What’s the deal on bike sales?!

[inditx]

Ok, so inflation and costs are skyrocketing to be sure but why the slow down or sudden stop in motorcycle sales, especially used?
Honestly, I have never had this much trouble nor has it taken so long to sell my bikes.
Even trades are apparently out of fashion.
What say the collective here?
inditx

[Alfetta]

what brands are you selling ?

[inditx]

The latest have been Guzzi’s but it started earlier with Honda and a Beemer.
My buddy had a hard time as of late selling a pristine Beemer btw.

[guzziart]

The local Honda dealer has no problem selling Groms, Monkeys & CT125's.  The larger displacement stuff moves slower.  I sold my '82 CB125s two months ago, it took 2 days on craigslist.  My '03 v11 Lemans took two months to sell, it went to a new caretaker last Saturday.  I suppose its a buyers market maybe??!!  Depending on how bad you want to get rid of something, you have to price accordingly...imo.  If you want it gone now, drop your price and be ok with losing money...sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.  On the otherhand, stick to your price because of all that you have invested in it makes it a great value when the right person comes along.  Imho, what is great about a nearly new bike purchase is there is still warranty, no major problems exist, some optional goodies, no freight cost, no eating 1st owner depreciation to name a few.  Good luck, have patience afterall we are rapidly approaching the end of riding season, idk.

[MGrego]

Most people in the US have very little discretionary income, the average is only a couple of hundred dollars a month.  Combine that with historically high interest rates to borrow money.

[berniebee]

It's always supply and demand perception. The pandemic era shortages dictated a rise in prices. But many sellers are STILL asking silly prices for their used machines, some thinking that their bikes are worth 90% of the new price. The big picture is that a massive number of boomers are aging out of biking while young people have less disposable income (Seen the cost of renting lately?) and seem to be far less interested in bikes. It's a risky sport that has gotten far riskier with the advent of automobile distraction boxes, both built in and hand held. To make a long story short, demand is evaporating.
And right now in the rust belt, the season is near end. Enter any bike shop - it's empty of customers at this time. They ain't at home scanning the classifieds.

 I've seen the same fake shortage meme in the used guitar market, but that market has already started to correct- I've picked up bargains from sellers who've had their items for sale for a couple of months, cut their prices a time or two and then accepted an even lower offer. These aren't desperate people - they've learned what the market is. Not everyone does.

[rocker59]

reduced demand for large displacement motorcycles

the traditional buyers are aging out

inflation eating into discretionary spending

higher interest rates making the cost of loans more expensive


It's not just motorcycles.  Inflation and interest rates are causing cars to sit on dealer lots for weeks/months and houses to remain on the market for months rather than days or weeks.

[PeteS]

Aging out for sure but younger folks don’t seem to have the same interest these days. Most would rather spend their hard earned bucks on big pickup trucks with loads of accessories.

Pete

[SemperVee]

 MC's have always been hard to move, cept HD's during the 1990's...   My BMW 2005 k1200LT with one year warrantyy remaining only had one bite and purchaser from across state and sold it.  Guzzi is another small niche market.  took OVER a year of ads to FINALLY sell my Victory Cross Country tour to a cash buyer for a decent sum.  My bike was pristine.  Only takes one, if you can wait it out.  High miles also scare alot of buyers away.  I think we have fewer interested riders these days also..

[kballowe]

There was a buying craze in 2020, 21 and maybe 2022.  Everyone that wants a motorcycle has one now - AND they all paid top dollar at that time.

Fast forward to 2024, and the higher cost of living blah blah blah.

People are still buying motorcycles.  I bought four this year.  But, we are looking for real bargains.

A good time to list is in early November, when it's cold.  People are bored and looking at motorcycles for sale.  My best sales months are December, January, and February.

[Motormike]

Indeed.  I briefly tried to sell a 2017 Low Rider S.  A model made only two years, and "supposedly" desirable riding on the coattails of "Sons of Anarchy."  Even though my price was at the lower end of similar bikes on Cycle Trader, I did not get one legitimate offer...just the usual scams that show up instantly as soon as the listing is posted.  I just let the listing expire.  I hate to think my wife is going to be stuck dealing with a half dozen or so motorcycles she knows nothing about after I'm gone.  But it's starting to look like I'm just going to dump them in her lap.  Not very fair, I guess.  I often think about calling one of the low-ball brokers like Rumble-on and having them send a flat-bed trailer.  Sell the whole lot for pennies on the dollar and be done with it in one fell swoop...like an amputation!  I suspect that's what she will have to do.  Like General Aviation before it, Motorcycling is a sport in rapid decline.

[bronzestar1]

Generally speaking, I would say it's about there being an over-abundant supply and low demand.  There are plenty of bikes on the market right now, both new and used, but no where near enough buyers.  Lack of interest by the younger generations, current economy, cost of ownership (DMV, insurance, transportation), etc. are all contributing to the low demand.  Like someone has said, if you want to sell a used bike in today's market, better price it low, and hope it sells.   

[Perazzimx14]

This was a discussion on another site and it all boils down to the price the seller is willing to accept. I have bought and sold over 20 bikes since the pandemic hit and its no easier or harder to sell now verses during the height of the pandemic. Bikes priced right sell and sell rather quickly. The really odd thing is during the height of the pandemic when bikes were selling way over market value I was getting some of the best deals I ever had gotten. Its how I ended up buying so many bike. I'd get a good deal on a bike then a day, week or month another better dealer would present itself.

Heck just last week I sold my DRZ400. It took about week to sell and I got my asking price, buyer never even asked if I'd reduce the price. If you know anything about DRZ400's there are 1000's of them f/s and endless choices. Why did mine sell quickly while other's have been remained unsold on  internet sites for months or a year......price.

A couple of months ago I sold my 2008 R1200GS, same thing. Sold in a week at full asking price.

I will say Guzzi's even in good times are hard to sell. Everybody loves them but very few will actually own them. Having owner my share of them and no bitter taste to own another you'd all but have to give it to me.

 

[twowings]

Interesting...I sold a Norge and a Himalayan and both buyers answered the ad the same day and didn't try to negotiate...just lucky, I guess

[Motormike]

I think another large factor is where one lives.  When I lived in the Atlanta area, I had no trouble selling any of my used bikes.  Now that I live in a rural, decidedly lower income area, selling is next to impossible.  Every sale I've had over the last 10+ years has been to an out-of-state buyer! Where I live now, the population of riders is miniscule.  If it doesn't say Harley or Honda, they've never heard of it, let alone have any interest or means to purchase it.

[inditx]

I have priced them right and dropped the price too.
I don’t need to sell them rather I want to and like to trade them even better.
Like I said over the years I’ve bought and sold too many bikes to count.
I believe in taking care of them and farkling them to my taste and then selling at a reasonable price.

I should add that even add ons or accessories aren’t selling for me. Guess I'll chalk the latter up to freight costs.
inditx

[ff73148]

I've been thinking about selling my 2016 Eldorado for a new V85. The trade in offers are too low for me to consider a deal.

[inditx]

I have a 2023 V85 and a 2016 Eldorado listed here for sale.
Good luck on yours if you list it.
inditx

[Moparnut72]

Freight costs. Yes this has killed small parts sales. I have played with old Mercury outboards for years and have a lot of parts. I used to sell a lot on eBay but don't even bother to try any more. Shipping is so high nobody buys anything no matter how much they want it. Only unobtainium sells. Another enthusiast will take most of my stuff that I no longer want but I will deliver it at the next boat race which we will both attend. The rest goes in the trash and to a local scrap dealer. A shame as there are guys out there that could use it. Private parties can't ship at reasonable costs, businesses get a large break.
kk

[Clifton]

I've been thinking about selling my 2016 Eldorado for a new V85. The trade in offers are too low for me to consider a deal.

You might look into trading your Eldorado on a new V85 at Kissell in PA. Early Spring this year they gave me above book price for my 2015 California Custom on a new Stelvio. I thought Josh may have given me too much but the next day it was on his website for $2,000 more and the following day it was marked "deposit taken". They must have a good market for nice 1400's.

[Perazzimx14]

You might look into trading your Eldorado on a new V85 at Kissell in PA. Early Spring this year they gave me above book price for my 2015 California Custom on a new Stelvio. I thought Josh may have given me too much but the next day it was on his website for $2,000 more and the following day it was marked "deposit taken". They must have a good market for nice 1400's.

But they sold the bike for we’ll never know. So who know if they maintained the $2,000 overage or accepted well under that?

Earlier I trades a 2020 GSA in on a 2024 GSA low. I got $800 less for my 2020 than I paid a year earlier and I also kept the panniers top case and GPS to use on the new bike. + I put about 14,000 miles on the 2020. The dealer I went with soon relisted my 2020 GSA at $1500 over what they allowed me for it on trade then as the weeks passed its price dropped to at least $300 below what they allowed me.

FWIW I also solicited Kissel's while looking at 2024 GSA low's and their OTD price was closing in on $3,000 more than the dealership I ended up buying from. Kissel's is an excellent dealership but they do not always have the the best deal. FWIW arts deux the dealership I ended up buying from doesn't always have the best deal either. That why it pays to shop around and not just blindly accept that because they one had a good deal they will always have a good deal.

[bad Chad]

Most people in the US have very little discretionary income, the average is only a couple of hundred dollars a month.  Combine that with historically high interest rates to borrow money.

Where did you get the above info on discretionary income?   And to be clear, interest rates have gone up over the last couple years to about average for the last 50 years, they are no where near historically high rates.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/FEDFUNDS

[yrunvs]

I suspect many potential buyers are waiting for prices (of all goods and services) and interest rates to come down. Job market isn't as strong either at least in the tech industry.

[Clifton]

But they sold the bike for we’ll never know. So who know if they maintained the $2,000 overage or accepted well under that?

Being that it was sold the day after it was listed for sale I think they would have gotten close to asking price, plus fees on top of that so likely more.

[Perazzimx14]

Being that it was sold the day after it was listed for sale I think they would have gotten close to asking price, plus fees on top of that so likely more.

But we'll never know. That the problem with bike valuation we always know the asking price but rarely know the selling price. It is quite possible they got close to their asking price or are knowledgeable enough in used Guzzi sales that the 1st person that came in with a reasonable offer they took. Just so happens the offer walked in the next day. Either way we'll never know unless the buyer decides to kiss and tell.

[rschrum]

So far this year, have sold 6 and bought 5. Its a sickness, but worse habit I guess.

[coast range rider]

I notice more young people on cycles with motors, it's just that they're not motorcycles. Too bad insurance and registration are not required on ebikes to put them on a level playing field with motorcycles.

Although...what's with all the elementary school kids on $3,000+ bicycles. I'm pretty sure they didn't earn all that money on their newspaper route.

[chuck peterson]

I was wondering when someone was going to notice…

Check Craigslist, any make or model you can think of, from a Whizzer to a CBX, is available

Definitely an oversupply rebound from the ‘that which shall not be named’ period

Everyone seems to have bought their dreambike to restore repair rebuild ride etc

And now it’s a case of
‘bought it to restore repair rebuild ride etc and don’t have the time’

From one who obsessively scans the classifieds

There has been a distinct line drawn in the sand about titles. Since the Vermont loophole disappeared everyone, and the price, reflects whether the title is available

[Perazzimx14]

I was wondering when someone was going to notice…

Check Craigslist, any make or model you can think of, from a Whizzer to a CBX, is available

Definitely an oversupply rebound from the ‘that which shall not be named’ period

Everyone seems to have bought their dreambike to restore repair rebuild ride etc

And now it’s a case of
‘bought it to restore repair rebuild ride etc and don’t have the time’

From one who obsessively scans the classifieds

There has been a distinct line drawn in the sand about titles. Since the Vermont loophole disappeared everyone, and the price, reflects whether the title is available

And also note pricing on FBMP/CL and the other haunts. We see a lot of them that are priced at peak pandemic pricing and have been f/s for weeks, months or a year.

Late winter of 2024 I made an offer on a Camhead GS that had been f/s on FBMP for something like 40+ weeks. The seller declined and said he knew the value of his bike and it would sell in a few weeks when the weather broke. Months later it was still f/s at the same price.

IDK if the Vermont titling loophole had/has a lot to do with it as most people did not know about it or thought it was a scam and wouldn't use it. 

[Motormike]

As Jay Leno once said, regarding motorcycle prices, "You didn't pay too much, you just sold too soon!"