A motorcycle's "blue book value" is the generic term for the market value of a motorcycle made in a particular year by a particular manufacturer. The Kelley Blue Book (KBB) is the origin of that term and is one of the most well-known pricing guides for those in the market for a used motorcycle.
The other major motorcycle pricing resources are the NADA Guides produced by J.D. Power. "NADA" stands for the National Automobile Dealers Association, which provided comprehensive buying guides for used cars. In 2017, J.D. Power bought the company and expanded the offerings to includes motorcycles, RVs, classic cars, boats, and manufactured homes. NADA Guides offers print appraisal books on both newer motorcycles (as well as snowmobiles, ATVs, and personal watercraft) and vintage, collectible, and retro motorcycles.
Key Takeaways
- The Kelley Blue Book gives you a sense of how much you can expect to spend or receive when buying or selling a specific motorcycle.
- These values are based on nationwide sales transactions, including auctions, dealer sales reports, and dealer surveys.
- Additional equipment for a motorcycle, such as an engine guard, may also be included as a separate value.
- The NADA Guide uses a variation on these calculations to come up with its own values for motorcycles.
How KBB Calculates Motorcycle Values
KBB says that it determines values for motorcycles based on data obtained from "auctions, dealer sales reports, and dealer surveys, plus dealer and consumer listings and sales transactions nationwide." The company says that it also takes into account current market and economic conditions.
Trade-in vs. Listing Price
After you've searched for a particular motorcycle—by providing the year, make, and model—you are asked to select either Trade-In Value or Typical Listing Price. The former is the amount you might expect to get when trading in a used motorcycle in good condition with all of its original standard equipment. The latter is what a dealer would likely ask you to pay if you were looking to buy a used motorcycle in good or better condition.
Additional Equipment
Some motorcycles that you search for will have information on the value of additional equipment, which you can see by clicking on Optional Equipment. For example, depending on the make, model, and year of the motorcycle, cruise control and an engine guard might each add $35 or more to the value of the bike. KBB assumes that these additional options are also in good condition.
Mileage
KBB does not take into account the mileage on the odometer. KBB says that road conditions and the previous owner's riding style have larger effects on the bike's value than mileage.
How NADA Guides Calculates Motorcycle Values
You can start your search for motorcycle values on NADA Guides' website by selecting a manufacturer or a category of bike, such as Cruisers or Motocross. Ultimately, as on the KBB site, you'll choose a year, model, and make. You'll also be asked for your ZIP code and any special options.
You can even compare as many as three specific motorcycles side by side.
The site offers four prices on motorcycles:
- The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP), which includes only standard equipment and excludes taxes and transportation and destination fees, which cover the cost of getting the vehicle to the dealer.
- The suggested list price, which is the manufacturer's or distributor's highest suggested list price in the U.S. when the motorcycle was new. It typically does not include destination charges or taxes.
- The low retail price, which is for a vehicle that may show "extensive wear and tear," including "dents and blemishes" on the body, but is still safe to drive. Motorcycles with this low quality usually aren't sold by dealers.
- The average retail price, which is for a vehicle that is clean and "without obvious defects." The mileage should be about average, and the bike should be able to pass an emissions inspection.
NADA Guides uses data from more than 1.5 million vehicle transactions a month to help determine values. Those transactions include wholesale, retail, and auction sales. NADA Guides also considers asking prices posted on classified listing sites and Autotrader. Its valuation team says that it "uses the latest technology, deep knowledge of each segment's market, statistics, analytics and econometrics to derive our values." It does not use a depreciation schedule, because there is a lot of variation in the rates of depreciation among different used motorcycles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I check the KBB value of my motorcycle?
You can visit the Kelly Blue Book website directly to find your motorcycle's value. You will need to enter the year, make, and model.
Can I use the Kelly Blue Book value to haggle on a motorcycle?
The blue book value of a motorcycle can often serve as a starting point for negotiating a price, but it isn't the only factor to take into account. Things like the condition of the motorcycle or the market that you live in also play important roles. Depending on the motorcycle's condition, you may be able to use its blue book value as part of your price negotiations.
FAQs
To find out what a motorcycle is worth, check out Kelley Blue Book and J.D. Power, which you can find through NADA. Both companies offer free values, which you can check on their respective websites, and both use sales transactions when calculating a used motorcycle's value.
What is a nada for a motorcycle? ›
NADA stands for National Automobile Dealers Association. Like Kelley Blue Book, NADA takes information about motorcycles and the marketplace to determine values. Values are based on condition, mileage, age, etc.
Do motorcycles hold value well? ›
While most motorcycles depreciate over time, there are a few exceptions that can increase in value: Limited edition models - Motorcycles produced in limited quantities or special editions can become collectible and increase in value over time.
How to value an old motorcycle? ›
Refer to the Kelley Blue Book
You can use the Kelley Blue Book motorcycle trade-in value guide to get a ballpark estimate of what your motorcycle is worth. The Kelley Blue Book provides motorcycle values for different makes and models based on their condition and features.
How do you determine the actual cash value of a motorcycle? ›
As defined by the International Risk Management Institute, actual cash value (ACV) is replacement cost (RC) minus depreciation. When buying a new motorcycle, like any new vehicle, the value of that bike depreciates as soon as it leaves the dealership.
Is KBB accurate for motorcycles? ›
Kelley Blue Book cannot address each individual situation but can only give values for standard motorcycles in clean condition. Due to variance in condition, the value could vary from one extreme to the other.
Is Kelley Blue Book or NADA more accurate? ›
KBB factors in the condition of the vehicle, local market conditions, and popularity of the vehicle, so their prices tend to be a lower than NADA. NADA values tend to lean higher because they assume cars are in good conditions. Insights can be gained from both values, but KBB looks at more factors.
What is high mileage for a motorcycle? ›
Generally, high mileage on a motorcycle is anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 miles. For sport bikes, the high mileage number will be on the low end (usually around 25,000), while cruisers and touring bikes typically become high mileage in the 40,000- to the 50,000-mile range.
What happened to the NADA guide? ›
NADA Used Car Guide® is now J.D. Power Values.
At what mileage does a motorcycle go bad? ›
A motorcycle can last anywhere between 20,000 to 90,000 miles, which is quite a large disparity. That's because this figure rests on a number of factors. A dirt bike, for example, usually won't last more than 20,000 miles.
List of Bikes Models with High Resale Value
| Bike Model | Resale Value |
|---|
| Hero Glamour | High |
| Hero Super Splendour | High |
| Hero Xtreme 160R | Moderate to High |
| Hero Xpulse 200 | Moderate to High |
6 more rowsJun 3, 2024
How hard is it to sell a used motorcycle? Thankfully, selling a used motorcycle isn't hard at all. You'll have to watch out for scammers and make sure you have the right paperwork. But aside from that, it's just a matter of getting your baby in shape for the upcoming sale.
How do I sell my motorcycle without getting ripped off? ›
If there is no lien on the title and the seller owns the bike outright, transferring ownership is as simple as having both parties sign the title in the designated areas. But even with a title, it's best practice to have a bill of sale when selling your motorcycle. A bill of sale protects both the buyer and the seller.
How many miles is a lot for an old motorcycle? ›
High mileage for a motorcycle can be anywhere from 15,000 miles to 50,000 miles depending on what type of bike it is, where it was ridden, and whether the previous or current owner kept up with maintenance requirements. However, don't just look at mileage when deciding whether a used motorcycle is a good purchase.
What is considered old for a motorcycle? ›
In general, a bike that was manufactured more than 20 years ago is considered old.
How do you calculate fair market value? ›
How fair market value is calculated. There's no absolute formula for calculating fair market value. But is often calculated by taking the value of three or more comparable homes, or comps, that have recently sold and obtaining an average, Garrity says.
How do I find out the value of my bike? ›
What is my bike worth? The values are provided by Bicyclebluebook.com and are estimates based on stock bicycle options and condition. Actual trade-in value is determined upon bicycle inspection.
Is fair market value the same as KBB? ›
Updated weekly, the Kelley Blue Book® Fair Purchase Price for new cars is generally the midpoint of the Fair Market Range. It is Kelley Blue Book's estimate of what a consumer can reasonably expect to pay this week in their area for a new vehicle configured with their selected options.
How much is the motorcycle market worth? ›
The global motorcycle market was estimated to grow from over 133 billion U.S. dollars to some 136 billion in 2023 as the market continued to recover from the revenue drop recorded at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This rebound somewhat dampened amid supply chain issues in 2022.
