used motorcycle pricing question

[wikeke]

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hello all,

I've been checking used motorcycles on kijiji for the last few months, and the pricing overall seems pretty normal...
(what i mean is, newer models with low kms are more expensive than older bikes with higher km's....as would be expected, just like the car market)

But sometimes I find the pricing fluctuates a little too much...

For example, over this last summer/fall...I would see 05 to 06 ninjas 636 with about 11,000-15,000km going for about $6800-$7800
Then, there are some 03 to 04 ninja 636 with 20,000+km selling for about $5500-$6000 (which seems in line compared to 05-06 ninjas)

But what I find unusual, is sometimes I'd see something like a 2007 ninja zx6r with about 5000kms selling for $6000.(which seems like a very good deal)

I understand that each bike is unique, and will differ across the board (whether it's been in an accident, or it has high kms, to how desperate the seller needs money etc,etc...)
And that a seller has the right to ask however much they want for their bike(or anything else)...no matter what condition (whether they get it, is another story)

But I've seen numerous "good deals" these past few months.
Are these "good deals" generally scams, and we should avoid them? like the old saying goes..."If it's too good to be true, then...."

I'm new to the used motorcycle market, so I don't know if these "good deals" are commonplace with used motorcycles or not.
I know I rarely saw such "good deals" in the car market, and when I did find one, and tried to contact the seller....they generally were scams.

Could it be the sellers are just rolling back the odometer?....or maybe the owners of these low km bikes just don't ride that much?

 

[silverbullet132]

About 60% of the time people buy a sportbike like the 636 to ride to timmies, and other short rides. This explains the low kms for the most part.

 

[UJelly]

About 60% of the time people buy a sportbike like the 636 to ride to timmies, and other short rides. This explains the low kms for the most part.

 

[Johnny5]

About 60% of the time people buy a sportbike like the 636 to ride to timmies, and other short rides. This explains the low kms for the most part.

Exactly. Plus, a lot of bikes within 5 years old with low kms could be up for sale because the guys got their m2, then had their 5 years of casual riding and posing at timmies, then either didn't pass their m test, or just were bored of riding and posing and/or didn't feel it got them laid enough so they put the bike up for sale at the end of the 5 years lol.

 

[wikeke]

this was a legit question, I only mentioned the ninja 636, because I was interested in one......please keep it civil...not trying to start something.

 

[Numb]

i think some people jsut want a quick sale so they can move on to the next thing. Buying and selling is actually a lot of work. especially if you already work

 

[Griffin]

When I'm looking at a used bike I first check what a new one of a similar model is going for. Then I consider age, condition and mileage.

You'll probably find that many people are asking more for the bike than its actually worth. However, if you're comparing prices from dealers, it may be affected by how badly they want the bike out of their shop.

You will find some people that run their bikes with the speedo disconnected but I think you'll find that pretty rare (I've known a couple of poeple over the years that have done that).

 

[nobbie48]

It also depends on the personality of the owner. Some people love to negotiate for the highest buck while others hate the process. The negotiators ask high and enjoy the process. The others might price low for a quick sale. This doesn't mean they are desperate for the sale and a lowball offer might annoy them enough to stick to their "Firm" price or worse.

It sounds like you have selected the bike you want which makes it easier than the guy who would take any bike and has to juggle the specs as well as the year / mileage / price combo.

Whatever you buy and whatever you paid, someone will tell you they saw a better deal. Good luck.

 

[ETR]

I've sold and bought alot of cars and bikes over time, and i tend to price them higher cars or bikes i really didn't want to let go, but price was still resonable, mostly now though i don't care, i'll price my bike low if i have to because i have a car, and other bikes too, so i don't feel the pinch that much. And i keep my toys very well maintained too, i let them go for really good deals because i wait and patiently buy and always get great deals myself.

so my technique is take time, search like crazy when buying to get the best deal possible, then sell it when i have to or want to, and because i got a deal so good in the first place, by the time i sell it im still selling it for what i got it for in the first place, and goin lower on price is not big of a deal to me, so this way bike sells in a day, because my deal ends up being the best in the market.

Those people who end up paying more then the bike is worth also tend to sell for more, and can't seem to get rid of it.
like guys on kijiji selling 04/05 600's for the same price as 06/07's.lol


Always buy bikes from rich people, they maintain their bikes very well from dealers, rarely ride them, and sell them for cheap because they don't care theve got money to blow.

My father bought a 2011 1000rr in 2011 for $6k because some rich kid bought it without parental consent, and the kid wanted to get rid of it asap, before his father found out, his mother made him sell the bike asap, the bike had 900 kms, asking price was 8500 we bargained down to $6000 cash on the spot he took it, this was like someone mentioned before a desperate seller selling a bike LOL, when i asked how he was going to recover the rest?, his mother was going to cover it.lol

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