The short version
- Typical range: £500 – £5,000 — see the full motorbike value guide
- What decides your price: condition, and how well you evidence it in photographs
- Cost to sell here: nothing, at any price
- Category: Vehicles
Before you photograph it
Ten minutes here is worth more than anything else you will do. Buyers are deciding between your listing and someone else’s, and preparation is what visibly separates the two.
- Gather the V5C, service history, MOT certificates and any receipts, particularly for chain, tyres and major services.
- Check the chain tension and sprocket teeth, measure the tyre tread, and note the mileage and MOT expiry.
- Clean it thoroughly, and be honest about any drop damage — scraped bar ends and levers are obvious to any rider.
The photographs that sell a motorbike
Four photographs do almost all the work. Shoot in daylight, near a window, with the item against something plain — and do not use the flash, which flattens texture and hides exactly what buyers are trying to see.
- Both sides in daylight, full bike in frame
- The chain and rear sprocket close up
- The clocks showing the mileage
- The tyres showing tread, plus any scrape, dent or corrosion
Photograph the flaws too. It feels counterproductive, but a listing that shows the worst of an item gets fewer questions, fewer withdrawn offers and fewer arguments at handover. Buyers who can see the damage stop imagining something worse.
Writing the title and description
Make, model, engine size, year and mileage: “Yamaha MT-07 689cc, 2019, 11,000 miles, MOT to June 2026”. Engine size matters for licence categories and is a primary filter. Mention if it is A2 licence compatible, which is a deliberate search among newer riders.
Then state these in the description, because a buyer who has to ask is a buyer who might not bother:
- Make, model, engine capacity, year and mileage
- MOT expiry, service history and number of previous owners
- Chain, sprocket and tyre condition, with approximate remaining life
- Any drop damage, modifications, or aftermarket parts fitted
What buyers will actually ask
You will receive the same three messages about a motorbike. Answering them in the listing itself removes the back-and-forth, and answering them well when they do arrive is what turns an enquiry into a sale.
Answer honestly. Scraped bar ends, levers and engine casings are visible to any experienced rider, and denying it destroys trust instantly.
Measure the tread and check the chain for tight spots. These are known costs and buyers price them in without complaint when told.
Photograph the book and receipts. On motorbikes documented servicing is worth a real premium.
Pricing it so it actually sells
Start from the honest condition grade rather than the price you hope for. WishThrift listings use five grades — New with Tags, Like New, Good, Fair and For Parts — and what each grade means is worth reading before you choose, because grading up is the most expensive mistake sellers make. It does not raise the price; it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else.
The motorbike value guide prices all five grades for this item. Pick your grade, take the figure, and if you sit between two grades price toward the lower one. Items priced honestly sell faster than items priced hopefully, and on a free platform there is no fee eating the difference anyway.
What you keep, compared
On a £2,750 sale — roughly the middle of the range for a motorbike — here is what the commission-charging platforms would take, and what you would keep on each:
| Where you sell it | Fee | You keep |
|---|---|---|
| WishThrift | £0 | £2,750 |
| Poshmark | −£550 | £2,200 |
| eBay | −£374 | £2,376 |
| Mercari | −£275 | £2,475 |
| Etsy | −£179 | £2,571 |
Seller-side rates verified 26 Jul 2026 — Poshmark: 20% commission on sales of $15 and above; eBay: 13.6% final value fee, plus a per-order fee; Mercari: flat 10% selling fee; Etsy: 6.5% transaction fee, plus a listing fee and payment processing. Percentages are applied to the sterling figure above; the fixed per-order and processing charges those platforms add are quoted in their own currency and are not included here, so the real deductions are slightly larger. Full breakdown: marketplace selling fees compared.
Timing and getting it to the buyer
Strongly seasonal: March through August, peaking in spring. Selling a bike in December typically means accepting considerably less or waiting.
Confirm cleared funds before the keys and V5C move — WishThrift does not process or hold payment. If a buyer wants a test ride, check their licence and insurance first, and hold something of value while they are out.
WishThrift does not process payments or arrange delivery — you and the buyer agree both directly — so confirm payment has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.
Ready to list it? It takes about two minutes, costs nothing, and there is no commission when it sells — create a free account or see how selling works.
Frequently asked questions
What is a used motorbike worth?
Typically £500 to £5,000 depending on make, engine size, age and history. See the motorbike value guide for how condition and documentation affect it.
Should I replace the chain and tyres before selling?
Usually not. Buyers deduct less than the work costs, and many prefer to fit their own choice of tyre. Measure what is left, state it honestly, and let them factor it in.
How do I stay safe selling a motorbike?
Meet in a public place, check the licence and insurance of anyone test riding, and confirm cleared payment in your own account before releasing the keys or logbook. WishThrift does not hold funds, so that check is yours to make.
See also: what a used motorbike is worth · browse live vehicles listings · condition grades explained.