by FM Sherman

Created on: January 02, 2011   Last Updated: January 03, 2011

The first source to find the blue book value on a motorcycle is to check the Blue Book itself.  The Kelley Blue Book is a small blue book that has the values of cars and motorcycles going back to about 1970.  It used to be only sold at newsstands and bookstores, but now the valuable data is all available to you free online at kbb.com. 

In the Kelley Blue Book, they differentiate between a trade-in value and a retail value for a motorcycle.  A retail value is for a bike that has been cleaned and checked, totally overhauled and made like new, like you would buy on the lot of a dealership.  No problems or excuses.  A trade-in value is what a consumer's bike is worth, even in the best condition.  Be sure to note options installed on the motorcycle as they increase the value.  Other things like very low or very high mileage can also affect it.

Another great source for blue book values for motorcycles is ebay.com.  When looking for motorcycle values on ebay, don't just look at the current listings, as they just tell you what people are trying to get for their bikes.  Along the left side of the ebay page search results, after you have searched for the make and model of the motorcycle you want to value, you will see a check box option for " completed listings".  Check this box, and you will now see the search results of the finished auctions.  The ending sale prices will be listed in either red or green.  A red price means the auction ended without a sale.  A green price means the item sold for that amount.  This is the data you can use.  These green sales results are the actual prices the motorcycles are selling for, what they are really worth.  Search for various makes and models like the motorcycle you are trying to value.

Another source for motorcycle values is the NADAguide, another reference guide to vehicle values, including motorcycles.  The guide has detailed listings for many makes and models of motorcycles.

Now be careful, NADA is the National Automotive Dealers Association and was started to compete with the Kelly Blue Book and is designed to be more dealer friendly, not consumer friendly.  You should also check motorcycle values with several sources to ensure you get and accurate number.

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