What raises the asking price, what makes a buyer sign, and the discount every bike takes when its hours cannot be proven.
Sommaire · 12 parties
- 011. Clean it like never before
- 022. Do the servicing you are behind on
- 033. Show the service log
- 044. Take proper photographs
- 055. Price it correctly
- 066. Be straight about the hours
- 077. Have the paperwork ready
- 088. Send the log link before the visit
- 09What hours do to the price
- 10The suspicion discount
- 11Getting the most out of it
- 12Why a sealed log is different
011. Clean it like never before
A clean bike sells for more. Pressure wash carefully, keeping away from bearings, degrease the aluminium and polish dulled plastics.
022. Do the servicing you are behind on
A fresh oil change and a new air filter cost about forty euros. The buyer will notice both.
033. Show the service log
A complete log means confidence. A sealed HOROTAG log means proof the buyer can verify themselves: scan the QR code, see the hours and every timestamped job. Bikes with a documented history sell for 10 to 20% more.
044. Take proper photographs
Neutral background, natural light, eight to ten shots covering every angle plus engine detail, hour meter and tyres. A good listing gets three times the views.
055. Price it correctly
Check the reference sites for the same model and year, then position yourself 5 to 10% above your target to leave room to negotiate.
066. Be straight about the hours
"120 hours on the meter, top-end done at 80" beats a lie every time. A serious buyer will ask anyway, and an answer that matches the paperwork ends the discussion.
077. Have the paperwork ready
- Registration document, signed over
- Proof the bike is free of finance and not reported stolen
- Roadworthiness certificate where applicable
- Service invoices
088. Send the log link before the visit
If the bike has a HOROTAG, send the log link to the buyer before they come. They arrive reassured, and you negotiate from a position of strength.
# Proving what you claim
Everything above raises the asking price. What makes a buyer sign is proof, and that is where the log comes in.
09What hours do to the price
From an analysis of 200 listings for 2022-2024 KTM 250/450 SX-F:
| Hours | Average price | Against new |
|---|---|---|
| < 30 h | 85-90% of new | -10 to -15% |
| 30-60 h | 70-80% of new | -20 to -30% |
| 60-100 h | 55-65% of new | -35 to -45% |
| > 100 h | 40-50% of new | -50 to -60% |
| Hours unknown | -15% against the same known bracket | Suspicion discount |
10The suspicion discount
A bike with no hour meter and no service history sells for around 15% less than an identical bike with verifiable hours. The buyer applies a default discount because they assume the worst, and they are right to: they have no way of telling a well-kept machine from a hammered one.
That 15% is the number worth remembering. On a bike worth €6,000 it is €900, which is several times the price of an hour meter fitted on day one.
11Getting the most out of it
1. Fit an hour meter the day you buy the bike, not the month you sell it 2. Log every job the day it is done, with the hours next to it 3. Keep the invoices, even for parts you fitted yourself 4. Photograph the machine when it is clean, once a season 5. Hand over the history at the sale, not on request
12Why a sealed log is different
Anyone can write hours in a notebook. A log that is signed server-side and cannot be edited after the fact is a different object: the buyer verifies it themselves, from their own phone, without taking your word for anything. That is the difference between saying you looked after the bike and showing it.
Carnet d'heures scellé : trois solutions, à toi de choisir.
RUUVI 129 € (Bluetooth, compteur d'heures auto), GPS 299 € (traceur GPS anti-vol), ULTIMATE GPS 399 € (tracé GPS détaillé + anti-vol, carnet manuel). Aucun abonnement.
Comparer les trois
