Buyers of classic motorcycles pay for honesty and care. A bike that looks cared for and comes with a tidy file suggests an owner who looked after everything else too. This is what is worth doing before you list.
Clean it, but gently
- Wash with warm water and a mild soap, and a soft brush on the wheels and engine fins. Avoid a pressure washer: it forces water into bearings, switches, carburettors and electrics.
- Degrease the engine and the underside with a proper degreaser, and rinse lightly. A clean engine lets the buyer see the leaks, and it signals that you have nothing to hide.
- Polish paint and chrome carefully. Do not polish original paint that is thin with age: you can cut through it.
- Leave honest patina alone. A worn tank edge or a faded seat is part of the story. See originality and patina.
Small fixes that pay
- A fresh battery, or a battery that is charged and tested, so the bike starts for the viewer.
- Fresh fuel, and an oil change if the oil is old. A bike that was started once a year does not need a full service, but it must run.
- Working lights, indicators, horn and brake light.
- Correct tyre pressures, a lubricated chain and adjusted cables.
- Replace anything that is a safety item and cheap, such as perished brake hoses or tyres with cracks. See brakes, tyres and ageing rubber.
What not to do
- Do not repaint a good original tank to hide a scratch.
- Do not replace original parts with new ones in the hope of a higher price. Keep the originals and offer them with the bike.
- Do not start a restoration that you cannot finish. A half-finished project sells for less than a complete bike or a complete project.
- Do not hide a problem. Describe it in the listing, see writing a listing that sells.
Gather the documents
- The registration papers and any older registration documents.
- The history file: invoices, receipts, photographs, correspondence, old inspection papers.
- Manuals, tool kit and parts books.
- All keys, including spares.
- Dating certificates, club letters or a FIVA card if you have one.
- A one-page summary of the key facts, with the frame and engine numbers.
Scan or photograph the main documents so that you can send them on request, with personal details covered. See papers and proof of ownership.
Check the numbers and the papers match
Before the buyer does, compare the frame number and engine number on the bike with the registration. If there is a difference, find out why, and write it down. See frame and engine numbers.
Storage until the sale
Keep the bike dry, with the battery on a maintainer and the tyres inflated. Check your insurance covers the bike while it is for sale and while it is being viewed. If you have a classic policy with mileage or use restrictions, ask the insurer if a test ride is covered.
Safe viewings and test rides
- Make an appointment, and do not give your address until the viewing is confirmed.
- Do not be alone with strangers at the viewing. Have a friend there.
- Look at the visitor's ID before any test ride, and note the number.
- For a test ride, ask for a valid motorcycle licence, check that the visitor is insured to ride it, and take a deposit or hold the visitor's keys. Ride with them if you can.
- Do not release the bike or keys on the strength of a promise of payment. See safe payment.
