The best time of year to sell a motorcycle in the US
When demand peaks and troughs, how much the season is worth by region, and what to do if you have to sell in winter.
March. If you can only remember one thing, remember that.
The shape of the year
Used motorcycle demand in the US rises from late February, peaks in April and May, stays strong through June, softens through the summer, drops in September and October, and bottoms out in November, December and January. Tax refunds arrive in March; the weather arrives in April. Both bring buyers.
How much it is worth
In states with a short season — the Midwest, the Northeast, the Mountain states — the difference between a spring sale and a November sale is 10% or more on the same bike. In the Sun Belt and California it is closer to 5%: demand is steadier where riding is year-round, but even there, spring is spring.
The dealer view
Dealers know the calendar too. Trade-in offers are lowest in the fall, when dealers are already holding stock they will not move until spring and do not want more. They are highest in February and March, when the floor is empty and the buyers are coming. If you are trading in, do it early in the year.
If you have to sell in winter
- Price it for spring and wait, if you can afford the space and the insurance.
- Or price it honestly for winter — 8–12% under the spring value — and say in the listing that the price reflects the season. Serious buyers shopping in January are looking for exactly that discount.
- Ask for dealer offers here. Dealers buying for the spring floor start in January, not April.
See what your motorcycle is worth.
A real-world value range for your bike in about 30 seconds.