Buying techniques to get the best price on used bikes

[81cr450]

Like the title says I'm really curious how to get the best possible deal on scoring a bike & the techniques to get the price down from whats being asked.

Pulling the pipe, is one of mine cause rarely the cylinder looks good. Did it on a bike that had the piston in backward once, really had the guy stuttering. Emphasizing any flaws obviously & knowing the repair cost.

I guess it's the pro buyers like Sandblaster that I'd really like to hear chime in. I'm sure having bought 1000's of bike there are definitly tried & true skills to it. Thanks in advance for any pointers

[sandblaster]

Oh great.......
I could write a book and only cover a fraction of what we do.
Every situation is different so there is no best way that works in every situation.
However, the best advice I can offer is don't be in a hurry to buy and, base your offer on KBB trade in value.
Remember, money doesn't talk, it swears *(@^&@$%^@$.
I make a ton of offers on the internet and about one in five will say something like I can't take that, I need at least X amount.
So my reply goes something like this, "I completely understand where you are coming from and I appreciate your counter offer. Unfortunately my offer is the best I can do. If at some point you have a harder time selling then you thought, remember that I have cash and I don't play games."
Then out of the blue they contact us and away we go.
Basing your offer on KBB takes away the "Low baller" syndrome.
They might be asking 2K for their bike but if you show them that KBB say's it's 1K then you aren't offering an arbitrary amount based on emotion, it's what the established value of the bike is.
I'm a dealer and that is what we pay. Why? Because we are going to sell it for retail, that's how we stay in business.
People will sometimes immediately say no.
Then something comes up that they think will be cool or they need and there you are with cash swearing in your pocket  
Another thing I don't do is criticize their bike in order to beat them up on the price.
Even though they are selling their bike, often times they still love it because of all the fun they have had on it.
So be patient, be polite, and treat it as a business transaction, not as an emotional decision based on how much fun you will have on it.
Questions?
Feel free to ask.

[jonny500]

i also buy alot of Bikes in but In the U.K. i find the worst thing to do is to offend the seller. like sandblaster said being polite goes a long way. its no good just putting a silly offer forward you need to give detailed reasons why the bike is worth what you are offering, people hate the thought of being ripped off. when i buy a bike i make no secret of the fact i need to make a profit and most understand that. when i arrive for the veiwing i am never to egar to get down to doing a deal, a little small talk like 'the drive here was terrible' or 'this seem like a lovely area' ect ect.... goes a long way.  if you can get the seller to like you your half way there. quite often the seller is planning to buy another bike after the sale, as i am dealer they often ask for info on price and the best place to buy, to which i am very forth coming. i let them have my email so they can forward ebay item numbers and classified adds to me and always follow through and give the best advice i can.
having said all that  some people are glad to see the back of these bike so dont be scared to take a chance and certainly all ways be prepared to walk away . p.s never veiw a bike without the cash on you or close by. i have had people view bikes with no cash and its a big pi@# off to the seller

[Motorrad]

With the vintage bikes I deal with...  I have always said..

You Adopt them...   not buy them.


That is the mental mantality most of the sellers have.    as many have alot of fond memorys with them... so the beat them up thing doesnt work..  You more have to talk up your plans of restorations, pouring money / time into it... and odly enough the price comes down, because they want their baby to live again.


But all situations are differant... I have also found the guy that doesnt give a crap, and just needs to buy some Tweek for breakfast..  Those guys you can insult the crap out of...  they normaly say no.... (after you have flashed Crisp $100 bills, oddly $100 does the trick)  so when they say no.. you start to walk, like you dont care...   thats when they see the crisp $100 bills worth of tweek to put on their pancakes, walking away and Boom... sale..

[81cr450]

However, the best advice I can offer is don't be in a hurry to buy and, base your offer on KBB trade in value.

Thanks Sandblaster very much for that I was wondering how to price it so it was fair to both parties. I like to know if I buy it, I can part it & get a little more back, its like being paid to ride  How most of my bikes have been for the last 5 or so years. It does sound like selling to you would be fair also though, right on!

Johnny500 that is a really good point on being nice to the the seller & i like the thought of , So what do you wanna get next. I'm do like to help people & have a bit of info on most things . It sounds like a way to make dealing with "strangers" easier

& Dave its the maintenance that I like to look for as additional costs to get it up to snuff as most people wear it out then move it. I try to stay away from tweaker projects though cause its like buying a basket case, although I'd happily give $300 for a tweaker f**ked gs1100 again & again & again

[Motorrad]

& Dave its the maintenance that I like to look for as additional costs to get it up to snuff as most people wear it out then move it. I try to stay away from tweaker projects though cause its like buying a basket case, although I'd happily give $300 for a tweaker f**ked gs1100 again & again & again

basket cases are my favorate kind of bikes....   you know exactly what your getting.. its all layed out, piled up, spread around, for you to look at and inspect.. no surprises... (not like a box of chocolates)


dont knock the tweeker bikes... If I told you the things I have bought from tweekers.. You would hate me as much as Rooster and Doldguy.   like a pair of danny hamel seats for $20....   Norton with trick racy parts.. for $300  (was in really good shape actually)...   and so on..

[sandblaster]

That's funny, every now and then someone calls me and they sound very nervous...... "Um, I have this bike but, it's all taken apart. Um, you wouldn't want it would you?" I try not to laugh. Sure, we'll be happy to give it to 50 good homes or so