I’m just wondering if I’m one of those crazy people expecting too much when selling my bike. This is my first time selling rather than trading in. Normally I trade in to save on the 7.75%sales tax in upstate New York. I am currently in Germany so trading in is not an option.

Here is the situation. I am selling my 2008 Ultra Classic (Anniversary). The way that I read Kelley Blue Book ther etail value is $16,480 ($15,960 + $520 for the ABS) if the bike is in excellent condition. KBB trade-in value,as I read it, is $12,275 ($11,925 + $350 for the ABS) if the bike is in good condition. I’m not foolish enough to believe the bike is in excellent condition. However, I would consider it as good to very good. It does have 30,000 miles (a little more thanaverage). It has no visible stone chips in the paint (it does have 3 or 4 small stone chips in thewindshield). There is a small tear inthe seam of the seat. I have ordered a new replacement seat that will be included with the bike. I am just waiting for the seat to arrive in the mail. (I am willing to deliver the seat to any buyer in Germany if it arrives after a sale.) I am including a Garmin Zumo 550 with US and Europe maps (granted both maps could use an upgrade; but, they get me where I need to go with no wrong turns).

My asking price is $15,000. I am under no illusion that I would ever get that price. That is just a figure to begin bargaining. Offers that I’m receiving are $12,000 or less. I’m sorry; but, I am offended by those offers. I’m not offended by these being someone’s starting offer. That is part of the bargaining process. What offends me is these offers are not their beginning offers; but, their final offers. (That is why I’m asking here. Maybe those are reasonable offers and I’m too emotionally attached tothe bike.) I doubt anyone here is interested in purchasing the bike because it would cost them too much to ship it back to the states (but maybe there is someone stationed here in Germany with the military that ends up reading this). My bottom line is $13,500. Am I being unreasonable or would you consider this a fair price?

I understand that without seeing the bike that you will have to make some assumptions and that one of those assumptions might be that I’me xaggerating the condition of the bike. So, for the sake of seeking honest opinions, I would hope for opinions based on the bike being in good condition. For what it is worth, the exhaust and intake are stock. I know some people will consider that anegative. However, by being stock it has absolutely no problem passing the strictest of German inspections and it give sthe buyer the opportunity to make the changes they want and not take thechanges I wanted.

Feel free to flame away. But, I am hoping for at least a couple of honest opinions about whether or not hoping for $13,500 is expecting too much.

Thanks.

 

If 13,500 is your bottom then list it for 13,600 and give the buyer 100 off, just to make him feel like you came down on it some. We're guys, we all like a discount.

As a buyer I would personally skip over any over priced ad.

Secondly, Ignore any offer via email. A serious buyer will want to put their eyes/hands on it.

Selling a big ticket item is always a b!tch unless it's priced way under value (fire sale).

Be patient if you can - There's a seat for every saddle.

 

You sound very reasonable to me and I agree with post #1. I've sold private before and a educated buyer knows what a good deal is....you know what they say, patience is a virtue.

 

If you are comfortable in the $13,500 area, which I think is close for over here, don't know about where you are, I would list it around 14,400 or 14,600 and go from there. If you don't want to go in and change your pricing, just sit tight until the right fish comes along.

 

When I went looking for my latest bike, I knew what I had to spend and wouldn't make offers on anything that was more than 1500 over my budget. If 13500 is your bottom line, which, is a reasonable price where I live, put it up for 14,199 and haggle or 13.5 firm. You're always going to get lowball offers from people and small shops that want to flip your bike. Don't take it personally.

 

i had the same issue when selling my last bike. i included alot of extras and kept getting lowballed. and i knew it was worth what i was asking because of kbb and every ad that showed one just like. i know from my experience seems like you never get more money when u throw in extras so id advise to sell the gps on the side. youll always get low ball offers i just chose to ignore ones that were way less then my bottom line.

 

If you receive a low offer, tell buyers 13,500 is your bottom line. After saying this point out the key features of your bike--ie, mileage, condition, accessories, good tires, pipes, etc. This reinforces the value proposition and helps justify your price.

 

I dont think thats unreasonable for an 08 thats barely broken in good. I would list it for a little bit more than your bottom dollar, wait for the right person to come along then haggle. Only thing its costing you by keeping it is the insurance. I say keep it runnin, ride and enjoy it while its advertised for sale. Sooner or later its next owner will be there to pick her up. If you end up not selling it, bring it back to the states with you then trade it. Good luck and stay safe.

 

soon to be 6 year old bike with the old style frame. you rode it for 30k. anything over $12,000 would be a fair price. JMO

 

Anything is only worth as much as you can get for it.