eBike Valuation

[Blakey]

Hey team,

Firstly, I apologise if this is the wrong place for this or if I should not be posting here. If so, let me know.

I'm looking to sell my eBike (I'm hoping to upgrade) and have no idea what I should be asking for. I'm hoping you can give me a very rough valuation, and then I can post an ad here with more confidence that I'm in the right ballpark.

The bike is a Cannondale Moterra 3, 2020 model with the 500W battery. It was £4,500 brand new and I'm the only owner. It's just under 5 years old (September 2020) and has done about 3,600 miles. Most of my riding has been on the South Downs and the local forests nearby. Used far more as a trail bike than anything else.

It has had new brakes and a new 11-speed SRAM drive chain last year. It has typical wear and tear for a bike this age - a few small chips or scratches, but nothing in any way significant. It looks generally in great condition. I have a full set of photos of the bike, including zooming in on various components to show condition and quality - one of which is attached.

I'm about to get the Bosch battery/motor report for it, to show it's condition/charge cycles, etc. It comes with the original Cannondale charger.

Any rough ideas what I should be hoping to advertise for?

Thanks to anyone who responds,
Blakey

 

[steve_sordy]

It's a cracking looking bike and its condition is a credit to you. But a five-year old e-bike still on the same battery and after 3600 miles is a proper gamble for any buyer. No matter how honest you are and no matter how genuine the bike is, they could buy it and the next day the battery and/or the motor could start giving problems.

Do all you can to present evidence that this bike is genuine and that you have looked after it. Service receipts and condition reports are great.
Put yourself in the buyer's position, what would they want to feel comfortable buying this bike from you?

Go to eBay and similar to find out how much bikes in a similar condition to yours are selling for. By the way, eBay has stopped selling used e-Bikes, but they still appear for sale, just don't call it an e-bike!

Best of luck!

 

[Blakey]

It's a cracking looking bike and its condition is a credit to you. But a five-year old e-bike still on the same battery and after 3600 miles is a proper gamble for any buyer. No matter how honest you are and no matter how genuine the bike is, they could buy it and the next day the battery and/or the motor could start giving problems.

Do all you can to present evidence that this bike is genuine and that you have looked after it. Service receipts and condition reports are great.
Put yourself in the buyer's position, what would they want to feel comfortable buying this bike from you?

Go to eBay and similar to find out how much bikes in a similar condition to yours are selling for. By the way, eBay has stopped selling used e-Bikes, but they still appear for sale, just don't call it an e-bike!

Best of luck!

Thanks Steve.

I had an offer from We Buy Any eBike (or some such name) of £750. Should I just bite the bullet and take that?

I understand why anyone would be wary to purchase a 5-year old eBike. I know I would, even though I know this bike's been well cared for.

Cheers
Blakey

 

[RustyMTB]

I wouldn't Blakey. They're offering to buy for resale & my guess is at about 50% of market value. Your bike is a bit long in the tooth but it's still a high end Cannondale. That's a double edged sword as there aren't many of them around to compare but £750 at Halfords wouldn't get you anything much to write home about. You can list in here for free & also on Pinkbike foc too. Might be a while finding the right buyer but at least these places are people who know what they're looking at. See here for details & you can also search for similar bikes to get a feel for prices.

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/list/?region=5&q=moterra

 

[Blakey]

I wouldn't Blakey. They're offering to buy for resale & my guess is at about 50% of market value. Your bike is a bit long in the tooth but it's still a high end Cannondale. That's a double edged sword as there aren't many of them around to compare but £750 at Halfords wouldn't get you anything much to write home about. You can list in here for free & also on Pinkbike foc too. Might be a while finding the right buyer but at least these places are people who know what they're looking at. See here for details & you can also search for similar bikes to get a feel for prices.

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/list/?region=5&q=moterra

Thanks. That is encouraging.

No 2020 aged Moterras on there - which is half my problem. I haven't seen a single comparison to base a valuation on. That said, the guy from WBAEB did say my bike's probably worth £,1500 ish, so I guess that follows what you are saying on here.

I will get the battery report done and then think about sticking it up here.

Thanks!

 

[ShapeThings]

Ebikes have to have some of the worst resale values of any high-ticket item for reasons mentioned. I’m going to sell mine this year and dread the hit I’m gonna take on it.

 

[Blakey]

Ebikes have to have some of the worst resale values of any high-ticket item for reasons mentioned. I’m going to sell mine this year and dread the hit I’m gonna take on it.

Yeah, my wife was just saying much the same to me today. And yet, I'm planning to go and spend another £6k on a new one (Amflow)! Must be mad...

 

[Joecrow]

I had an offer from We Buy Any eBike (or some such name) of £750. Should I just bite the bullet and take that?

As others here have said that is way to cheap for your bike. I sold my old Trekking e-bike earlier this year, it was a 2017 Haibike discount purchased end of 2018 for only €2,100 it was fully functional and well maintained but with a lot of miles and not a very attactive colour. I put in a free online small adds platform, here in Germany (Kleinanzeigen) which I think is maybe run by E-Bay, but not an auction, for €650. I had several interested buyers came to look early on , mostly I guess profies though who wanted it for peanuts but eventually after 2 weeks or so a serious buyer liked it and we agreed on €550. I have no idea what small add platforms are available in the UK these day (Excange and Mart still going?) but you have a very good bike there and unless you need the money urgently take some time to find a buyer who will pay a fair price, 1250 -1500 GBP I reckon but don't let it go for less than a thousand.
Good luck.

 

[Blakey]

As others here have said that is way to cheap for your bike. I sold my old Trekking e-bike earlier this year, it was a 2017 Haibike discount purchased end of 2018 for only €2,100 it was fully functional and well maintained but with a lot of miles and not a very attactive colour. I put in a free online small adds platform, here in Germany (Kleinanzeigen) which I think is maybe run by E-Bay, but not an auction, for €650. I had several interested buyers came to look early on , mostly I guess profies though who wanted it for peanuts but eventually after 2 weeks or so a serious buyer liked it and we agreed on €550. I have no idea what small add platforms are available in the UK these day (Excange and Mart still going?) but you have a very good bike there and unless you need the money urgently take some time to find a buyer who will pay a fair price, 1250 -1500 GBP I reckon but don't let it go for less than a thousand.
Good luck.

Thanks Joe. Posts like this are making me hang on and try and get it a decent home.

I'm not in a rush to sell, and don't need the cash to buy the replacement (thank you UK Cycle to Work Scheme!), so taking time and getting what I can for it will work for me.

Cheers!

 

[steve_sordy]

Thanks Steve.

I had an offer from We Buy Any eBike (or some such name) of £750. Should I just bite the bullet and take that?

I understand why anyone would be wary to purchase a 5-year old eBike. I know I would, even though I know this bike's been well cared for.

Cheers
Blakey

Then why sell it? If you don't need the £750, and the bike is as good as you say, then get the best deal and keep it. You never know when you might need a spare! (Or when a friend comes to visit, or your son/grandson gets big enough............)

 

[Blakey]

Then why sell it? If you don't need the £750, and the bike is as good as you say, then get the best deal and keep it. You never know when you might need a spare! (Or when a friend comes to visit, or your son/grandson gets big enough............)

It's a fair comment. I guess I very much could do with the money to help pay off the new bike - plus I could do with the space in the shed!

 

[steve_sordy]

It's a fair comment. I guess I very much could do with the money to help pay off the new bike - plus I could do with the space in the shed!

You need man maths here!
Getting a new bike is a given, end of discussion.
Getting rid of the old bike will cost you money. Yes, think of how much it would cost to replace that exact same bike, same condition if you had to buy it. That figure, less what you will probably get for your current old bike, is how much you will save!

 

[Deleted member 3086]

I grew up with boats in my family and owned a boat myself in recent years. E-bikes are like boats. You don’t buy one thinking about how much it’ll be worth when ready to sell. You buy them for the enjoyment they provide. Deep depreciation is simply the cost of owning an e-bike.

 

[Karljeff72]

Could you not trade it in against a new one ?
I'm sure a bike like that must have some good value.

 

[darwink1]

Ebikes are like laptops, cellphones or ev cars, just knock 25% off the original price for every year in service and you'll arrive at a fair price.

D

Yes, I was slightly sarcastic but on the other hand...

 

[Just gan]

I know someone who just traded in a ebike and highspec analogue bike both good condition. When he didn't tell me how much he got I get the impression it wasn't a lot.

 

[Astro66]

I had an offer from We Buy Any eBike (or some such name) of £750. Should I just bite the bullet and take that?

If you don't want to keep it as a spare bike. Though with the Amflow, I would, because DJI is such a new motor supplier, and parts could take a while if you break something. I would take the money. For these reasons.

1) It is old and has a lot of miles.
2) Battery degradation would be significant and it was a small battery to start.
3) Ebike motors are notorious for failing with age, especially ones from the UK, with water ingress.
4) If you bought in 2020. It would have been peak pricing.
5) It's not a particularly high spec EMTB.
6) It would be older geometry.

Don't get me wrong. You have cared for it wonderfully and it's a great EMTB. But if you want a new bike and don't want a spare. Just move it on and don't worry about it. Someone else will get some great riding.

 

[jezhumphrey75]

id guess around 800/1200 depending on how badly somebody wants it....if it works and you like it just run it into the ground.

 

[Bontee]

I would agree with most of the things said here.It,sadly is a rapidly depreciating asset.I would advertise it for £1500 and be prepared to drop to around a grand and be happy with that……or just keep it.It’s a damned fine bike .I suppose the question is this.
Will a new hot upgrade make you any better a rider or happier .If the answer is yes ,go for it ,if not keep the cannon and ride it till it drops,which is my philosophy on most things,Mtb’s,ebikes,guitars everything really.
Good luck with whatever you decide
(I would keep it )