stripping a bike for resale

[birdseye]

Is there really anything to be gained by taking all the extras off a bike before selling it, or to put it another way do you get a higher price for a bike with luggae than one without? Does it make a difference whether its a dealer or private?

I know lots of people take extras off their bikes when selling but if I am buying then I would pay more for a well kitted out bike than onbe that has been stripped back to "ex factory".

 

[cartejo5]

Tbh its a real mute point, personally I would pay more for extras that I wanted/needed however many folks expect any extras to be simply part of the price and are unwilling to pay an extra premium. Nowadays I would strip a bike to a standard spec and sell off any high value sought after extras separately.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Well
In my experience the cost of making your bike perform and look to your desired outcome is bloody expensive and by the time you have spent the best part of a grand on a de cat header set and an end can not to mention all the useful touratech/cymarc/wunderlich bits and bobs that you need (and you do) the investment is considerable.
When you come to PX the bike the dealer wont be particularly interested in all the lovely shiny things and will not increase the offered price by any where near the going rate for them.

So..... By stripping the bits and farkles off and then selling them on ( if they dont fit the new bike) you can recoup a large proportion of your original spend.

Equally would any one be prepared to pay say 1500 quid over the real value of the bike if buying privately for those farkles (it would be sensible to do so but they wont)

 

[NeilCol]

My view on this is take them off.

Me personally, I wouldn't be bothered about buying a bike with all the extra whistles and bells on. If I went to view a bike that had them fitted, I wouldn't be interested in paying a bit more. After all, like the bike they are second hand too.
On the other hand, if there were 2 bikes similar but one had a few extras on at the same price you might get your asking price if you left the extras on, whereas the other might have to drop a bit.

Only thing that may be worth anything to me is the BMW Sat Nav. I would possibly pay a bit more for that.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Personally I'd probably take most extras off, but I would leave the luggage on. Most people want a GS with luggage. You may not get much extra money for the bike, but it will be more attractive to potential buyers.

 

[MikeO]

Strip everything off it. You're looking at making the maximum amount to put towards your next bike - the best way to do this is to strip it back to standard and sell the bits (preferably on here, where you don't get stung for eBay fees). You'll realise several hundred pounds more for your bike for a weekend's work.

A bike with extras is only a bargain if you were going to buy those extras anyway. My current bike had a load of stuff I didn't need - I made back about 60% of the purchase price by the time I'd stripped it completely. That sponsored all the work I had planned for it.

If you're going to trade it in then you'd be crazy not to strip it - a dealer won't give you a penny extra for the bling...

 

[Justin]

I had a 1200gs with all the extras and could not sell it, i stripped all the bits and sold them, then sold the bike and made far more. Strip it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lmg]

Its been my personal experience that I have made far more by selling the extras separately to the bike, than the amounts offered for the bike with the bits on it. For example, I recently purchased a 2009 Triumph Rocket 3 which had loads of extras on it for 7grand. I managed to sell all the extras for a little over 3 grand, so the bike actually owed/owes me a little under 4 grand. When I sold my 2006 Honda Varadero I stripped off all the extras and made an additional £1800 on top of the bikes sale price. The only reason to leave extras on the bike when you sell or part-ex it is if you lazy or just don't have the time to take them off.

 

[DJ GSA]

I managed to squeeze a few more quid out of the dealer on his part ex price as I've just traded mine in. That said I took off all the stuff he wasn't interested in and sold them off separately. He was really only interested I the bmw branded stuff

 

[JimVonBaden]

I tried to sell my 05 GS fully loaded, but no one wanted it, even though the price was pretty good. I stripped everything back to stock, sold the pieces and the bike in short order for more than I was asking for the bike loaded.

I've done it twice. Worth the effort, though a PITA to ship so many pieces.

Jim

 

[Skid06]

always stripped bikes bare of all the farkles, if you buy touratech, wunderlich, akrapovic, you'll get a very big chunk of your outlay back if its in good nick then you can spend it all on your new bike

 

[Nutty]

Without a doubt, STRIP IT!

 

[jonnie comet]

This is one of those things that doesn't really make any sense, BUT 100% strip every time....

People just see the bottom line price.....'It's got this/that/the other' doesn't cut any ice compared to that bottom line price. The same people THEN post an ad' 'Wanted, a set of panniers/top box/screen/sat nav' mount etc' when they would have been better off buying a bike with all that lot fitted in the first place.....

Just my experience.....

 

[Mad_Accountant]

Strip it for sure. Buyers much prefer standard bikes, as mentioned earlier the only exception is the luggage, particulary as that can often be key coded to the bike. Offer the bike at two price options, with and without the luggage but do not let the buyer beat you down to the lower as an inclusive price.

And timing is everything, now is the time to get it sold !!

 

[MattW]

From a recent buyers perspective...

I spent ages looking for 'the right' GSA. My major (or only real) consideration was condition, mileage and service history. There were certain colours I didn't really want but I'd have lived with it for the right bike. Luggage was definitely a 'nice to have' and as most GSA's were sold with panniers - I pretty much expected them to be present and I didn't expect to be paying a premium (although again, it wouldn't have stopped me for the right bike). I didn't care at all about any other bolt-ons - I pretty much expected to have to buy some bits to make it how I wanted.

I ended up buying a just about bog stock 2012 4000 mile TC from a dealer just before Christmas. It came with panniers and a swingarm crash bung (and a nippy Norman oil bottle which I discovered later 'went missing' during it pre-sale service...) but nothing else. I was more than happy with that.

I then bought some (what I thought to be 'must have') bits and pieces - oil cooler guard, crud catcher, mudsling, fender extender etc. and I bought these new as because the bike was just about good as new, I wanted new 'stuff' for it (sad, I know... ). I also bought a second hand gsa top box and mounting rack.

So, the upshot from my perspective is - I'd say if you can be bothered doing it (and then ebaying them), strip the bolt on bits from the bike - it probably won't matter at all to the buyer. However, luggage will definitely increase it's appeal and you could probably charge a few hundred quid premium in a private sale for OEM panniers.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

When I bought my present GS it was loaded up with parts. Many parts I didn't want, some were OK and could stay (but I wouldn't have bought them separately if it were my choice) and some I DID want (luggage, HIDs etc)... The bike was the right price, condition etc etc which was the important bit.
Some bits I also had from my previous, written off GS so were doubled up (Luggage HIDs etc).

I stripped off the bits I didn't want and sold them on here. They paid for a service and other things. We all like to personalise our bikes to our own taste. Your taste may not be to a potential buyer's taste.

PS While you're stripping the bike, you can give it a much deeper clean too.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

I couldn't be arsed when I sold my GS.

The bike was fully sorted with suspension, mapping, exhaust, and lots of other functional bollox.

There was also an element of I'd spent a long time getting the bike 'just so' and actually wanted to pass that on to the next owner. It went up at a good price and sold in a couple of days. The current owner is on this site and is AFAIK very happy with the bike. I'm happy that somebody off here is appreciating all the work I put into it. I'm a bit silly like that.

If you want to make the most dosh, strip it.

Andres

 

[Bendy toy]

Mine isn't likely to be sold this year or next and as it's now 7 years old it could be at least 10 when/if I do sell it I still have the OEM exhaust and screen but the latter is cracked. I also have the OEM riders seat. They are stacked in the garage loft somewhere.
I would probably sell the exhaust and seat separately but the stuff like Mudsling crash bungs and oil cooler grille would stay with the bike.
If it's more than 10 years old when I sell, the goodies might just add value to the package.

 

[jeff]

Considered selling my 2010 GSA (but decided to keep it). Dealer made offer including luggage (£600 less without it) Rest of extras made no difference to price he was prepared to pay and advised me to take them off and sell them.