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I've been scouring Craigslist for Honda Rebels (in case that's all the might I can handle after the MSF course) and people have what I think are crazy prices. 07 Rebels with 1,000 miles for $3200?! They actually are worth MORE than retail after they've been ridden? Why wouldn't I save money, buy new and get a warranty?

I see a lot of these on CL, $3200, $3400, the only one I've seen that seemed reasonable (though high-priced) was a bobber conversion for $2799. Are people just hoping to scam new riders? You can find 650s, 750s, and even some 1100s for what people are asking for their Rebels!

Random observation, just think it's weird...

I resold my Ninja 250 for practically what it was worth at resale. You'll find starter bikes usually go for a lot.

monkeywright wrote:I've been scouring Craigslist . . . and people have what I think are crazy prices.

Huge difference between ASKING price, and actual sales price, and no the resale value on Rebels is NOT that great.

When shopping for bikes I saw absolutely outrageous aksing prices. I saw ads that had 3 to 5 year old bikes with asking prices near, at, or sometimes above MSRP of brand new bikes of the same model.

I don't care how many accessories you put on your bike you're not going to sell it for anywhere near what a new bike costs.

I negotiated a couple deals with sellers simultaneously when shopping. The seller of my V-star was the first to come down to my target price. The other sellers called after him and agreed to my target prices, but unfortunately for them I had already bought the V-star. In each case the sellers had VERY high asking prices, but I usually got them close to a price that was about halfway between Kelly Blue Book Retail and Kelly Blue Book Trade-In values.

NewGuy wrote:In each case the sellers had VERY high asking prices, but I usually got them close to a price that was about halfway between Kelly Blue Book Retail and Kelly Blue Book Trade-In values.

Now THAT'S some handy used bike buying advice! Thanks!

monkeywright wrote:

NewGuy wrote:In each case the sellers had VERY high asking prices, but I usually got them close to a price that was about halfway between Kelly Blue Book Retail and Kelly Blue Book Trade-In values.

Now THAT'S some handy used bike buying advice! Thanks!

The key is to be patient. Usually the seller has a reason they need to unload the bike. They want a different bike, and need the money to make that purchase. Already bought a new bike, and need to sell the old one ASAP. Baby is on the way, and need money for all the associated expenses. Wife wants it gone so they have more space in the garage. Too many bills and can't afford the "extra toy." Etc, etc, etc.

The first bike I made an offer on was a sweet 2005 Suzuki M50, and I wanted that bike bad. However, the guy wanted a couple hundred less than MSRP on a 2007 M50, and the new '08s were due out in a couple of weeks. I made my offer to him (a couple hundred less than my actual target price) and he refused. He then called me once a week for the next 5 weeks, and each time he'd drop the price a little more. The day after he'd call with his reduced price, his bike would get re-advertised on Craigslist with the price he had offered me the day before. He finally called agreeing to sell that M50 at my actual target price just a few hours after I paid for my V-star. I like my V-star, but had he met my price for the M50 a day earlier I'd be happily cruising around on that bike right now. A couple other sellers called a week or two after I bought my bike agreeing to my original asking price.

As long as you have a fair price in mind, you will eventually get a bike at that price.

I sold a 2006 Rebel a couple months ago for $2600--before gas went over $4/gal. If I'd held onto it and sold it now, I could easily get $2900--the market in Northern CA is just at that price point right now. People want small bikes and they can't even get new ones without putting down a deposit and then being put on a waiting list.

And knowing that by getting new they'll pay MSRP plus all the fees that can push the price of a Rebel to $4500... $3000 can seem like a bargain in a tight market.

If you're patient, you'll get one at the price you want to pay. Right now, at least in my area, there are a lot of impatient buyers and sellers making a decent amount off their bikes.

Yep the gas price is driving the small bike market right now. What was true last year is not this year. I have sold three bikes this year and all sold faster and for more than I had expected. I just hope that holds true for the next one.

Thumper wrote:I sold a 2006 Rebel a couple months ago . . .

So why did you sell that bike? How long had you had it?

Mostly that's rhetorical, because the same reasons you got rid of your Rebel, are why other people get rid of their small "entry level" bikes. There are lots of small, fuel efficient bikes out there, both new at dealers and in the used market. The thing is they are just that, small. Which is why so many people look to sell them, and get a bigger bike, after a short period of time.

SELLERS always want to believe their bikes are worth a huge amount of money. BUYERS always want to believe the bikes are worth very little. The truth is somewhere in between.

NewGuy wrote:

monkeywright wrote:

NewGuy wrote:In each case the sellers had VERY high asking prices, but I usually got them close to a price that was about halfway between Kelly Blue Book Retail and Kelly Blue Book Trade-In values.

Now THAT'S some handy used bike buying advice! Thanks!

The key is to be patient. Usually the seller has a reason they need to unload the bike. They want a different bike, and need the money to make that purchase. Already bought a new bike, and need to sell the old one ASAP. Baby is on the way, and need money for all the associated expenses. Wife wants it gone so they have more space in the garage. Too many bills and can't afford the "extra toy." Etc, etc, etc.

The first bike I made an offer on was a sweet 2005 Suzuki M50, and I wanted that bike bad. However, the guy wanted a couple hundred less than MSRP on a 2007 M50, and the new '08s were due out in a couple of weeks. I made my offer to him (a couple hundred less than my actual target price) and he refused. He then called me once a week for the next 5 weeks, and each time he'd drop the price a little more. The day after he'd call with his reduced price, his bike would get re-advertised on Craigslist with the price he had offered me the day before. He finally called agreeing to sell that M50 at my actual target price just a few hours after I paid for my V-star. I like my V-star, but had he met my price for the M50 a day earlier I'd be happily cruising around on that bike right now. A couple other sellers called a week or two after I bought my bike agreeing to my original asking price.

As long as you have a fair price in mind, you will eventually get a bike at that price.

Way I got my Vulcan was backwards from that. He had it listed way high on a local classified thing. I called and offered him 4k for it. He refused saying that was his price. 2 weeks later he lowed the price on the classifieds. I called again offered 4k and he still said no. Fourth time he listed it was 4,400. I offered 4 he said he couldn't do it. I asked him the bottom line, he said he owed the bank 4200. I figured he had come way down in price so I told him he had a deal. It was rough going three weeks without a bike (had sold my goldwing and had cash for something, but had to find the right bike to replace it.)

Way I came up with my price was went to kelly blue book. Found the private party price, then found the "from dealer" price. Found the midpoint.

UTRider wrote:Way I came up with my price was went to kelly blue book. Found the private party price, then found the "from dealer" price. Found the midpoint.

Where on the KBB website are those values found? All I've ever seen were RETAIL (price you should expect to pay from a dealer) and TRADE-IN (price you should expect to get from a dealer when trading in).