Negotiations on a used bike

[xaeniac]

Found a older motorcycle that I am interested in, the problem it is over two thousand dollars over market value due to the condition and mileage. I called the guy to tell him I was interested but wanted to make sure the price was not a typo. He started he was testing the market and did not care if he sold it. I told him if he decided to lower to a more reasonable price tocall me. I did not offer a price because i did not want him to feel lowballed or offended. I text him my contact information. He responded "thanks op. I will give you a text when I lower it to a more reasonable price. Appreciate your honesty. " should I pursue this any further? If so how long should I give it before contacting him? And if so should it be text or voice? What would the next negotiating tactic be?

 

[Viper GTS]

If you know what you are willing to pay there's little harm in letting him know. It's not an insult to him or his bike to say 'I want it, but can spend only (your price - $2k).'

There's also little harm in letting him float a higher price to see if someone else grabs it.

Viper GTS

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

maybe follow up in a few weeks. most of the time in the winter people will put out feeler ads because there's less buyers. they're not going to lower their prices if they're not strapped for cash.

another good place to pick up a motorcycle is a local motorcycle forum. sometimes they'll have a special forum price vs a general craiglist price. You can also try to look on your regional track day org forums.

 

[JulesMaximus]

What kind of bike (YMM) and what's he asking for it?

 

[xaeniac]

98 honda nighthawk cb750 4000 miles asking $5500

 

[unokitty]

98 honda nighthawk cb750 4000 miles asking $5500

Nice bike but I don't think that that bike sold for that much when it was new...

Consider the possibility that he doesn't want to sell it. If that is the case, you might be better off just waiting until when he does...

Best of luck,
Uno

 

[JulesMaximus]

98 honda nighthawk cb750 4000 miles asking $5500

Yeah, that's way too much. Maybe $2500... Maybe.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

$2500 unless there are serious aftermarket upgrades.

 

[xaeniac]

Nice bike but I don't think that that bike sold for that much when it was new...

Consider the possibility that he doesn't want to sell it. If that is the case, you might be better off just waiting until when he does...

Best of luck,
Uno

Then why post it and waste yours time if you don't want to sell?!some people. Anyway for the time being I will wait and continue the search.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Then why post it and waste yours time if you don't want to sell?

People get pressured to sell their bikes all the time from SO's, parents, relatives, you name it.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Yeah, that's way too much. Maybe $2500... Maybe.

It really, really depends on where you are. Bikes are very market dependent and KBB and NADA are often completely off base.

For example, up here around Seattle I helped a friend of mine get his first bike in late summer/early fall. He ultimately spent about $3,000 on a clean Suzuki S40 (a 31 hp beginner bike) and, given what we'd seen in the couple months of searching, got a solid deal on it.

When we were looking at bikes though, anything in decent shape was $2,500. People were asking $2,500 to $3,000 for Rebel 250s. And getting it. What bikes were available in the area for $2,000 or under had rust, or faded to matte paint, or turn signals dangling from electrical tape, or were just generally clapped-out 1980s bikes.

While NADA says that a clean '98 Nighthawk 750 is only worth about $2,000, that's just not realistic in all markets.

If it's perfect, then here in Seattle it's pretty easily a $4,000 bike, possibly a $4,500 bike, on the open market.

To someone who loves older Honda standards $5,500 might be worth it, again, if the bike is perfect, because there aren't a lot of clean, low-mileage Nighthawk 750s out there. These were usually heavily used commuter bikes that weren't exactly pampered. It's a stretch, sure, but it's not as much of a stretch as some might think. At least, not in all markets.

ZV

 

[xaeniac]

It really, really depends on where you are. Bikes are very market dependent and KBB and NADA are often completely off base.

For example, up here around Seattle I helped a friend of mine get his first bike in late summer/early fall. He ultimately spent about $3,000 on a clean Suzuki S40 (a 31 hp beginner bike) and, given what we'd seen in the couple months of searching, got a solid deal on it.

When we were looking at bikes though, anything in decent shape was $2,500. People were asking $2,500 to $3,000 for Rebel 250s. And getting it. What bikes were available in the area for $2,000 or under had rust, or faded to matte paint, or turn signals dangling from electrical tape, or were just generally clapped-out 1980s bikes.

While NADA says that a clean '98 Nighthawk 750 is only worth about $2,000, that's just not realistic in all markets.

If it's perfect, then here in Seattle it's pretty easily a $4,000 bike, possibly a $4,500 bike, on the open market.

To someone who loves older Honda standards $5,500 might be worth it, again, if the bike is perfect, because there aren't a lot of clean, low-mileage Nighthawk 750s out there. These were usually heavily used commuter bikes that weren't exactly pampered. It's a stretch, sure, but it's not as much of a stretch as some might think. At least, not in all markets.

ZV

Seattle and Louisiana are quite different. For 5500 it would be much smarter financial decision to move to a newer CB1100. You will not get your money back on buying a nighthawk @ 4500

 

[Zenmervolt]

Seattle and Louisiana are quite different. For 5500 it would be much smarter financial decision to move to a newer CB1100. You will not get your money back on buying a nighthawk @ 4500

That's fair enough. I don't know the bike market in LA. My point was just that it's not really possible to comment on whether a bike is over or under priced without looking at its market, regardless of what KBB or NADA say.

The problem with a bike like the Nighthawk 750 is that even if it's absolutely perfect, there will be a lot of "not quite perfect" versions of the same bike out there which will bring the overall market price down because the not-quite-perfect bikes are good enough for the average guy looking at a 16-17 year old 750cc standard. If you have one of the few truly perfect ones, you price it high and wait for the atypical buyer.

I'm not saying that I'd recommend a $5,500 Nighthawk 750 to a friend looking for a commuter bike, I'm just saying that, if the bike is immaculate, the price doesn't sound so egregious to me.

As for getting your money back, vehicles are depreciating assets. Anyone buying a vehicle with the intent of getting his money back is fooling himself.

ZV

 

[JulesMaximus]

That's fair enough. I don't know the bike market in LA. My point was just that it's not really possible to comment on whether a bike is over or under priced without looking at its market, regardless of what KBB or NADA say.

The problem with a bike like the Nighthawk 750 is that even if it's absolutely perfect, there will be a lot of "not quite perfect" versions of the same bike out there which will bring the overall market price down because the not-quite-perfect bikes are good enough for the average guy looking at a 16-17 year old 750cc standard. If you have one of the few truly perfect ones, you price it high and wait for the atypical buyer.

I'm not saying that I'd recommend a $5,500 Nighthawk 750 to a friend looking for a commuter bike, I'm just saying that, if the bike is immaculate, the price doesn't sound so egregious to me.

As for getting your money back, vehicles are depreciating assets. Anyone buying a vehicle with the intent of getting his money back is fooling himself.

ZV

There are tons of used motorcycles for sale around here. Enough that I CAN say that, for this market, the bike the OP is considering is way overpriced.

Here is a very clean 2000 Nighthawk 750 for $2449.
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/mcy/4768947232.html

No way would I pay $5500 for one... in any market. I didn't even bother looking up KKB or NADA. Didn't have to. It is overpriced.

 

[Zenmervolt]

There are tons of used motorcycles for sale around here. Enough that I CAN say that, for this market, the bike the OP is considering is way overpriced.

I didn't say the bike wasn't overpriced for your market. What I said was that you cannot say whether the bike is overpriced for the OP without knowing his particular market. Do please at least try to keep up.

ZV

 

[Midwayman]

Geez, for $5500 I'd just start looking a something like a new sv650 or something.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I didn't say the bike wasn't overpriced for your market. What I said was that you cannot say whether the bike is overpriced for the OP without knowing his particular market. Do please at least try to keep up.

ZV

I think I found the bike the OP is looking at.
http://lafayette.craigslist.org/mcy/4735891263.html

It is a nice clean bike but you'd have to have rocks in your head to pay that much for that bike.

Now this is worth the $4800 the guy is asking for it.
http://gulfport.craigslist.org/mcy/4772296778.html