My good friend is looking to buy her first motorcycle.  While we were looking I came across a SV650 for about $3500 which is out of her price range but in mine so I am thinking about offering to sell her my bike and upgrade to the SV...

I'm trying to decide what would be a fair price.  Its a 2001 Gs500e with about 11k miles on it, new tires, rejetted but otherwise stock.  The tank has a good ding on it from when I dropped it in my truck but I have a new tank I would throw in but the whole bike and new tank would need some fresh paint.

I'd like to get $2k, think that would be a fair price?

Without the cosmetic damage you describe 2k would be fine.

With the damage, $1500.

Want more for it?

Don't sell it to your friend 


- Bob!

Thanks for the reply Bob...  I would help her get it repainted and include that in the selling price, probably not until after her learning period though...

I'd also probably also include new sprockets/chain and a complete tune up (done by her with me helping her do it).

I think between $1500 and $2000 would be fair depending on your market.  I don't think the tank ding is a big deal considering you have a replacement tank available.

What's the minimum amount you would accept from a 3rd party?  Start with that and then knock a few bucks off because it's a friend.

Yeah, I agree with Bob and Triple B.  $2 grand painted all nicey nice and no dent in the tank.

i do agree that i think this is a good price i would also like to say i always think its a bad idea to sell anything to a friend.  If something ever happens one party or the other sometimes has hard feelings.

Quote from: joshr08 on April 15, 2009, 04:37:52 PM
i do agree that i think this is a good price i would also like to say i always think its a bad idea to sell anything to a friend.  If something ever happens one party or the other sometimes has hard feelings.

Eh, I think that can be worked around. I bought my GS from a friend and he was like "look, I'll tell you right now it isn't a new bike and has a lot of miles. I'll try to help you out if you need help fixing it, but I can't guarantee that it won't break down on you all the time." Stuff has broken on the bike and he has come over and helped me work on it from time to time and we're still good friends. I think as long as you are very honest with friends and give them a decent price, everything can be just fine.

I also agree that $1500 to $2000 sounds pretty fair. If I were you, I'd go for the lower price and not bother fixing the cosmetic stuff. A new rider will just mess it up anyways, so there's no reason to spend time and effort making it look perfect. Once she's ridden for a while and gotten more comfortable with things, you can offer to help her take the bike apart for painting...