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The Benefits of Using Motorcycle Salvage Yards

Motorcycle salvage yards offer two major benefits to riders who use their services: They provide payment for whole motorcycles, components and scrap that no longer serve a purpose for the owner and offer a source of inexpensive parts and materials for many different bikes. Salvage parts for a wide range of motorcycles, from Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki to a domestic brand such as Harley-Davidson or Indian, are often available.

With so many parts, motorcycle salvage yards frequently offer a selection for customers that's close to complete. Here's a look at how to get the most out of a visit to salvage yards, whether you're selling parts from one of your own cycles or looking for a good price on a needed component:

Motorcycle salvage yards are valuable sources of hard-to-find parts.Motorcycle salvage yards are valuable sources of hard-to-find parts.

When You're Buying

Motorcycle salvage yards are a great place to find the part needed to fix your current ride or start building or restoring a new one. Price is also a major factor, as salvage yards charge significantly less than stores or manufacturers. No matter what types of parts your existing motorcycle or project needs, there are some best practices to follow that make shopping a more successful experience.

Plan Ahead and Research Your Options
Not all salvage yards have the same type of inventory and their contents change regularly. While it's unlikely a salvage yard operator will know if a very specific part is available, making contact and asking about the types of motorcycles the yard commonly buys or what brands are among recent purchases can yield positive results. Some yard owners may even keep an eye out for specific parts if you ask and if the extra vigilance is worth their while.

If there's more than one motorcycle salvage yard near your home, you should spend the 15 minutes or half hour it takes to call around and ask about parts at each one. You'll have better luck locating the specific components you need and, should more than one yard have those parts available, it's likely you'll find the best price as well. If the salvage yards in your area have good relationships with one another, you may be directed to visit a specific yard, even if it's not one owned by the location you call.

Ask Questions
The operators and employees at salvage operations are frequently busy, but that doesn't mean they can't answer specific questions about parts, prices and other aspects of shopping at a yard. While you'll likely be brushed off if you ask an attendant how to build a motorcycle out of parts from the yard, a query about the availability of a specific brand or type of part is reasonable. Describing your project and asking for input can also pay off if you visit the yard during a relatively slow period of the day.

Take Your Time
Salvage yards are rarely completely organized, so a needed part may take a while to find. Schedule at least a few hours to investigate and scale that amount of time upward if the yard is particularly large. If you're looking for a part that's especially common or run across a high price, you may want to check out another motorcycle yard before purchasing. Similar to the guidance in the American Motorcycle Association's guide to buying a used bike, you should also take time to inspect the quality of each part for both safety and quality before purchasing. Salvage yards generally don't offer warrantees or exchanges, so you have to make sure the parts you need are functional in advance of the final transaction.

When You're Selling

Selling to a salvage yard is usually an easy process as long as the materials brought in meet the standards of the business. Here are a few pieces of advice to consider when selling a whole bike or parts to a motorcycle salvage operation.

Understand the Nature of Each Business
As the San Antonio Express-News highlights in an article about a local yard focused on vintage bikes, many salvage yards have some level of specialization. A yard like the one featured in the article may not buy a faulty bike that's just a few years old - or may offer a significantly lower price than another salvage operator. Exploring options and placing calls to ask about general estimates on more substantial and potentially valuable pieces like whole motorcycles can provide the best possible payout.

Have a Clear Objective
You should know what you want to get out of a sale or trade with an auto salvage yard before you get in touch with them. Are you looking to sell your bike whole, dismantle it and sell the most expensive parts or possibly trade what you have for other components? Determine your motive before you make contact with motorcycle salvage yards and you'll have a better shot at getting the result you want.

Be Aware of Local Property and Vehicle Laws
Selling a motorcycle - or parts of a bike - you recently rode means clearing the transaction with your state DMV. If you don't, you may be liable for property tax on the vehicle until you clear up the ownership situation. Rules vary by state and are often as simple as filling out a few forms, but can be more complicated and may require extra time and effort. Taking care of these issues before you sell your bike, whether whole or for parts, prevents a potentially major headache.

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