How to Get the Best Price When Selling Your Harley Davidson

Ready to sell your Harley Davidson? The good news is it’s the bike of most motorcycle lovers’ dreams, so there is a high demand if you know what you’re doing.

Whether you are looking to make some fast cash or upgrading to your next level ride, you want to get the most money possible for your Harley. A lot of factors, such as where you list your bike for sale and the condition it is in, play a role in how much you’ll be able to get for it, but there are a few other things that you can do to ensure you get top dollar.

Here are some tips to help you avoid the common mistakes most people make that cost them big bucks when they try to sell their motorcycles.

Sell Like a Pro – Tips to Getting Every Dime for Your Harley

There are so many places to list your “for sale” items today that it might seem overwhelming to choose where to start. You have to separate the bargain-hunting sites from those that real buyers head to for valuable treasure hunting.

Harley Davidsons, in particular, gain a lot of attention. Every biker, from amateur to expert, wants a Harley in their collection, but not all of them want to pay what they’re worth to get one.

Knowing these tips ahead of time will help you weed out those looking for the lowest price they can get from those looking to pay what you deserve for your bike.

Know your bike better than the buyer does

If you don’t know what your bike is worth, how will you know what to ask for and accept? Do your research ahead of time before you list your Harley anywhere or tell anyone it’s going to be for sale. Without it, you might find yourself talked into fast cash that’s way less than you could have gotten had you waited just a bit.

Sites like NADA are the Kelly Blue Book of motorcycles. Check out the fair asking price of your bike, checking by factors such as the make, model, year, mileage, and condition. Take into consideration any extras you may have added on after your purchase and whether you want to up your asking price because of them.

Sell your add-ons separately

Not every buyer is going to be excited about all the bells and whistles you souped-up your bike with, and they are not all going to be willing to pay the extra price tag for them. Instead, you might want to consider removing any aftermarket additions you added and selling them separately. You could get more selling your bike and accessories this way than offering them as a whole unit.

Every detail is important

Even the slightest scratch or dent could be a no-go to a serious buyer, so provide all of those details upfront. Be sure you take a few high-quality pictures from multiple angles. You don’t have to use them all in your listing, but you can send them to interested buyers before meeting to ensure they will be more likely to be satisfied with your bike in person, also.

In addition to photographs, include all pertinent information in your listing. Include the year of the bike, model, mileage, recent upgrades or repairs, dents, accident history, and anything else that may be important. It will all come up eventually, so being transparent with the information will let the right buyer come your way.

Use a third-party seller if you aren’t comfortable selling to random strangers

The news is full of dangerous encounters that occurred from sellers using sites like Craigslist and other popular or sketchy marketplaces to sell their valuables. Not everyone is okay with letting strangers come to their homes to check out their goods, and that’s understandable.

If that does not sound like the route you want to take to sell your Harley, you can find details at cleanharleys.com and other motorcycle retailers on how to sell them your bike instead.

If you do opt for the “stranger” sale, never meet at your home

It’s a simple common sense safety rule, but it’s even more important when you’re selling something as valuable as a Harley. Instead, find a public place to meet and don’t go alone.

Keep the safety measures up when you leave if the buyer doesn’t purchase your bike. Don’t leave before they do and don’t go home first to make sure you aren’t followed. These are basic rules for meeting with any stranger but they apply even more so when the item you are selling is expensive and in high demand, like your Harley.

Test rides are optional

Another common-sense rule, but one that must be mentioned, is to not allow a potential buyer to take your bike for a test ride without leaving behind some collateral. A serious buyer won’t have any problem leaving their cash behind before they take off with your bike to try it out, and, if they damage it, you’ve got something to help cover it.

In addition to the cash or another comparable form of collateral, ask for their driver’s license, too. You should do this early on to verify that the person you are dealing with is who they say they are, in case the deal goes south later.

You don’t have to allow a test ride, though. Just turning the bike on and letting the potential buyer check out all of the necessary working parts is sufficient for most people. Feel out the situation if someone asks for a test drive. If they seem fishy or refuse to leave their money with you, just say no.

Remember, You Have Final Say

You don’t have to accept a discounted price just because the buyer tries to haggle with you. If you feel uncomfortable, walk away from the deal or don’t meet the buyer.

If you need the money fast or don’t want to take a chance on marketplace selling, head to a reputable motorcycle dealership that purchases used bikes.

Either way, know ahead of time what a fair asking price is and how much you are willing to accept, and be confident in (but not rude about) your ability to get as close to that price as possible.