How does one sell an eBike?

[bikeman242]

I want to sell an eBike but keep the battery for myself.

I wonder how I would do this, in practice?

I assume a buyer would want a test ride. I picture a person riding my bike off and not coming back with it to return the battery (effectively stealing it).

My local police stations have craigslist selling zones, but I still can't picture how in practice I would sell it.

 

[AlanDB]

Selling an ebike without a battery will not be easy in any circumstance and will significantly reduce its value. In my opinion, you will just have to take the risk if you are serious about actually selling it. I suppose you could ask the person to show you an ID and leave something of value (like their vehicle or a cell phone) before they do the test ride. But if I was your potential customer, I would just walk away and look elsewhere. Used bikes including ebikes are not that easy to sell.

 

[BigMatt]

I want to sell an eBike but keep the battery for myself.

I wonder how I would do this, in practice?

I assume a buyer would want a test ride. I picture a person riding my bike off and not coming back with it to return the battery (effectively stealing it).

My local police stations have craigslist selling zones, but I still can't picture how in practice I would sell it.

I sold one on Craigslist. I asked the gentleman who test road it to let me hold his drivers license as collateral while he road it.

 

[rcdanner]

I've sold about 10 ebikes on craigslist. I think it will be very difficult to sell ebike without battery. What value is the ebike to the purchaser? Might as well purchase acoustic bike.

 

[TomD]

If you want to sell your newly acquired $777 Easy Motion Rebel HT but without battery you would be limiting your prospective market to someone who already has 1 or more batteries that would be compatible. Solution seems simple, have them bring their own battery.

 

[bikeman242]

If you want to sell your newly acquired $777 Easy Motion Rebel HT but without battery you would be limiting your prospective market to someone who already has 1 or more batteries that would be compatible. Solution seems simple, have them bring their own battery.

Bingo - Or my thought was to sell the bike without battery for $500, and have them buy a battery from Lennys for $800. The question is, how would they test ride it to prove it works, without having the battery on it. Then, how would I stop them from just riding off and stealing it.

 

[TomD]

I think you'll have a hard time selling it. Most people buying on CL have no clue and will be comparing to heavy POS rear hub under $1K with battery. They will be put off when they see how much a replacement battery will cost. I'd just keep the bike as a backup.

 

[Nova Haibike]

how would I stop them from just riding off and stealing it.

The same way you keep someone from riding off with a regular bicycle?

I wouldn't hold only a driver's license; I would hold the person's phone too (and confirm it is not stolen!)

 

[PDXzap]

In the south Portland area a man recently had his bike stolen by a man claiming he wanted to buy it. The man showed the seller an envelope with $900 in it, the asking price, but switched out the envelope with one stuffed with napkins when the seller wasn't looking. The thief rode off with the bike.

An Alleged Serial Bike Thief Began a Recent Portland Crime Spree By “Buying” a Bike With an Envelope of Napkins

It was only after Adkins road off on the bike that Daniel realized the envelope he was full of napkins.

www.wweek.com

Meet somewhere with security cameras, get a deposit, get their driver's license and get a picture of them. As already stated, you're going to take a big hit on the price without a battery.
You can list it here at EBR also.

 

[J.R.]

I want to sell an eBike but keep the battery for myself.

I wonder how I would do this, in practice?

I assume a buyer would want a test ride. I picture a person riding my bike off and not coming back with it to return the battery (effectively stealing it).

My local police stations have craigslist selling zones, but I still can't picture how in practice I would sell it.

I would choose a limited access rail trail or similar and ride alongside the prospective buyer. Our local trail has sections that are miles long that would be very difficult to ride off. That's assuming you have another ebike that can keep up. Also take a friend with another ebike for backup.

 

[rich c]

I don't understand the attachment to that battery. When a person buys any bike, they want to ride it. They usually don't want to go home and order parts. I sold 2 Sondors Fat eBikes for $1,000 recently. I would definitely not want to pay $500 for a bike without a battery.

 

[TomD]

I suppose it might make sense to somebody that had their bike stolen while the battery was off.

 

[bikeman242]

I don't understand the attachment to that battery. When a person buys any bike, they want to ride it. They usually don't want to go home and order parts. I sold 2 Sondors Fat eBikes for $1,000 recently. I would definitely not want to pay $500 for a bike without a battery.

Still, doesn't $500 for this BH Rebel HT sound like a great deal? You get the Yamaha PW motor, bike, and charger. Buy a battery for $800. You get the bike for $1300, original retail price of $3400.

Yes BBB is selling them for $900 after shipping, but that wont last.

I'm just trying to save a few coins on a spare battery.

 

[FlatSix911]

Keep the bike as a spare... you will find the need for parts over time.