Bike O Reviews: A Comprehensive Guide to Its Popularity, Pros, and Cons!

Basic Information about Bike O

Source：https://pixabay.com/photos/biker-motorcycle-ride-vehicle-407123/

Bike O is the largest motorcycle buying company in the industry. With their commercials running on numerous media outlets, it's safe to say that hardly anyone is unfamiliar with them.

Bike O's business and activities are broadly divided into four categories:

Motorcycle purchasing
Motorcycle sales
Used parts sales
Rental motorcycles
Hosting and participating in motorcycle-related events

The most well-known of Bike O's businesses is motorcycle purchasing. They offer free on-site appraisal services in almost all regions of Japan.

Furthermore, by sending a photo of your motorcycle to their official LINE account, you can receive a simple appraisal estimate. They have handled over 2 million motorcycles to date and have refined their purchasing expertise.

*Store count as of July 5, 2021

Reference：https://www.8190.co.jp/news/pdf/release/2021/210806.pdf

They also sell motorcycles, handling over 100,000 units annually. They are also focusing on online sales, offering free shipping for motorcycles 125cc and above within Bike O's designated areas. They operate 63 stores nationwide, and motorcycles can be transferred between stores for free.

Additionally, they operate a rental motorcycle business. While the models vary by store, they offer everything from mopeds to large motorcycles.

They sell used parts on Yahoo! Auctions. While less known than their buying and selling operations, you can find some great deals there, so those interested should definitely check it out.

Other activities include organizing motorcycle-related events such as kids' bike test rides and classic bike test rides, and participating in other motorcycle-related events.

Summary of Reviews and Reputation for Bike O's On-site Purchase Service

Source：https://pixabay.com/illustrations/rating-phone-customer-mobile-4431148/

We collected reviews about Bike O's on-site purchase service from Twitter. The content tweeted on Twitter is highly credible as it represents personal experiences and is less likely to be fabricated.

Please refer to the explanations provided for each tweet.

<h3>Good Reviews and Reputation for Bike O's On-site Purchase Service</h3>

It says, "The explanation after the appraisal was very thorough." Receiving a specific explanation of how the appraisal value was determined leads to satisfaction and a sense of understanding.

This review indicates that the appraisal process was handled well. Although the appraisal amount itself resulted in a negative assessment, the customer was able to learn various things, so the ability to communicate effectively with the representative might be an advantage.

This is likely a Yamaha Magna 250. From the photo, it appears to be in very good condition, so a 100,000 yen appraisal seems reasonable.

It says that even a crashed SUZUKI Hayabusa was purchased at a high price. The Hayabusa is a popular model, so there's high demand even for its parts, which likely contributed to the high purchase price.

It seems that the HONDA Silver Wing 600 was purchased at a high price. Although large scooters are a rare genre, it seems to have been purchased at a high price, just as the commercial says, "We buy any motorcycle at a high price."

Negative Reviews and Reputation for Bike O's On-site Purchase Service

It seems that the appraisal price for the KAWASAKI Zephyr 400 was 140,000 yen. C7 refers to the model name, which is a 1995 model. It is likely that the customization into a "bosozoku" style, as seen in the photo, was a factor in lowering the appraisal price.

This is a Harley customized for YAZAWA Eikichi fans. It has under-mirrors and aftermarket exhaust, and YAZAWA Eikichi's name is on the front fender as a sticker or paint. This strongly individualized customization might have resulted in an appraisal price of 300,000 yen.

It's hard to say without a photo, but it's often the case that you can sell bikes for a higher price on flea market apps than to buyers. This is because there are no intermediary fees involved when you don't go through a buyer.

バイク王で０円査定だった３号機。買ったお店で見てもらったら買い取って貰える事になったのでラストランとなった😂７年間ありがとう〜😘 pic.twitter.com/FLkgkA0Mz6

— まそそ (@masoso47) February 6, 2021

Off-road bikes sometimes have lower appraisal values. One reason for this is their lower popularity compared to naked or sport bikes. It's best to negotiate based on the appraisal value from the shop where you bought it.

Basically, buyers offer a low appraisal amount initially. The reason is that they want to buy it as cheaply as possible. This tweet is also useful as a reference for negotiating a higher appraisal amount.

Actual troubles experienced with Bike Ō's purchases

Source: https://pixabay.com/vectors/angry-stressed-man-headache-danger-6771919/

The two most well-known troubles with Bike Ō's purchases are:

The "rigged comparison site" incident
The keyword "Bike Ō won't leave" became a top search result

The "rigged comparison site" incident was a scandal related to competitive appraisals reported by the Asahi Shimbun in January 2011. Two comparison sites advertised that a higher appraisal amount could be achieved by having Bike Ō and five other buyers competitively appraise the bike. However, it turned out that all the other buyers were affiliated with Bike Ō.

In other words, it appeared as if there was competition, but no matter which buyer purchased the bike, Bike Ō profited. Following the incident, Bike Ō's stock price dropped by 8.5%. Since then, they have implemented measures such as establishing a new compliance department to prevent recurrence.

Next, there was an incident where the phrase "Bike Ō won't leave" became a top search result.

In September 2012, the phrase "Bike Ō won't leave" became a top search result and gained attention. Many people commented, "With the revision of the Commercial Transactions Law, the appraisal staff from Bike Ō who won't leave even if you refuse will disappear." This was in anticipation of the revision of the Specified Commercial Transactions Law on February 21, 2013.

Since Bike Ō is a business, it's not ideal for them to make a house call and leave empty-handed after incurring travel expenses. It seems some appraisal staff used to persist and not leave even if refused. After the revision, "staying put" became a legal violation, subject to administrative dispositions such as business suspension orders and penalties, so appraisal staff no longer "stay put."

Pros and Cons of Using Bike Ō

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/pros-and-cons-compare-choice-5201376/

Here are the pros and cons of using Bike Ō.

Advantages of Using Bike Ō

Here are four advantages of using Bike Ō:

Free on-site appraisal nationwide
Can purchase and collect damaged, inoperable, or expired-inspection bikes
Custom parts are also valued
Handles troublesome procedures on your behalf

Bike Ō offers easy application and on-site appraisals, saving you the hassle of searching for nearby buyers or bringing in your bike. They can dispatch to almost anywhere in the country (excluding some remote islands), making it accessible to nearly everyone. Furthermore, they fully handle procedures like name changes.

Also, they can take and purchase any bike. They will collect or buy bikes, including those with expired inspections, broken bikes, or inoperable ones, for free to tens of thousands of yen.

They also buy custom bikes, and popular custom parts can lead to a higher appraisal. This is because there is high demand for popular custom parts. Parts from famous manufacturers like "Yoshimura," "Brembo," and "BEAMS" are likely to increase the appraisal value.

Even without motorcycle knowledge, it's not an issue. If you sell your motorcycle through online auctions, flea market apps, or private sales, you'll need to handle title changes, shipping arrangements, explain the bike's condition, and be present for inspections. With Bike Ō, all these troublesome procedures are handled on your behalf.

Disadvantages of Using Bike Ō

Here are three disadvantages of using Bike Ō:

The actual appraisal amount is lower than the trial free appraisal.
The appraisal amount is initially quoted at a low figure.
For custom bikes, they lose out on appraisal value to specialist dealers.

You can get a rough estimate for your bike using the "Trial Free Appraisal" on Bike Ō's official website. However, the actual appraisal amount is often lower than the "Trial Free Appraisal."

The appraisal amount calculated in the "Trial Free Appraisal" is for a used bike in good condition. If the bike being appraised has scratches or deterioration due to age, the appraisal amount will be lower accordingly.

The actual appraisal amount is initially quoted at a low figure. The reason is that they want to buy it as cheaply as possible to make a profit. There are also maintenance costs, transportation costs, and associated labor costs after the purchase.

Bike Ō's appraisal of custom bikes may result in a lower purchase price compared to specialized dealers. This is particularly true for unique custom bikes where the shape deviates significantly from the original, such as those popular in "kyusha-kai" (classic car clubs), "zoku-sha" (gang-style bikes), or American chopper styles. Bike Ō may not be able to compete with the unique sales channels that specialized dealers possess.

Is Bike Ō's on-site appraisal free? Is it really okay to just get an appraisal?

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/money-savings-piggy-white-1885540/

Bike Ō genuinely offers a completely free motorcycle appraisal. Even if you're not satisfied with the appraisal amount and decline, there are no charges whatsoever.

They also welcome just getting an estimate, and comparing with other buyers is not an issue.

For Bike Ō, the more bikes they can appraise, the more opportunities they have to increase sales.

Feel free to use the free appraisal service.

Bike Ō has a lot of bad reviews and people say to avoid it, but what's the reality?

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/angry-man-point-finger-india-angry-274175/

The reason Bike Ō has so many bad reviews is that people say the appraisal amount was lower than expected. However, in reality, you can negotiate to increase the purchase price, and they handle all the paperwork for you, so there's no reason not to use their service.

Like any buyer, Bike Ō initially offers a low appraisal amount to maximize profit. However, if you negotiate, the appraisal amount will gradually increase.

While it's said that selling a bike through auctions or flea market apps might yield a higher price, there are also disadvantages. These include the time and effort required for describing the bike's condition, being present for inspections, handling title changes, and preparing for shipping.

Moreover, if you encounter a malicious buyer or if unexpected defects appear that you weren't aware of, it's not uncommon to face troubles and difficulties.

It's simple to get an appraisal from Bike Ō, and if you're not satisfied, you can just decline, so go ahead and get an appraisal first.

What to do if Bike Ō's appraiser won't leave?

Source: https://pixabay.com/vectors/silhouette-couple-people-man-woman-2480321/

If a Bike Ō appraiser won't leave, the solution is to clearly state that you will "absolutely not sell unless they offer an appraisal amount higher than what you desire."

The following tweet provides a concrete example:

Appraisers who think "if I persuade them, they might sell" won't leave. As Bike Ō is a business, their honest feeling is that they don't want to leave empty-handed after making a free house call.

Especially before the revision of the Specified Commercial Transactions Law on February 21, 2013, there were appraisers who would forcefully stay. However, with the revision, intimidating behavior, persistent nagging, and price reductions that could be interpreted as complaints are no longer allowed.

Clearly demonstrate your intention not to sell.

Which is better, Bike Ō or Red Baron?

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/choice-select-decide-decision-vote-2692575/

The conclusion is that it's best to get appraisals from both Bike Ō and Red Baron. Get appraisals from both and negotiate for a higher price.

However, bikes purchased and serviced at Red Baron tend to sell for more at Red Baron. Red Baron prioritizes bikes they have sold and serviced themselves because it reduces the risk when reselling them.

Bikes sourced from dealer auctions and the like can be a hit or miss, and our policy is to avoid selling bikes with unknown origins to prevent unexpected complaints.

If you're already a Red Baron customer, it's also a good idea to trade in your bike at Red Baron. For Red Baron, the advantages are not only selling a bike but also generating continuous profit through services like the oil reserve system and roadside assistance.

These are the reasons why we recommend selling a bike purchased from Red Baron back to Red Baron.

Bike O is suitable for selling bikes not purchased at Red Baron. Bike O claims to buy any bike, so their appraisal is based on the bike's actual condition.

Additionally, for bikes that cannot be resold, such as accident-damaged or non-running bikes, Bike O will generally pay a higher price than Red Baron.

If you need an on-site appraisal, have Bike O appraise it. Red Baron generally does not offer on-site appraisals. While Red Baron does have a pick-up appraisal service where they collect the bike and appraise it with precision equipment at their store, it requires your presence for the handover, which can be troublesome.

Summary

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/motorbike-garage-repairs-workshop-407186/

Bike O is the largest company in the motorcycle buying industry and has an excellent track record. However, many negative reviews are written online.

Most of the negative reviews cite the following two points:

The purchase price was lower than expected.
The appraiser wouldn't leave until the bike was sold after the appraisal.

The reason Bike O's purchase price might seem low is because people often refer to the initial appraisal amount given immediately after the assessment. The first appraisal amount is usually low because Bike O is a business and wants to buy bikes as cheaply as possible.

However, if you get appraisals from other buyers for comparison and negotiate persistently, the appraisal amount will surely increase.

Also, the complaints about appraisers not leaving until the bike was sold mainly refer to unscrupulous appraisers before the 2013 legal reform. If you are not satisfied with the appraisal amount, they will leave if you clearly refuse. Of course, there is no charge.

Furthermore, Bike O offers the following three advantages: