Want to buy a bike? Skip the motorcycle dealerships and buy it privately to get more bike for your buck.
We’ll teach you how to buy a sports bike, cruiser, or other motorcycle through a private sale—safely, securely, and fast. We’ll also show you how DealNow removes friction, risk, and cost from the purchase process.
DealNow is a suite of transactional tools that lets you buy a motorcycle quickly and safely. Find a bike for sale, invite the seller to your DealNow dealroom, and close the deal.
Let’s get into what it takes to buy a motorcycle on the private market.
You probably already have a specific bike in mind, and have figured out how you’re going to pay for it (savings, a loan, etc). If you haven’t done this preliminary research and preparation, now is the time to do so. Here are some motorcycle types you’ll find, along with their approximate prices. Note that prices assume a lightly used private-party bike, and individual motorcycles can vary widely in price.
The internet’s your best bet for finding a bike. Search bikes for sale on the following platforms, using their built-in filtering functions to narrow vehicles by location, make, model, year, price, or other factors important to you:
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Most marketplaces are a great place to find a bike to buy—but a terrible place to buy it. That’s because they lack transactional capabilities, such as a way to verify the seller’s identity, a way to verify the bike’s title, and (most importantly) a way to send money to the seller.
That’s why we created DealNow. It doesn’t matter where you find a motorcycle; you’ll close the deal with DealNow. Invite the seller via a custom link and enjoy unmatched security, speed, and convenience.
Now that you’ve found some interesting bikes, it’s time to separate the gems from the junk.
Con artists often hide behind fake personas. Your job is to distinguish real sellers from fraudsters.
Examine the seller’s profile closely. Is it fully fleshed out? For platforms with verification systems, check if the seller is verified. Look at their sales history and buyer feedback.
When using social platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, dig into their social media presence. Do you share any mutual connections?
Be wary of the following red flags:
For more protection, invite the seller to finish the transaction on DealNow. Our identity verification and optional title check weed out scammers.
Listings should be comprehensive. For high-performance sports bikes, expect detailed info on the engine, suspension, and electronics. Even for cruisers, standards, or smaller bikes, all key systems and features should be outlined.
Watch out for motorcycle misrepresentation scams. Dishonest sellers use vague or boilerplate descriptions to hide their bike’s problems.
Quality listings include clear photos of the motorcycle from multiple angles, including close-ups of important components. Stock photos, low-quality photos, low-light photos, or no photos mean the seller isn’t serious or is hiding something.
Check the asking price against Kelley Blue Book motorcycle values or J.D. Power. Be wary of motorcycles priced significantly below market value—they might have potential issues or be part of a scam.
When buying from a stranger, always get a vehicle history report. This report covers past maintenance, accidents, previous owners, and more. Ask the seller for the motorcycle’s VIN and use a service such as CycleVIN to get a report.
With DealNow, you can easily order a vehicle history report from your dashboard.
Once you’ve narrowed your search, reach out to sellers through DealNow’s in-app messaging to communicate safely without sharing personal contact info.
Here are some questions to ask:
Honest sellers will answer questions directly, discuss any problems, show service records, and allow inspections.
You should never buy a motorcycle without inspecting it in person. If the bike is not close to your location, DealNow makes it easy to buy a bike long-distance. You’ll order a professional bike inspection from your DealNow dashboard, and the inspector will act as your agent on-site and inspect the motorcycle in person.
Bring a friend or family member along and meet during daylight hours. Always trust your instincts—if something doesn’t feel right, it’s best to walk away.
DealNow streamlines the meetup and buying process with our easy in-app scheduler. Choose a time from the seller’s preset availability, the seller gets a notification the meeting has been scheduled, and you both show up at a spot of the seller’s choosing.
Many motorcycle owners fail to adequately maintain their bikes, so it’s up to you to inspect the machine closely. Here are some of the aspects to look at:
The motorcycle should generally reflect the photos and description from the listing. Note features that don’t work or cosmetic damage that wasn’t photographed or described.
You’ll want to take the bike for a spin to see how it performs. The seller may insist on coming with you, or they may send you out on your own. During the test ride, assess the following:
Use any surprises to reconsider your interest or negotiate a fair price.
Even if the motorcycle looks and runs great, you should hire a professional mechanic for inspection. They will notice things you missed, and their inspection will give you peace of mind when it comes time to pay. Never let the seller choose a mechanic unless you’ve validated the shop’s legitimacy. Some scammers will partner with a friend to trick you into buying a bad bike.
When you use DealNow to buy your bike, you’ll be able to order a professional motorcycle inspection from your dashboard when you schedule your test ride meetup—no multiparty coordination needed. The inspector will arrive at the meetup location and the entire deal can be wrapped up in minutes.
If you’re satisfied with the motorcycle, the seller, and the price, it’s time to wrap things up. Your motorcycle purchase begins when you and the seller sign a bill of sale.
A motorcycle bill of sale typically includes:
While it’s only required in 16 states, completing a bill of sale is always a smart move. We’ll walk you through how to do this, but first, let’s dig into why a bill of sale is important.
A motorcycle purchase often involves a significant amount of money. This situation creates a catch-22:
Both parties want to protect themselves from fraud. It’s a standoff.
A bill of sale solves this dilemma. It’s a legally binding document signed by both parties. Should either party try any funny business, the counterparty would prevail in court. This creates a foundation of security that allows you to feel comfortable paying the seller for the motorcycle.
You could print two copies of a bill of sale from your state’s DMV or a motorcycle association website. You bring these to the meeting, and you and the seller sign and countersign both copies. Each of you keeps one for your records.
Paper bills of sale have a couple of edge-case drawbacks:
DealNow eliminates these risks and makes the bill of sale process easy and secure:
Once you’ve both signed, you can proceed to the payment step with full legal protection.
As we’ve seen already, marketplaces don’t provide a way for you to pay for a motorcycle. You and the seller are left to your own devices, which means you’re back to the same-old, same-old ways of moving money between strangers. These all have some pretty serious drawbacks.
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Wire transfer |
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PayPal |
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Venmo |
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CashApp |
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Credit cards |
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Escrow services |
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Imagine a payment solution that offers all the advantages of other payment methods, without any of their drawbacks.
DealNow removes friction from the private-party motorcycle purchase. Pay for your bike safely and cheaply, any time, any place.
After you’ve paid for the motorcycle, it’s time to transfer ownership.
For titled motorcycles, the seller fills out their section of the title, including their contact information, sale date, purchase price, and odometer reading. You fill out your contact information, and you both sign.
For non-titled motorcycles (typically under 50cc), the seller should provide you with a bill of sale and any registration documents they have. You’ll use these to register the bike in your name.
Note: Some states require notarization of the title transfer process. Check your local DMV requirements.
Congrats, you’re a motorcycle owner. There’s just a bit more paperwork to finalize the process.
You own the motorcycle, but depending on your state laws and the type of motorcycle, you may need to register it with your local DMV (or equivalent agency) to legally ride.
(Before proceeding, get motorcycle insurance. You can compare quotes and get coverage through your DealNow dashboard.)
Registration requirements depend on the state and motorcycle type:
Once you’ve completed any necessary registration, you’re free to enjoy the open road.
DealNow makes the private-party motorcycle purchase easy and secure.
When inspecting a used motorcycle, start by examining the frame for cracks, dents, or signs of repair. Check the tires for wear and dry rot, and look for oil leaks around the engine and forks. Test all electrical components, including lights, horn, and gauges.
Examine the chain and sprockets for wear, and check brake pads and rotors for thickness and scoring. Start the engine cold and listen for unusual noises. Finally, take it for a test ride to assess performance and handling.
Pro tip: Use DealNow to schedule a professional inspection. Our vetted mechanics can spot issues you might miss.
A good motorcycle should start easily and run smoothly, without unusual engine noises or vibrations. Look for even tire wear, responsive brake levers and brake pads, and smooth gear shifts. The dashboard should display no warning lights.
Check for clean, non-milky oil and no signs of crash damage or poor repairs. A clean title (not a salvage title) and consistent service history with detailed maintenance records are also good indicators. Pay attention to the bike’s service history, as it can reveal how well the previous owner(s) cared for the motorcycle.
Looks can be deceiving. DealNow’s optional title check can reveal hidden issues in a bike’s history, including whether it has a salvage title or inconsistencies in its service history.
Remember, a thorough inspection by a qualified mechanic can help identify potential issues that might not be immediately apparent. This is especially important when looking at a bike with a limited service history or a questionable title status.
Mileage isn’t always the best indicator of a motorcycle’s condition, but generally, under 10,000 miles is low, 20,000–30,000 miles is average, and over 50,000 miles is high.
A well-maintained high-mileage bike can often be a better buy than a neglected low-mileage one. Consider maintenance history, type of miles (highway vs. city), storage conditions, and the riding style of previous owners.
When buying a high-mileage bike, use DealNow to arrange a professional inspection for peace of mind.
To check the VIN (vehicle identification number) on an old motorcycle, first locate it on the steering neck or on a plate attached to the frame. Clean the area with a soft cloth to remove dirt and grime.
Read the VIN carefully; it should be 17 characters for motorcycles made after 1981, while older bikes might have shorter VINs. Cross-check it with the title and registration documents, and use online VIN decoders to verify the bike’s specifications.
For added security, use DealNow’s optional title check service. We’ll verify the VIN against DMV records to confirm you’re not buying a stolen or salvaged bike.
DealNow is the easiest way to close your own vehicle deal, anytime. It’s the safe and simple way to avoid fraud, sign documents, and instantly transact, all in one app.
