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Search titles only Posted by Member: Separate names with a comma. Search this thread only Search this forum only Display results as threads. Home Forums Search Forums Recent Posts. Bike Flipping buying and selling Discussion in ' The Perfect Line and Other Riding Myths ' started by Jimmy the Heater , Apr 8, Jimmy the Heater , Apr 8, Sep 8, Oddometer: Nope this is not about flipping the bike-going over backwards but buying one that needs some work and cosmetics and then selling again for a profit.

My proposed business partner is the most anal retentive bike cleaner the world has ever seen and a wiz with a paint gun. I'm fairly comfortable with most mechanical aspects of bike repair.

What we were thinking is finding some craigslist projects and as long as they don't need machine work ie rebuilt engines or cranks etc and were complete that it would be a good sideline to put some cash in our pocket.

We are not looking to make this a full time career just more of a hobby that makes some money. Would like to get some opinions of what types of bikes to look for that have resaleability. I know Dual Sport sales are way up with the current economy, cruisers have lost some of their momentum, Harleys are loosing value around this area it seems but UJMs don't seem to last on craigslist very long.

Any other tips or thoughts? Mar 29, Oddometer: Just throwing that out there LuciferMutt , Apr 8, Aug 19, Oddometer: Jimmy the Heater said:. Inane Cathode , Apr 8, Jan 7, Oddometer: It's a fine idea. The best part is you can stop whenever you want. Theres absolutely rediculous deals out there to be had. Me and a friend did it for a while and turned dollars into in profit in a month. It's fun to do, you wont make millions, but its fun and easy money.

Audacious Nick , Apr 8, Nov 5, Oddometer: Jimmy the Heater , Apr 9, Thanks for the replys so far. Did you notice any trends in what types of bikes sold the best?

We don't have the cash on hand to buy late model bikes that have just been sitting with low miles and neglected spouse won't let them ride anymore etc but if things go well with some of the older bikes we could certainly work up to that for a greater profit margin.

And also being completely selfish but I have not had the opportunity to ride a great deal of different bikes in my 30 year riding career and this seems like a good way to do that as well. Every refurb project needs a test ride right?

Mar 19, Oddometer: Seattle Berkeley with rain. Figure tax and title transfer costs into your profit. If you sell five vehicles in a year then WA state will require you to get a dealer license: In one month period, you may sell up to 4 vehicles that are registered to you without getting a license.

Josephvman , Apr 9, Nov 27, Oddometer: You'll have to pay state sales tax, license, registration, and inspection fees. Add in the insurance that you'll probably need to get the bikes registered and that's another expense. I've flipped bikes here and there, but it's mostly because I like the thrill of the hunt, cleaning them up and usually spending too much money on them, riding them a bit, and then selling.

I usually lose money, but it's a hobby I enjoy. Get a dealers license if you're serious. Inane Cathode , Apr 9, That's 93 bux for both of you, or That to me isn't worth it. No, what I do is find those bikes that are in great condition and are newer, and were just left sitting and won't run anymore.

I buy these cheap, clean the carbs, and sell it for the retail price. Takes a couple hours work, including cleaning the carbs and cleaning the bike up, and I sell em for at least a grand profit.

If the engine is shot, sell it for parts or sell it for the same amount you spent. That's what's worth it. Human Ills , Apr 9, Oct 22, Oddometer: South Dog help me Bay.

If you're flipping a bike, do you disclose the info? Do you let potential buyers know that you purchased this bike in x condition. Fixed this that and the other thing, and are now trying to make some money for your time and 'skills'?

Krabill , Apr 9, Oct 25, Oddometer: I've got a friend that is a school teacher. Over the summer breaks he'll buy a couple ragged out Harleys, rebuild them from the ground up, then re-sell for a tidy profit. He's been doing it for years just to keep busy over the summer.

The bikes we are planning on getting will not be salvage title bikes and I have no problem with full disclosure of their history as far as we know. The way I see it, there is no difference between what we are planning to do and a bike dealer taking a trade in of a used bike, giving it a tune up, new tires and some polish and selling it for twice the trade in value. We intend to give a more thourough going over than a dealer would, if someone does buy one of our bikes I would want to feel good about sending them down the road on something that to the best of our knowledge would not break down 5 min out of the driveway.

I can say that both of us will ride each bike before sale to make sure that there is nothing strange going on.

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But I do realize that this is not a guarantee that nothing will happen. For example my proposed business partner just bought an 86 FZ some miles from home. Wanted to ride it home. Made it there just fine but would not start after it was shut off at home. Traced it down to a faulty wire in the neutral safety switch.

Switch itself was fine. There is no way the PO could have known that was going to happen on the ride home and we could not of held him liable for the issue.

Buying a used bike has no warranty but you can only do the best you can to insure that nothing happens. Apr 21, Oddometer: I've done this on and off for quite some time and have made some observations: The cheaper the style of bike older Japanese , the less taxes you will pay when you title in your name. That is number one in my book.

Not to mention the fact that there are a lot more young people wanting a cheaper bike than there are wanting a expensive one.

This one is easy: Buy in the late fall or middle winter, hold, then sell on eBay or wherever when YOUR regional weather has initially become warmer in the spring.

Buy bikes that don't need major inevitable maintenance. By this I mainly mean tires. Motorcycle tires are usually always within three thousand miles of needing new tires; don't buy a bike with bald tires. Buy what you know and like. It will make you more attuned to the value of a bike. I can see a bike I know something about and can tell you within bucks if it's a good deal or not and a potential money maker. Get the word out that you buy bikes on occasion.

I have bought a few this way as most people sell their bikes within a year or two of purchase. Start your asking price bucks above what you would like to get.

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That way their is some bargaining room below that and the person will feel good about their purchase. Don't ever use OBO in your price. By using that, you have already said you don't want that much.

The only time I would use Or Best Offer is when I use the Buy It Now or Best Offer method of selling on eBay.

Otherwise, state your price and let them feel you out to see if you can take less. Also, if there is a number of bike you can sell in your state before you have to get a dealer's license then you buy five, your friend buys five, then you use family like wives and mothers and fathers Belgian Waffles , Apr 12, Jan 25, Oddometer: Bugman98 , Apr 14, Mar 10, Oddometer: I have a friend who does this.

He goes to insurance auctions and buys totaled bikes.

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Seriously, some of the bikes he brings home that are "totaled" are nicer than my everyday riders! Most of the bikes at these auctions are Harleys, Harley clones, or sport bikes.

LOTS of sport bikes. However, these bikes have salvage titles, but I've seen him make several thousand profit on each bike.

He has told me that apparently if he were to get a rebuilders license then he could fix up these bikes and have them retitled to get the "salvage" title removed. He has to use OEM parts, save receipts, document work done, etc. The laws vary from state to state, you may want to look into this as you'll have better access to a large selection of bikes from the auctions and there is a larger profit margin.

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