NADA vs. Kelly blue book values

[Steve in Golden]

I've been trying to sell my '02 R1150R. It's listed on Craigslist, the home of low-ballers. So naturally the only offers I've gotten have been lowball ones.

I'm trying to sell it for $4995 at the moment which seems like a pretty good price to me. But the only guy who is currently interested won't give me more than $4100 for it. It has a few scratches in the paint so he is trying to get me to come down. OK it has a couple of minor scratches so I came down to $4400, that is as low as I can go. That really seems like a good price to me. OTOH the 4100 is probably more than I could get for it on a trade in.

The KBB value for my bike is about $5600 but NADA says it's only worth $3700? WTF? Why is NADA so much less? I paid 5500 for it two years ago. I thought I was getting a good deal on it since this was about $1200 less than they were asking for it. Apparently I was wrong, and didn't get such a hot deal on it after all.

[Garnet]

Helo, nice item you have sail. My uncle is a prince in Nigerea and has his funds are tied up in a offshore bond. If you can please deposite $10,000 in my bank account this will free up his acount allow him to buy you item. Please reply to this email adress only biteme@hotmail.scam.

The joys of craigslist.

[gspd]

I paid 5500 for it two years ago.

Have you ever heard of DEPRECIATION ?
That's what allowed you to get a $10,000 bike for $5500 in the first place.

[00weel]

SIG,

Sorry I haven't been aroud much till late so I dont know why your selling? Need Money? Up>grading to a new bike?
Buying a new Enzo and need the 4 Grand for a car cover?

Nada, KBB can be in the ballpark sometimes, but real world sales dictate actual pricing everytime.

Two years ago was a whole different economy for most. Or at least, what most were willing to buy based on what they saw in the future.

The season to ride for some, is over.

And really how, many BMW buyers are there compared to the crotch rocket companies?

I'd say, cut your losses and let it go for the $4100 If you have to pay the registration tags again and insure it for a period where you dont ride it, the $300 difference is minimal. Move On let it go I say.


Just Two Centavo's

[Steve in Golden]

Have you ever heard of DEPRECIATION ?
That's what allowed you to get a $10,000 bike for $5500 in the first place.

You mean BMW motorcycles depreciate? Say it isn't so!

I've usually done OK buying and selling BMW motorcycles. Not making money but not losing a lot either. For example I bought my '78 R80 for $1200, rode it for 15 years, then sold it for twice that. The R100 I had until recently, I sold for only slightly less than I paid. So I was expecting to not have to take a bath on this one. The bad economy probably isn't helping either.

"...$10,000 bike for $5500"

So maybe I got a good deal on it after all?

[Garnet]

You mean BMW motorcycles depreciate? Say it isn't so!

I've usually done OK buying and selling BMW motorcycles. Not making money but not losing a lot either. For example I bought my '78 R80 for $1200, rode it for 15 years, then sold it for twice that. The R100 I had until recently, I sold for only slightly less than I paid. So I was expecting to not have to take a bath on this one. The bad economy probably isn't helping either.

"...$10,000 bike for $5500"

So maybe I got a good deal on it after all?

I think you answered your own question. Airheads are now mostly over 20 years old and have a cult following, hence thier price has bottomed out, and in some cases rising. Your oilhead is just another 10 year old bike that is competing with all the other 10 year old bikes gor sale.

Edit: sorry 8 years old.

[Steve in Golden]

I'm selling 'cause the bike just doesn't fit me that well. It's a fairly big bike but the R1150R seems to be built for short people. I don't have enough legroom on it, even with the factory high seat.

I'd like to get something else, of course, but haven't decided what just yet.

I'd hate to sell it for only $4100 when I turned down an offer of $4500 a few weeks ago. I guess that was a mistake. If I only knew then what I know now!

Plus I had negotiated a price of $4650 with the current guy. Then after he saw some close-up photos of the scratches in the paint (which look worse than they do in person) he decided that $4100 was all he was willing to give for it. And he still hasn't seen the bike in person, though I've been trying to get him to do that.

I am not desperate to sell so I might wait until the spring to try again, when hopefully I can get more than a lousy $4100 for it.

And I am still wondering why the big disparity between the KBB and the NADA prices?

SIG,

Sorry I haven't been aroud much till late so I dont know why your selling? Need Money? Up>grading to a new bike?
Buying a new Enzo and need the 4 Grand for a car cover?

Nada, KBB can be in the ballpark sometimes, but real world sales dictate actual pricing everytime.

Two years ago was a whole different economy for most. Or at least, what most were willing to buy based on what they saw in the future.

The season to ride for some, is over.

And really how, many BMW buyers are there compared to the crotch rocket companies?

I'd say, cut your losses and let it go for the $4100 If you have to pay the registration tags again and insure it for a period where you dont ride it, the $300 difference is minimal. Move On let it go I say.


Just Two Centavo's

[Steve in Golden]

"Your oilhead is just another 10 year old bike that is competing with all the other 10 year old bikes"

"Just another bike?" Sniff. Don't say that too loud, it might hear you. It's a legendary BMW, its got heart, its got soul. It's more than the sum of its parts.

Good point Garnet. There are a boatload of bikes for sale on Craigslist and it's hard to stand out from the crowd.

Still, I would expect it to hold its value better than your average UJM.

I think you answered your own question. Airheads are now mostly over 20 years old and have a cult following, hence thier price has bottomed out, and in some cases rising. Your oilhead is just another 10 year old bike that is competing with all the other 10 year old bikes gor sale.

Edit: sorry 8 years old.

[00weel]

SIG,

How tall are you? Is a GS in your future?

[Steve in Golden]

SIG,

How tall are you? Is a GS in your future?

I'm 6' 1" with a 32" inseam.

A (oilhead I assume) GS? Maybe. I'm a bit leery of them though due to the steep driveshaft angle. They are spendy too. And tall and top-heavy from what I understand. Haven't ridden one though. They ain't purty either. That's one thing I really like about the R1150R - I think it's damn good-looking.

IMO the R1200R is even better looking. Probably has the same legroom issue though, and they sure are proud of the new bikes down at the local BMW boutique. 15 grand for a new R1200R, that will severely depreciate the second you ride it off the lot. Sure would be fun though, if I could solve the legroom and the financial hurdles.