How does mileage effect depreciation?

[Jason M]

OK - I'm possibly looking to add a new member of the fleet at the moment, almost certainly another bm. Personally I don't care too much about the mileage cos it'll be waving goodbye to the BMW stealer chain for all except extreem work but obviously mileage allows me to beat the price down when comparing bikes against each other.

Now say for example bike A has 5k on and B has 20k, same age, spec and basic condition - someone I knew used to say take £25 per 1k off but that was for cars and was a few years ago now anyway.

Basicaly I'm feeling guilty about offering sellers big money less than they're asking then refusing to budge. I don't like being hard nosed particularly but it's a buyers market nowadays and ebay has seemed to lower the prices people will pay - together with the time of year, even for bikes people think are bulletproof when it comes to depreciation.

I have to resist jumping in too soon and paying over the odds when I realy want a new toy to play with

unless anyone on here has a cheap Adventure going spare that is

Jason

[winger]

Hi Jason

Firstly be patient,you got till the 3rd/4th week in Feb next year before the silly season starts.

The bench mark for selling privately is 4 grand,most people either don't have the money(they need finance) or don't have the balls to put their money were there mouth is,over that amount.

Mileage is a killer,over 30k people are in the realms of haveing drasticly reduce the price,it's sad but thats the way it is,if you find a bike you like,but the price is to high leave a phone number and let e'm stew,their tack will be'do you want to loose the bike' you tack is'do they want to loose a sale,looking at the stuff on e-bay nothings selling.

One of the best examples of whats going on,in the comic for the last 3 weeks a guy has been tyring sell a Fazer thou 03 very low miles(1800),for 4 grand it had 2 grands worth of bits on it,and he still struggled.

You can keep track of people!!!,e-bay,MCN,Bike Trader,Auto trader,local paper,MCN website,if your looking for a GS check the classic bike mags they turn up in those as well.

Treat it like a game,what is they say kettles never boil when you watch e'm!!!!,i'm after a K1200s,to be honest the way the prices are at the mo,i've took a step back cuz anything is possible.

Chris

[Jason M]

Patience is definately the key you're right Chris. And I've been watching them fail to sell on ebay and seen the silly money people are asking for the exact same bikes in the auto trader. I've got one bloke realy upset with me cos he thinks I'm taking the piss (but I suspect he'll go for my deal eventually ) and I've got one to look at in Devon this eveing that has some lovely ohlins suspenders but I'm still not going to go with big money on anything, there is just too much on offer at the moment. Even SPC had one they dropped £400 in a week to sell it.

I need to get one in the next couple of months but I'm not in a tearing hurry - when I see what I want I'll know and I'll act immediately

Jason

[scotty]

Jason - E-bay can produce some really good buy's though and especially if you're down South and can perhaps nip over to see the bike before paying. I got my s earlier in the year off a guy who trades bikes on e-bay. It had no reserve on it and apart from the horn which you helped me fix the bike was in A1 order with 34K on the clock. Extra's included the Patriot alarm (groan), the wider rear tyre, remus exhaust and laser chip, personalised number plate worth £250 and a few smaller extras. I got it for £2,400 and the guy even arranged transport up to Aberdeen from Kent for £150.

[Jason M]

Alright Scotty - yep it's a flea bay failed sale I'm going to look at in Devon tonight, and the other offer I've made is on another failed flea bay bike in Guildford. There are plenty around so I'm going to end up playing one off against the other I bet!

[scotty]

Well good luck tonight. Christ, another bike in the garage !