Is Plated Worth More?

[TARFELE]

My 2003 is getting some major work starting today. Complete motor teardown. I am considering putting some serious $$$ in the bike for this coming race season. While thinking about all of this I have considered selling the bike and buying an 07. My first thought was, is it worth more since I have it plated and titled in Texas. The bike is strictly a race bike now and it only has the YZ plastic on it but all of the WR stuff is hanging in the garage ready to go.

If the opportunity for an 07 lands in my lap should I ask a little more for the 03 because it is plated??

[lowry]

My 2003 is getting some major work starting today. Complete motor teardown. I am considering putting some serious $$$ in the bike for this coming race season. While thinking about all of this I have considered selling the bike and buying an 07. My first thought was, is it worth more since I have it plated and titled in Texas. The bike is strictly a race bike now and it only has the YZ plastic on it but all of the WR stuff is hanging in the garage ready to go.

If the opportunity for an 07 lands in my lap should I ask a little more for the 03 because it is plated??

I would ask more for it. If you saw two WR's one plated and one not, which one would you be more likely to buy? The extra expense and effort going into getting a new title alone I think makes the bike worth more.

[Beyond The Pale]

It is worth more. This is going to vary by state. Since you can still plate a bike in Texas the value is more the cost of the dual sport kit. In states like California where we can't plate bikes since 2004, a plate is much more valuable.

[TARFELE]

If it is plated in Texas then you can transfer the registration to California and not have to mess with the title change, Correct?

[Beyond The Pale]

If it is plated in Texas then you can transfer the registration to California and not have to mess with the title change, Correct?

No. When you bring a bike into California, a VIN verification is required. Part of the VIN verification is an inspection of the emissions label. If is says "meets on road emissions standards" then you get a plate. If it says "meets off road emissions standards" then you get a green sticker. If it says "doesn't meet off road emissions standerds" they you get a red sticker. Being plated in another state doesn't help at all. However, it gets missed a lot. Then they incorrectly give you a plate. What has just started happening is the California DMV is reviewing motorcycle registrations and sending out letters demanding incorrectly issued plates back.

[TWILES]

Mine was titled as a road bike and I had a plate. It was still all stock but all it needed was the on-road kit and it was ready. I advertised it like that and got a few responses but no buyers. They wanted it for less than $4000. The book still showed over $5000. I ended up just taking the plate back when the taxes were due.

[TARFELE]

Thats is good to know.

[mtrablue]

look, there's no way around it, selling a dirt bike sucks. we've put our heart and souls into them but they just don't hold thier value. chances are that the guy that buys a three or four year old bike will not have the same "needs" as you do. he'll buy it to ride at grama's farm with the kids or at the local gravel pit. put all the stock stuff back on it, make it look as "low milage" as possible. if the guy knows dirt bikes, great, you have some extras he might be interested in. the plate, it's just another extra.

sorry just venting, i guess. i'm getting ready to sell my '03. i was proud of getting a "good deal", now i have to give someone a "good deal".

[TARFELE]

Vent away, No problem here.

I am anal about my bikes and most of the time a friend of mine buys it. I wont sell a bike that is not in great condition. I also don't ask to much for my bikes. When it is for sale I want it gone because I have something waiting in the wings.

I only asked the question because I thought that once the bike has an " On Road Title" that it held true in all states. Needless to say the idiots in California have stopped that loophole. If it were true I figure that I could get more for it even if it was only $200 or so.

Oh well come June I will see what I get for it.

Thanks for the information

[TWILES]

This is my first dirtbike. I have always had atv's. I raced MX and they were purpose built with lots of money in them in upgrades and never had a hard time selling them BUT bike's come purpose built and you just get them right for you from there so to me the aftermarket stuff you buy is ONLY a + "IF" it fits the guy wanting the bike. The new 450 sport quads are the same way except with them you have the blind leading the blind for advice and a $20,000 Pro level race bike probably won't appeal to the kid who thinks he has to have a curtain bumper. I wish it wa still all 2-strokes. Things were easier then. mtrablue, I don't know where you are in MO but it sounds a lot like western Kentucky. I had a guy call about my 05 from St.Louis who worked out of Paducah who wanted it to go to Alaska and since it wasn't exactly what he wanted I was supposed to come off the price enough for him to make it street legal and apparently buy a 6 gallon tank for it and he would give me $4000. &%$#@!? I've decided you are going to take it in the butt no matter what trying to sell a bike. I think your best shot is to take to a Yamaha dealer and set it beside an 07 with a price of over $7000 and ask $4000.

[Just_a_trail_rider]

... I think your best shot is to take to a Yamaha dealer and set it beside an 07 with a price of over $7000 and ask $4000.

Yes, selling a dirt bike sucks. Unless is brand new with very few rides (as evidenced by fewer scratches on the cases) then you are going to get a lot less than what its really worth. But then again, its only worth what someone will pay.

Regarding putting it on consignment at a dealer, you'd be hard pressed to have a dealer put yous bike out there so that it would potentially steal the sale of their new bikes.

What they will do is to take the margin that they make on the new bikes, which is probably pretty good, and then add it to your used bike. That way they make money either way.

You'd be better off selling direct using cycletrader or craigslist.

[TWILES]

My wife sell bike's at a Yamaha/Suzuki dealership. It wouldn't cost me anything but I didn't think about anyone else. Sorry. They would want a portion.