Shopping for a used motorcycle comes with a plethora of pricing, models, and types. Don’t pay more than you need to. There is no shame in haggling. Don’t be too ashamed or proud to ask for a better price. Used motorcycle shops want to make the sale as much as you want to buy that motorcycle. After you get that used motorcycle, shop for the best aftermarket parts to pimp up your used bike.
Be Bold
Lose your fear of negotiating. Make yourself feel good about spending money by not paying the asking price. The markup on used motorcycle leaves room for negotiating, and salespeople expect you to bargain with them — it’s part of the game. Go into the store with a heads up attitude, walk out with that pre-loved motorcycle and more of your hard earned cash in your pocket.
Do Your Homework
Get on the Internet before you go shopping for your used bike. Get prices ahead of time, and use them for bargaining power. Look at customer reviews and know the good and bad points of the bikes you’re interested in, and use those in your bargaining. Know what you want and need from a bike, and stick to it.
Ask for a discount
This is where you use the printed listings of other bikes for sale, and things you found during the inspection, to justify a discount under what the seller is asking. If comparable bikes are selling for less money in the area, use the listings to show the seller why you feel a discount is warranted. If the bike is priced as being in perfect condition but needs new tires and mikuni carburetor, you can take the cost of tires and carburetor off the seller’s asking price, and offer that lower amount.
Ask for a test drive
If you want a test drive, you may have to negotiate for it. It is very common for sellers to only allow test drives with cash in their hands, because the liability for them is high. If you want to see the bike in action, consider asking the seller to ride it around and run through the gears.
Know what are “deal breakers” vs. “negotiation points” for you.
For many buyers a bike that won’t start might be a reason to walk away; but for some, it’s just a way to negotiate a much lower price. Know what your absolute “deal breakers” are before you go anything else is just something to use as a negotiation tool to bring the price down.
There are a million ways to haggle when you buy a used bike, but easy ones for anyone to use are evidence-based strategies like these. Anything you can point to directly that justifies a drop in the price, especially if the seller can verify that information on their own, is hard to argue against. Good luck in your used bike shopping!