[2022 Latest] Top 6 Recommended Motorcycle Purchase Services, How to Choose a Buyer, and Tips for Selling at a High Price

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Differences Between Motorcycle Buying and Trade-ins

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When replacing or selling your motorcycle, it's common to deal with a motorcycle dealer. There are two ways to sell a motorcycle: "buying" and "trade-in." Both services involve giving your motorcycle to a dealer in exchange for money, but their details differ despite seeming similar.

Buying

This is a method of selling your motorcycle to a motorcycle dealer. Motorcycle dealers include specialized buyers, motorcycle shops, and online-only dealers. After purchase, typical examples include refurbishing and reselling as used bikes domestically or internationally, or disassembling and selling as parts.

Since there are many uses for the motorcycle after it's bought, the biggest advantage is that you can get more cash for your bike than with a trade-in.

On the other hand, a disadvantage is that you typically have to part with your motorcycle within a week of the appraisal, creating a gap period where you won't have a bike. You'll need to arrange a rental bike or alternative transportation until your new bike is delivered.

Trade-in

This is a method of selling your current motorcycle to a dealer with the premise of purchasing a new one. The trade-in value is then used towards the purchase price or as a down payment for the new motorcycle.

Since it's based on purchasing a motorcycle, it's common that you won't receive cash unless the trade-in value exceeds the purchase price. Many motorcycle dealers offer trade-in services as part of their business, from major motorcycle buyers to authorized dealers and local independent shops.

The advantages of a trade-in are that you can continue riding your current motorcycle until the new one is delivered, and if you have an outstanding loan, the trade-in value can be used to repay it.

Furthermore, if there are trade-in campaigns, you might receive discounts on the price of your next motorcycle.

How to Choose a Motorcycle Buying Service

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When selling your motorcycle, there are two main options: on-site buying, where the dealer comes to your home or a designated location, and drop-off buying, where the seller brings the motorcycle to a store.

Additionally, buying agents range from large corporations to small, local businesses. This chapter will introduce the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of each.

1. Choose by buying method: on-site or drop-off

The key to choosing between on-site or drop-off is to select the method that best suits your convenience.

A common misconception is that "on-site buying means a lower motorcycle price because it includes travel costs, while drop-off is higher because there are no travel costs." In reality, there is almost no difference between the two.

Indeed, travel expenses (round trip time) are a cost, but efficient measures are taken to reduce this cost (e.g., motorcycle dealers schedule multiple appraisals on convenient days, efficiently visiting several locations to lower the travel cost per visit).

In the case of drop-off, if you go to the store suddenly, the appraiser or staff might be absent and unable to assist you. It's best to contact them by phone or email in advance before visiting.

2. Choose between large buying chains or local independent shops

First, the biggest advantage of selling to a large dealer like Bike O is the high purchase price.

Large companies have sales channels nationwide, and even overseas, allowing them to resell motorcycles or disassemble them for parts. When appraising, they already have a good idea of where the motorcycle will go, so they can offer the highest possible purchase price at that time.

On the other hand, local independent shops offer a sense of trust, especially if you have a long-standing relationship with them, and you might get a "long shot" offer that exceeds what larger chains would pay.

If you've consistently had a shop handle your motorcycle from purchase to routine maintenance and inspections, they have a good understanding of the bike's history and condition. This allows the shop to reduce their buying risk and confidently proceed with preparation for resale.

As a result, it's not uncommon for them to offer a purchase price significantly higher than what large dealers would.

3. Choose a buyer based on the type of motorcycle

Not all motorcycle dealers handle the same types of bikes; some specialize in scooter mopeds, others in medium to large motorcycles, and some even in foreign bikes like Harley-Davidsons.

What differs between each dealer is their expertise in the specific motorcycle's structure, as well as their knowledge of its distribution and market trends.

Even for older models, high-mileage vehicles, or rare bikes that typically have lower market values, specialized dealers often have backorders or unique resale channels, which can lead to a higher purchase price.

Tips for Selling Your Motorcycle at a Higher Price

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When you decide to sell your motorcycle, knowing a few tricks and taking action before the appraisal can potentially increase its value. Conversely, submitting it for appraisal without these preparations might result in a lower value than its true market worth.

The tips before appraisal are five key points: maintaining the bike's condition, choosing the right parts, getting multiple quotes, dealing honestly with the buyer, and selling quickly. We will explain each point in order.

Regular Maintenance and Pre-Appraisal Wash

During an appraisal, the motorcycle's condition is primarily checked to determine its value.

Items checked include the condition of scratches, absence of oil, coolant, or gasoline leaks, absence of abnormal engine noises, smooth transmission engagement, and proper brake function without drag. While each inspection item is determined by the dealer, the most important aspect is whether the motorcycle has been well-cared for.

Whether it has been well-cared for or not is also reflected in the bike's appearance, so to make a good first impression, be sure to wash and wipe away any dirt before the appraisal.

Even if you don't need to make it excessively shiny, just wiping it with a wet towel can be effective. Appraisers are human, so the key is how well you can present the bike in a state that appeals to them.

Try to put yourself in the appraiser's shoes and aim for a condition that makes them think, "I want to buy this bike for as high a price as possible." It's common for owners to neglect their bike once they start thinking about selling it, even if they've cared for it lovingly before, so continue to treat it with care until the very end.

Use genuine parts

When customizing or replacing parts due to repairs from the normal state, using genuine parts as much as possible will prevent the appraisal value from decreasing, and in some cases, may even lead to a positive appraisal. Although it's an era where parts can be purchased cheaply online, many low-quality counterfeit products are also circulating. Counterfeit products often have inferior quality compared to genuine ones, which can lower the appraisal value.

Conversely, if genuine parts are used, a certain level of quality is maintained even if they are used or rebuilt parts, and genuine custom parts can often lead to a higher appraisal due to their rarity.

Get multiple quotes through bulk appraisal

You can easily get multiple quotes by applying through online bulk appraisal sites. The advantage of getting multiple quotes is that you can compare the appraisal amounts from different dealers simultaneously and sell to the dealer that offers the highest price.

When you input basic information such as make, model year, and mileage on the site, it simultaneously sends inquiries to multiple buying dealers.

The downside is that each dealer will contact you with an appraisal amount by email or phone within a day to a few days, so you'll need to respond frequently to calls and emails for several days.

However, the benefit of a higher purchase price outweighs this effort, so obtaining multiple quotes is highly recommended.

Honestly declare accident history and repair history

During an appraisal, the condition of the motorcycle is visually checked within the range that can be seen without disassembly. While appraisers are professionals, there are things that cannot be known without disassembly.

Even if you manage to conceal something during the appraisal, malicious falsehoods can lead to problems later on. You will also be asked about any accidents or falls during the appraisal, so be honest and specific about what accidents or falls occurred.

Sell as soon as possible

Motorcycles are industrial products, but in a way, they are also "living things." The market price of motorcycles fluctuates throughout the year, and like fish or vegetables, prices can change significantly depending on life changes, long holidays, and seasons.

Furthermore, amidst the recent COVID-19 pandemic, demand has increased, driving up prices. The best time to sell is when you feel like selling, and missing a period of high market prices can result in a loss.

Also, once an appraisal is done, the quoted price is generally valid for a maximum of one week; after that, it's common industry practice that the same price won't be offered (it will be lower). To avoid losing out on a good appraisal, try to sell quickly.

【Latest for 2022】6 Recommended Motorcycle Buying Services

Bike O

www.8190.jp

Bike O, familiar from TV commercials, prominently advertises itself as the No. 1 motorcycle buying service. In the industry, they have served the most users when selling motorcycles, with over 2 million transactions as of 2022, making them the largest in the industry.

Its strengths lie in its extensive purchasing knowledge and nationwide network, being the largest in the industry. They promote themselves as buying "any motorcycle," making them a reassuring choice for users with non-running, accident-damaged, or unpopular bikes.

They also focus on motorcycle sales and auctions, reflecting the lack of intermediary margins in the purchase price for in-house sales and achieving thorough cost reductions through a high volume of transactions. They are also proficient in distribution using auctions.

Bike Land

https://www.bike-kaitori.com/

A major motorcycle buying company that even buys motorcycles with outstanding loan payments. They also offer online bulk appraisals, which is convenient if you want to quickly know the appraisal amount or compare it with other stores.

They also offer motorcycle sales through direct channels, such as the "Motorcycle Replacement Support Campaign." By handling both buying and subsequent purchases with Bike Land, you can increase the purchase price and receive purchase benefits.

In addition, they also run many campaigns depending on the season, such as their "Seasonal Bike Campaign" for increased purchases. By cleverly combining these campaigns, you might be able to sell your bike for a higher price than at other shops.

Bike One

https://www.bikeone.jp/

This buying service specializes in purchasing custom motorcycles. If you want a valuation that takes into account the custom parts on your beloved or self-customized bike, consider using their service.

They advertise "We buy bikes that other shops refuse," so users looking to sell non-running, accident-damaged, or unpopular bikes should consider contacting them.

Bike Boy

https://www.bikeboy.jp/

This specialized motorcycle dealer features a unique "Follow Credit System." The Follow Credit System allows Bike Boy to temporarily repay any outstanding loan balance on your current motorcycle if its purchase price is less than the remaining debt.

Bike Boy then becomes the lender, and you repay the outstanding balance to them. This system is convenient for users who want to sell their motorcycle but can't because of an existing loan.

Bike Kan SOX

https://bs-sox.com/

With 60 stores nationwide, they boast a cumulative purchase of over 100,000 bikes as of 2022. Originally a motorcycle sales company, they have been focusing on buying in recent years, steadily increasing their実績 and performance.

A key strength is their ability to sell the purchased motorcycles directly. Since there are no intermediaries between buying and selling, no intermediate margins are incurred, and that amount is reflected in the purchase price.

If you want to get an even higher price than other stores, it's a good idea to include them in your bulk appraisal. Additionally, when you call to inquire, you'll speak directly with a motorcycle expert from Bike Kan SOX, so the difference between the reference price given over the phone and the actual appraisal price is often small, which is another reason for their popularity.

Red Baron

https://www.redbaron.co.jp/

It's a brick-and-mortar motorcycle dealership characterized by not participating in bulk appraisals or joint appraisals, but instead building its own unique buying and selling network.

They also don't offer online or phone appraisals, instead opting for a style where you either bring your bike to a store or they conduct an on-site appraisal. Their "Direct Purchase" service is also popular, where they don't pass purchased motorcycles to other dealers or auctions, but rather resell them through Red Baron's own sales network.

After selling a motorcycle, people often wonder what state it will be in and who will ride it. With direct purchasing, the bike is sold through Red Baron's nationwide network, making it recommended for users who wish for their bike to be cared for by someone else.

However, if the motorcycle falls significantly below Red Baron's buying and selling standards, a buying fee may be incurred, so it's advisable to check in advance.

Summary

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We've covered whether to "buy" or "trade-in" your motorcycle, tips for getting a higher price, and how to choose a dealer.

With many different dealers out there, using a bulk appraisal service will help you understand the market price and identify the dealer offering the highest purchase price. Additionally, some dealers not participating in bulk appraisals may offer high prices through their own distribution channels or direct sales, or specialize in certain motorcycle types. Therefore, in addition to using the internet, making inquiries in person can also lead to a higher purchase price.

We hope you can maintain your cherished motorcycle, which has been with you through thick and thin, in beautiful condition until the day you sell it, and get the highest possible price for it.