Advice
How should I write a bike advert?
A good advert can help to sell a motorbike or scooter more quickly and for more money, so it's important to do it as well as possible
If you decide to sell your bike privately, then it’s vital – not to mention, a legal requirement! – that you pay plenty of attention to writing any advert for your motorbike or scooter.
The good news is that here on Auto Trader, just filling in your registration number will automatically fill in lots of details about your bike, including:
The good news is that here on Auto Trader, just filling in your registration number will automatically fill in lots of details about your bike, including:
- Make and model
- Year
- Body type e.g. naked, scooter, sports tourer
- Colour
- Transmission
- Engine CC
Then, it’s up to you to include details like the bike’s mileage, MOT, warranty information, service history and any detail of customisation it may have: for example, things like whether there is an Arrow exhaust, Brembo brakes, panniers or heated grips.
Remember, it’s against the law to mis-describe a bike, so you must be as accurate as possible in what you say and include any imperfections you know about. Be honest about the motorbike or scooter's condition. The number of owners the bike has had and perhaps even why you’re selling it, can all be of interest to a potential buyer. Above all, though, be concise. In our experience, around 75 words is the ideal length for an online advert. Last, but not least, remember: be clear; don’t use block capitals, which make the advert harder to read; avoid clichés, such as ‘lovely ride’ and ‘first to see will buy’; and, don’t use terms that will confuse buyers. Try not to use abbreviations as when people search by keywords, they're unlikely to find your bike. For example, use the word "exhaust", don't abbreviate it to "can".
Remember, it’s against the law to mis-describe a bike, so you must be as accurate as possible in what you say and include any imperfections you know about. Be honest about the motorbike or scooter's condition. The number of owners the bike has had and perhaps even why you’re selling it, can all be of interest to a potential buyer. Above all, though, be concise. In our experience, around 75 words is the ideal length for an online advert. Last, but not least, remember: be clear; don’t use block capitals, which make the advert harder to read; avoid clichés, such as ‘lovely ride’ and ‘first to see will buy’; and, don’t use terms that will confuse buyers. Try not to use abbreviations as when people search by keywords, they're unlikely to find your bike. For example, use the word "exhaust", don't abbreviate it to "can".