Hey all, I’m trying to figure out what my motorcycle’s worth. I keep hearing about different blue book values, but I’m not sure which one to go by. Any tips?
You can check Kelley Blue Book and J.D. Power for starters. Both have free tools where you just enter your bike’s make, model, and year.
Hollis said:
You can check Kelley Blue Book and J.D. Power for starters. Both have free tools where you just enter your bike’s make, model, and year.
Yep, Kelley Blue Book is a popular choice. They adjust values based on things like season and location, so you’ll get a fairly current estimate.
@Jesse
Good to know. Do they account for things like custom equipment or modifications?
@Jesse
KBB does. They list extra features that can add to the value, which is helpful if your bike has any add-ons.
Hollis said:
You can check Kelley Blue Book and J.D. Power for starters. Both have free tools where you just enter your bike’s make, model, and year.
J.D. Power also gives different values based on the bike’s condition, like if it’s in average shape or has some wear and tear.
If you’re planning to sell, compare both values. Sometimes KBB will give a higher estimate, which can work to your advantage.
Tan said:
If you’re planning to sell, compare both values. Sometimes KBB will give a higher estimate, which can work to your advantage.
For sure. I did this last year when I sold mine. KBB had it listed at $10,000, and J.D. Power said $9,000, so I went with KBB’s price.
@Harper
That makes sense. Was it easy to negotiate at that price?
@Harper
Pretty straightforward. The buyer tried to bring up the lower value from J.D. Power, but I showed him the higher KBB value as a reference.
If you’re dealing with insurance after an accident, knowing your blue book value is helpful. You can argue if they offer you less than the market value.
Eli said:
If you’re dealing with insurance after an accident, knowing your blue book value is helpful. You can argue if they offer you less than the market value.
Agreed. I had to do this when my bike was totaled. Insurance initially valued it at $15,000, but I found the blue book value was around $20,000 and got them to reconsider.
@Frankie
Good move. Sometimes insurers use a lower value to save money, so having solid info on hand is a big help.
Anyone looking to buy a bike should definitely look up both KBB and J.D. Power values. It can give you some negotiating room if the prices differ.
Whitney said:
Anyone looking to buy a bike should definitely look up both KBB and J.D. Power values. It can give you some negotiating room if the prices differ.
True, as a buyer I’d point out the lower estimate if it’s from a reliable source like J.D. Power.
@Brett
Exactly. It works both ways, so knowing both values can really help you whether you’re buying or selling.