[Captain]

I am currently trying to sell my '09 Sportster. It is in excellent condition, with only 6500km.
I have it listed with all the accessories still on it;
Touring seat, airhorn, Screaming Eagle mufflers, axle knobs, chin spoiler, blacked-out engine covers, saddlebag, oil-filter system.

These accessories are worth almost $2k retail. Note that all stock parts are included if the bike is sold with the accessories.
I am prepared to reduce the price of the bike by $1k without any of the above, back to stock condition as it left the showroom.

What I am wondering is; should I instead put it back to stock and list at the lower price to try and attract more buyers? Is the bike as-is putting people off as they don't want all the stuff I have put on it (even though as a package it is quite a good deal). Note that my listed price is on par with similar model bikes advertised, even though some have more modifications.

Are buyers looking for stock bikes first?
I have hinted in the advert that the price can be less without all the extras.

I have had the bike listed for 4mths now and only received one enquiry so I am looking for a better marketing angle. I am not desperate to sell, but am prepared to at a reasonable price. And I can only ride one bike at a time!

Tell me what you think, thanks.

 

[petrichor]

A seller's experience

I have traded /consigned about 6 bikes over the last 7 years. I am a sucker, lets get that out of the way.

I always buy a new bike or demonstrator because I want the latest features and the longest warranty.

Then, I fall into the trap of pimping the bike with exhausts, protective add ons, luggage on my GS's and ride the crap out of them in the first year putting on between 20-30,000ks.

A new model comes, I go to the dealer to trade/consign on the next bike and doesn't matter which dealer, the first question is "do you have the original ...?".
A."Of course I do".

When talking price I always get "yeah we know you spent heaps but that's not really going to add to it's value". I never understand that because I (as a second hand buyer) would rather buy all the add ons 'discounted' than pony up for new, provided the condition was 9/10 or thereabouts.

I think the dealers use this as a method of keeping the pricing low so they can put a 'quick sale' price the bike with all the goodies you leave on it on it and not hold the stock; or, maybe they are fair dinkum and second hand buyers are focussed on the stock product.

Either way - it seems you (or I) lose a lot more than should on the farkles.

For mine I will sell my nearly 12 month GS with the radiator guards, and cylinder head protectors included but remove the pipe, luggage etc

I'll put them on eBay and BMW Classified adds and sooner or later someone will pay a fair price which given the near new condition is 50% of retail.

I am confident I won't lose as much as if I left them on the bike.

Once a buyer gets a sniff of inclusions I think negotiations for the bike can get messy, ditto if you um and ah with the dealer.

 

[Bonkorama]

Sell your aftermarket and farkles to anyone but the dealer.
Absolutely.
A thousand dollar carbon fiber exhaust is valued at one dollar there.
Makes no sense.

 

[rkevwill]

I can only relate to this from the Porsche and BMW market. A stock 911, perfect numbers matching older or newer, any year, is more desirable than an altered vehicle. Maybe not better, but more desirable in the market. A BMW M3, stock, is much more desirable than an M3 set up for the track, with spare racing slicks and mags.

Let me ask you this, would you prefer a stock, spec perfect 65 GTO, or one with a lift kit, and a different engine, than the original tri power 389?

If I were a buyer, I would prefer the stock machine, and offer the accessories as a bonus, or extra cost option.

You have done 2 things, and increased the market by 2. Stock perfect buyers, and customizers.

 

[Captain]

Thanks for your replies guys.

My nineT dealer won't take the bike as a trade-in as the HD doesn't fall within the dealership's BMW-KTM-Ducati-Honda mantra.
The HD dealer where I bought it from will buy it back, but a bit less than what I might get privately.

petrichor I do like your thinking. I hadn't thought of the reverse method of stock bike for sale with an option to upgrade with extras for more cost. If it sells stock then I can list the accessories on the classifieds to recoup some cash. I will give it a try.

Personally I would choose a stock bike over heavily modified.
But then, if by modified it is just bolt-on accessories that also includes the stock parts, I would consider this first as I can always change the bits I don't like, and maybe on-sell the leftovers. (I wouldn't buy a bike if it had too many accessories that I wouldn't have chosen myself).

 

[Captain]

Further to my post . . .

When I list the bike, should I mention the add-on accessories available at extra cost, or should I keep that out and up-sell when prospective buyers are lured into my sales trap! (Just like they do at the dealerships).
Don't worry, I have worked in sales previously.

 

[petrichor]

You just answered your question

 

[Captain]

Yes, but it's always nice to get another perspective, as I think I am always right, but every now and then I just might be wr... wr... wr... , heck what is that word?

 

[clem]

Stock!

You're on the right track. Sell the Sportster stock. Sell the accessory parts separately for as much as you can get.
Wr....? Wrecked?

 

[Captain]

petrichor I do like your thinking. I hadn't thought of the reverse method of stock bike for sale with an option to upgrade with extras for more cost.

OK in closing I would just like to add . . .
I re-advertised the bike in stock condition at a lower price. When a buyer came over to have a look, I mentioned that for only $500 more he could have all of the $2k worth of accessories. He ummmed and ahhhed about his budget and would think about it.
He rang me back within the hour and took the lot, excellent!

So now I don't have to worry about getting rid of bits. Happy buyer . . Happy seller.

 

[pistonbroke]

Take the extras off and sell them separately.
Least for get some of your money back.

 

[Petrolpants]

I'm bumping this old thread.
Not planning on selling - at all. But the question on this subject have been on my mind for a while.
If selling a NineT -not to a dealer, but to a private buyer. Would it be best to leave the mods on/or sell them seperately?

I hate ads that say like:

Price: 10k
Then if you want me to leave this mods on it will add:
Exhaust: 1k
Suspension: 2k
For example

But that be one way to go, say like:

Price 13k
And if you want to bargain about the price, i can take off some mods?

Hate for the day to come when i need/want to sell the bike..

 

[Logans]

standard or modified?

I'm going to sell my bike.
Please see for sale section.
The advice I'm after is would you sell modified or return the bike back to standard and sell extras?

 

[Ken.B.]

My advice (Worth what you’re paying for it) would be to return it to original if you have all those parts, then, offer extras first to potential buyer then seperalely.
I like to see bikes looking original when buying, but realise some prefer with all the goodies done for them.
Cheers,Ken.

 

[BaldyDave]

Return it to original IMO.

 

[IMR9T]

It all depends on the buyer. Some are attracted to mods while other preferred stock.
Mods will help with sale, just don't expect to get most of your $$ back. The way I see it, mods makes it more attractive without adding value.
Selling parts separately sometime could make up some loss in sale, but with added hassle of dealing with more buyers

 

[Chris<CJ>]

In my experience (over the years, personal sale of 10 different bikes), 95% of the buyers want a stock machine. If you are doing a dealer trade in then that percentage jumps to 100%. In most cases, the after-market accessories will never return their full purchase value.
Good luck with your transaction(s).

 

[Ian_H]

It all depends on the buyer. Some are attracted to mods while other preferred stock.
Mods will help with sale, just don't expect to get most of your $$ back.

My thinking is new buyers might not appreciate all the benefits of the mods - especially ones that change appearance.
Performance mods like exhausts could be appreciated - but not to the value you would get selling them separately.
I think new owners need to get to know their bikes before working out the changes that are important to them specifically.

In most cases, the after-market accessories will never return their full purchase value.

Never Ever

I'd recommend taking your upgrades off and selling the bike stock.

 

[Uli Kunkel]

Depends on the buyer and dealer as bikes and Jeeps are sometime exceptions. What mods do you have?

 

[Ken.B.]

Depends on the buyer and dealer as bikes and Jeeps are sometime exceptions. What mods do you have?

Obviously depends on potential buyer, but, law of averages should support standard condition over modified.
Not everyone who modifies their machine has the necessary skills or finesse to do the job properly.
Removing parts that are not essential is something potential buyers might not notice to be missing, especially if they’re not familiar with the bike they’re looking at.
With BMW R9T I’m thinking things like Flappers and Charcoal canisters.
Cheers,Ken.