Nearly every American is familiar with the name Kelley Blue Book (KBB). It is frequently mentioned at car dealerships and relied upon when buying a car.
In 1914, 17-year-old car salesman Les Kelley arrived in California from Arkansas. With little formal education, Kelley earned money by buying, refurbishing, and selling used cars. He began compiling a list of car prices, which eventually became a tool to help evaluate vehicle value. Kelley rented land from a Los Angeles auto dealership and founded the Kelley Kar Company in 1918. The origins of Kelley Blue Book date back over 80 years.
To obtain new inventory, Kelley circulated lists of required automobiles, including the prices he was willing to pay. These lists quickly became a standard for evaluation among local banks and dealers. The popularity of his lists led Kelley to publish the first Directory of Motor Car Values in 1926.
In the early days, new vehicle vendors did not sell used cars. Kelley aggressively bought used vehicles from trade-ins and directly from the public.
Today, Kelley Blue Book is a national resource, providing evaluations for motorcycles, RVs, motorhomes, boats, and both new and used cars and trucks. Since its inception, KBB has been a highly reputable source for automotive research and vehicle valuation.
What Exactly is Kelley Blue Book?
Kelley Blue Book, sometimes misspelled as Kelly Blue Book, was started to provide systematic pricing for vehicles. It gathers data from various sources to generate accurate vehicle values, helping buyers and sellers make informed decisions.
Advice from a KBB.com Spokesman
According to a KBB.com spokesman, “With ninety years of trust in delivering information to the auto industry and many years of providing valuable knowledge to automobile shoppers, Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com helps buyers become experts in their purchases, offering editorial studies, pricing tools, and customer ratings. Kelley Blue Book, with more than 20 million specified viewers every month, promotes itself as the leading source for new and used vehicle information online.”
Why Use Kelley Blue Book for Motorcycles?
Kelley Blue Book is a preferred guide for checking motorcycle values. KBB traditionally collects its data by attending auctions nationwide. It charges its used vehicle evaluations as reasonable and accurate, considering factors such as reconditioning, transportation, and auction fees.
Buying or selling your motorcycle is a significant decision, so gathering as much information as possible is crucial. Buyers contemplating the purchase of a used motorcycle can now view its history in KBB, dating back to model year 1981.
Kelley Blue Book uses a standard set of criteria to calculate value, including:
Condition
Popularity
Warranty
Local market conditions
To find motorcycle values on the Kelley Blue Book website, the process is straightforward. You begin by providing your location, as prices can vary by state. The system then guides you through steps to give you the right price for the exact make and model of your motorcycle.
Factors affecting the value include mileage, condition, features like chain-driven or shaft-driven options, different types of suspension and exhaust, and the rarity of the motorcycle.
Motorcycle History Reports
Kelley Blue Book partnered with Cyclechex to offer Motorcycle History Reports, available on its website, www.kbb.com. These reports provide comprehensive information from various governmental sources, including historical title information, odometer readings, disclosed damage, number of previous owners, and recall history. This helps motorcycle shoppers make informed purchase decisions.
How to Check Motorcycle Values on KBB
Visit KBB.com.
Locate the “We’ve Got Motorcycle Values” section and click on Motorcycles.
Select the make, year, and model of your motorcycle.
View the trade-in value or retail value to get the estimated value of the motorcycle.
Kelley Blue Book does not allow users to input detailed information about the condition and mileage of their motorcycle due to common odometer malfunctions. Instead, they use an estimated mileage chart based on the year of the bike.
Buying or Selling Motorcycles: Tips and Tricks
You were hoping for an easy solution, right? Well, here’s the scoop:
Check Multiple Sources: Look at at least three price sources like KBB, NADA, and Edmunds. These guides help buyers and sellers determine fair prices for motorcycles.
Consider Customization: Motorcycles are often customized, which can affect their value. Other factors such as condition, mileage, geographic location, and even color can play a significant role.
Use as a Negotiating Tool: Gather as many price estimates as possible to help bring an otherwise impractical buyer or seller to a fair price.
Customer Reviews:
Hannah Cummins September 1st, 2018 Pleasant Grove, UT Kelley Blue Book is always easy to use and an outright need to when auto buying. It offers great details that will certainly assist you in picking an excellent motorcycle.
Tanner Linden July 12th, 2018 Lehi, UT I constantly use KBB prior to purchasing or marketing any kind of car. Their price quotes always give me a good ball park idea on what a reasonable price is for any type of car. I will certainly never ever purchase a vehicle without utilizing it.
Rob Holman July 17th, 2018 Gilbert, AZ Made use of KBB for the purchase or sale of every one of my automobiles. Aids me understand much more regarding the vehicle and provides a good baseball field of the value.
Anonymous. May 25th, 2018 Provo, UT Whenever I have a question about the worth of my car I go to Kelly Blue Book. They are the resource for up to day info.
Larry Moore April 14th, 2018Millville, UT I have relied upon your service for several years as well as have now taught my boys the best ways to obtain great details from Kelley either prior to acquiring or marketing a car. What an invaluable solution you supply!
FAQs on KBB Motorcycles
How does Kelley Blue Book determine values for used motorcycles?
Kelley Blue Book gathers information from vendor earnings studies and surveys across the U.S., public sale results, and dealer experiences to investigate values.
Where can I find supplier invoice pricing for KBB motorcycles?
Supplier invoice pricing can be found in the printed Kelley Blue Book Motorcycle Guide or by subscribing to it. You can also find this publication at libraries or credit unions.
How can I get a price for a motorcycle not listed in KBB?
For motorcycles not listed, consider getting a personal appraisal or checking classified ads to see what others are asking for similar bikes.
How can I get a price for a motorcycle in excellent or poor condition?
Kelley Blue Book provides values for typical motorcycles in standard condition. For specific evaluations based on condition, consult a private appraiser.
How does mileage affect the value of a motorcycle on KBB.com?
Mileage does not directly affect the value; instead, the overall condition of the motorcycle is more significant. The buyer and seller should agree on adjustments based on the bike’s condition.
Why might the value of a motorcycle increase over time?
Motorcycle values can fluctuate due to favorable economic conditions, increased demand, or a model’s rise in popularity as a collector’s item.
Kelley Blue Book relies on a steady flow of pricing information from various sources, including manufacturers, auctions, dealers, and rental businesses, to calculate vehicle prices accurately.
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