedestrian which broke all the fancy plastics on front and side (poor pedestrian....)

would it be best to pay off the rest of the finance and try to sell it privately or then part-ex it or just trade it in back at the honda dealer I got it from for a new bike.

i have rode a number of 600s of my friends and will be looking at getting a used r6 or cbr600 (with the r6 I will need to have paid the finance off to trade it in at a yamaha dealer)

cheers

[Beehive Bedlam]

Depends how quickly you want shot of it and how much you want that new bike.

[bigdom86]

pretty badly tbh, although i have been ok for 1.5 years on this tiny bike, at 6ft2 and 125kg cramped and underpowered is an understatement

[Rogerborg]

First thing you'll want to do is to ask your insurer (underwriter by preference, broker if you have to) whether they'll allow you to switch the policy from a 125 to a 600. You may be disappointed by the answer.

Is the bike still cosmetically mullered? A dealer's not likely to want it, although it can't hurt to ask. I'd be looking at paying it off, tidying the cosmetics with used parts where possible, and selling it privately.

You can pay off the finance at the point of selling the bike. It's common enough with cars, but with bikes, especially a common 125, you may find buyers just looking elsewhere. I'd pay it off first if it all possible to avoid any complications or explanations.
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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

[bigdom86]

the cosmetic damage you can only notice if it is pointed out, there is a small crack above the headlight on the front plastics and the left fairing is cracked where it is bolted on, plus the left handlebar is slightly scuffed. I am guessing the replacement costs were high due to labour. would sell for a cheaper price due to this but as you say so many of these bikes about people would most likely go elsewhere if worried about the cosmetic damage.

when i was at the dealer talking about doing DAS and trading in the old bike they didn't seem too bothered tbh

I will ring up insurance first to see what the deal is

[Rogerborg]

Ah, right. Yes, OEM parts and labour come to crazy money.

I would consider getting a serious offer from a dealer if you're already resigned to paying dealer money for a 600, then take it from there.

You should get more selling privately, but it can be a complete ball ache dealing with buyers (or specifically 17 year old non-buyers) and there's no guarantee that it will sell quickly or conveniently.

There's no right or wrong answer, it comes down to your flexibility and tolerance for being jerked around.
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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

[Bonnie Lad]

Tart it up as much as you can whilst spending as little as possible doing so. I'm talking mainly cosmetics here - Its amazing what defects people will look past if the plastics are super shiny, the chain gleaming, and any chrome or steel is sparkling. Few quid in polish, shampoo and metal cleaner will do you.

Id then get a trade in price from a dealer or a we buy any bike type gaff, and stick it on an ebay auction starting from that price, and advertise the fact there's no reserve.

Worst case scenario a dealer will stick in a bid and buy it for what they would have anyway, but when I did it with my old bandit and the misses' old focus a few folk bidded against each other at the end at I got a few hundred more than I would have through a dealer.

You're less likely to get tyre kickers or dreamers that way, as regular bidders (especially those who use ebay to find stock to sell on) wont want non-payment complaints against them.

[Polarbear]

If you can afford to take the hit, trade it in without doing anything. You get shot of the bike and get your 600. The s
dealer will have some mechanic tart it up on a quiet day and sell it on.

TBH I hate dealing with the general public when selling and from some of the stories on here, I have had decent buyers.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[bigdom86]

cheers for all the responses guys. my schedule is pretty busy so i am tempted just to trade in as-is and do nothing (after talking to insurance about changing from 125 to 600) as cannot be arsed with the general public and pedbois turning up to get their "sport" bike.

only issue is out of all the bikes i have ridden i prefer the r6 which i would need to get from a yamaha dealer as my dealer (dobles) mainly deals with hondas and i have only ever seen a r6 there once

[andyscooter]

pay the finance off first then trade it with the yammie dealer


mind you ive never bought a bike on finance let alone trade on in when it still has any on it

but I did trade my Honda scooter in for a vespa in a piaggio dealer
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet