Sell Your Motorbike in the US

Used motorbikes in the US typically sell for $675 to $6,750. Service history does more for a bike’s price than mileage does, and buyers ask for it before almost anything else.

What motorbikes are worth in the US

Condition	Typical	What it means
New with Tags	$6,730	Unused, tags or seals intact
Like New	$5,720	Barely used, no visible wear
Good	$4,374	Light signs of use, complete and working
Fair	$3,028	Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part
For Parts	$1,682	Not working or incomplete, sold as seen

Guide ranges converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not quotes — sellers set their own price. Grades are seller-declared; WishThrift does not inspect or verify them.

What lifts the price

A complete, stamped service history
An MOT with meaningful time remaining where applicable

What pulls it down

Corrosion on fasteners, forks and downpipes
Non-standard exhausts and modifications

Selling a motorbike in the US

Peer-to-peer payment apps dominate private sales, and buyers will usually offer one before they offer cash. Sales tax does not apply to a private sale between individuals.

The US resale market is enormous and highly local — most transactions still happen between people within driving distance of each other, and buyers expect to collect rather than wait for a courier.

Distances are the real constraint. State plainly whether you will ship or collection only, because a buyer three states away will otherwise ask.

Working out what yours is worth

Gather the service book, receipts and any MOT history
Note mileage, owner count and the exact model year

Getting it ready

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.

Photograph

The chain and rear sprocket close up
The clocks showing the mileage

Put in the description

Chain, sprocket and tyre condition, with approximate remaining life
Any drop damage, modifications, or aftermarket parts fitted

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.

Strongly seasonal: March through August, peaking in spring. Selling a bike in December typically means accepting considerably less or waiting.

It costs nothing to list

There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the $6,730 a buyer pays is the $6,730 you keep. You and the buyer settle up and arrange the handover between yourselves; WishThrift does not hold the money or ship the item.

Where in the US

The United States is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of the United States with their own page for motorbikes.

Common questions

Where can I sell a motorbike in the US?

List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Peer-to-peer payment apps dominate private sales, and buyers will usually offer one before they offer cash. Sales tax does not apply to a private sale between individuals.

Has it ever been dropped?

Answer honestly. Scraped bar ends, levers and engine casings are visible to any experienced rider, and denying it destroys trust instantly.

Do modifications increase a motorbike’s value?

Rarely. Most buyers prefer standard bikes, and aftermarket exhausts can narrow your pool of buyers even when they cost a lot.

Should I clean a bike before photographing it?

Yes, but do not steam-clean it to hide corrosion. Buyers look at fasteners and downpipes precisely because they reveal how it was stored.

More: how to sell a motorbike, what motorbikes are worth, or Vehicles across the United States.