How to Get the Most Out of Your Trade-In

Trading in your current bike is the simplest way to move into the next one: one visit, one transaction, and no strangers coming to your driveway to kick the tires. It is also where a little preparation pays off the most. These are the things that move a trade-in value, and the ones that do not.

What we look at

When you bring a motorcycle in, our appraiser checks the same things a future buyer would:

• Year, model and mileage. The basics set the starting range.
• Overall condition. Paint, tires, brakes, chain and sprockets, and any scratches, dents or cracked fairings.
• Service history. A stack of receipts shows a bike that was looked after, and that is worth real money.
• Modifications. Aftermarket parts are a mixed bag. A quality exhaust may add a little, while a heavily customized bike appeals to fewer buyers. If you still have the original parts, bring them along.
• The market. What similar bikes are selling for right now, and how much demand there is going into the season.

Five things you can do before you come in

1. Clean it properly. A washed, wiped-down bike reads as a cared-for bike. It costs nothing and it is the first impression.
2. Bring the paperwork. Registration, service records, the owner’s manual and both keys. A missing key is a real deduction.
3. Fix the cheap stuff. A burnt-out bulb, a loose mirror or a missing bolt are easy wins. Skip the big repairs: we can usually do them for less than you can, and the value will not come back in full.
4. Know what you owe. If there is a loan on the bike, tell us the lender and the approximate balance. We take care of the payoff for you.
5. Get a written evaluation. Our online trade-in form gives you a no-obligation estimate, and an appraisal in person firms it up. You can compare, take your time and decide.

The tax advantage

When you trade in a vehicle toward the purchase of another one, the trade-in value comes off the price before sales tax is calculated in Quebec. On a larger purchase, that can add up to a meaningful saving compared with selling privately and then buying. Ask your sales advisor to show you the numbers side by side.

Trade-in or private sale?

You will sometimes get more by selling your bike yourself, and we will tell you so if that is the case. The trade-off is time, haggling and strangers: listings, messages, no-shows and test rides on your own bike. If you want it done quickly and cleanly, a trade-in is hard to beat.

Curious what your bike is worth? Fill in our trade-in form with the year, model and mileage, and we will get back to you within one business day.