Selling a classic motorcycle is a different job from selling a used commuter bike. Buyers are fewer, they are more informed, and they care about things like originality and history. The way you sell changes who sees the bike, what you pay and how much of the risk you carry.
Option 1: a private advertisement
You place an advertisement on a classifieds site or in a club magazine and deal with enquiries yourself.
- For: no commission, full control over price and buyer.
- Against: you receive every time-waster and every scam attempt, you must handle viewings and test rides, and you carry the risk of payment fraud. Read safe payment from the buyer's point of view: it tells you what a careful buyer will ask of you.
Option 2: a dealer, outright or on consignment
A specialist dealer buys the bike, or sells it for you for a fee.
- For: speed and no viewings, and a dealer knows the buyers.
- Against: an outright purchase is below the retail price, and consignment costs a percentage and takes time. Check that the dealer is solvent and that the bike is insured while in their care.
Option 3: a specialist live auction house
Traditional auction houses sell at an event, with a catalogue and a buyer's premium on top of the hammer price.
- For: a concentrated audience and a firm date.
- Against: entry fees and commission, deadlines for catalogue entries, and you do not control the audience on the day.
Option 4: an online auction
An online auction lists the bike for a set period, with bidding open to registered buyers anywhere.
- For: a wider audience than any local advertisement, and competition between buyers sets the price. A reserve price protects you if the bidding is low.
- Against: a commission on the sale price, and you cannot decide who bids. The quality of the listing is what sells the bike. Read photographing a classic motorcycle and writing a listing that sells.
Epic Motor Trading is this fourth option. See selling on Epic Motor Trading and the how it works page for how the three weeks work.
How to choose
- If you need cash quickly and accept a lower price, choose a dealer.
- If the bike is ordinary and you have time, a private advertisement can work.
- If the bike is rare, has a good story or has a collector audience, an auction usually finds the buyers who value it.
Preparation that matters whichever route you choose
The same four things raise the price and lower the stress in every route:
- The papers in order: papers and proof of ownership.
- The bike clean and ready, with known faults described: preparing your bike and documents for sale.
- Good photographs.
- A realistic starting price and, for an auction, a sensible reserve: starting price and reserve price.
Be honest about the bike
A buyer who finds a hidden fault at handover will argue, ask for money back or walk away, and trust is hard to rebuild. Describe known faults plainly. It costs you a little in the advertisement and saves a lot later. Under EU rules, consumer protection depends on whether you sell as a private person or a business: see importing a motorcycle within the EU for what applies to the buyer.
