Do accessories add to trade-in value?

[dentheman]

I am at the point now that I want to add some accessories to my Shadow. When I bought it, it already had the chrome and rubber grips, sissy bar with backrest, and chrome luggage rack. I am thinking of adding a smallish windshield and a Saddlemen medium fastback sissy bar bag. BUT...I also have in the back of my mind the possibility of trading the bike in at the end of summer for an adventure bike which would not use any of these accessories. Would these accessories add anything to the trade-in value?

[JWR]

Not really in value, but in selling appeal.

You won't get 1/2 back.

[mrlmd1]

Not all buyers like the accessories you will put on. If you are thinking of getting rid of the bike, don't add anything else to it unless it serves your purpose in the meantime and you think it's worth the expense. Everybody likes to customize their bike in their own way, and you are asking a prospective buyer to pay for something he may not like or want.

[dentheman]

Thanks for the replies. I might still go with the windshield since it would serve a purpose over the summer. If I need to add luggage, I have some soft bags that I could bungee on rather than buy motorcycle specific luggage.

[bonehead]

I have found that trading in to the dealer, the add ons don't add any value. Most of the time the dealer will remove any add ons so they can sell new ones to the new buyer.
Most times that add ons come into play is if you are selling outright.

[jonathan180iq]

Originally Posted by dentheman

... Would these accessories add anything to the trade-in value?

Nope.

This is another part of the problem with the whole motorcycle accessory industry. They ridiculously overprice what is it essentially some pretty simple engineering (Think Suzuki backrest and tiny luggage rack for $300) and it basically adds nothing in value to your bike. Honestly, the same is true for most car accessories, but those aren't nearly as overpriced to begin with.

Anyway, the only time I have seen accessories adding value is within the sport bike world. There are certain suspension or other performance upgrades that are very desirable on certain bikes, and already having those installed, on an otherwise pristine bike, can increase value. But, this is the exception; not the rule.

You would be better served pulling those accessories and selling them individually. There is a market for them on their own, and you can make money off of them because while they will fetch a decent price, they are going to be well below the cost of new, which most riders are trying to avoid.

[greatmaul]

Sometimes windshields and/or saddlebags are universal fit, so maybe you could get one for utility over the summer and then take them off to put on your new bike when you get one?