A motorcycle salvage yard also referred to as a motorcycle junkyard, is where damaged bikes get scrubbed for parts. The working parts get sold piece by piece for use in functioning bikes. You can find all makes and models and get used parts super cheap. Below I’ll share how motorcycle salvage yards near me work and tips on how to find the best used motorcycle parts.
Map of Motorcycle Salvage Yards Near Me
For “Motorcycle Junk Yards Near Me” or “Motorcycle Salvage Yards Near Me”, see the map below…
Motorcycle Junk Yards Near Me- How They Operate
Most motorcycle junk yards operate on a local level. The motorcycle salvage yards buy nonfunctional or damaged motorcycles. In addition to motorbikes you can often find choppers, ATV’s, dune buggies, off road dirt bikes, go karts, mopeds and scooters, Japanese street bikes, and other similar types of vehicles. They end up at the salvage yard because the owner decided it was too damaged or too expensive to replace the parts.
If you have a motorbike you are looking for junk, then you can call a salvage yard and work out a deal. In many instances, you will have to drop off the motorcycle at the junk yard yourself. Some salvage companies do have a wrecker and can come to pick up the bike, but in my experience, this is few and far between.
Often motorcycle junkyards not only buy from people, but they buy bikes from insurance companies. When an insurance company pays a claim for someone to get a new motorcycle, it is responsible for disposing of the wrecked one. So they often sell directly to a motorcycle salvage yard.
When they take a new bike in they first have to process it. This includes removing any gas and oil left in the bike. Those liquids get stored in specialty tanks. The gas is resold and the oil is sent to a recycling facility. Once it is done getting siphoned and drained it heads out into the scrap yard.
All Bikes, Rye Arizona
How Motorcycle Salvage Yards Arrange The Inventory
Best motorcycle salvage yards are arranged damaged or old bikes in rows and commonly group in sections by brand or type. Higher–end motorcycle salvage yards keep a database of all the bikes they have in the yard. When someone comes along and says I’m looking for a specific type of motorcycle they can tell you where you will find it in the junkyard.
You can then walk out to the lot with your tools and pull the parts you need. Most of the motorcycle junk yards near me are small businesses and they are not entirely organized or have good processes in place to manage their bikes. They do however have good used parts that allow you to do your repair/replacements super cheap.
One motorcycle salvage yard doesn’t put the bikes out in the lot. Instead, they strip them down in a shop and then take all the usable parts and organize them in a warehouse. So instead of walking around the lot you walk around in the warehouse and shop for used motorcycle parts on shelves and in bins. This is much more efficient because the parts have already been pulled and organized.
You can actually call up and ask if they have the piece you are looking for, which saves you a lot of time and effort. The place near me is really good and if they don’t have what you need they often will know where to find it. They will help you get the part and connect you with other businesses.
Getting a Used Part Warranty at a Cycle Junkyard
Certain used parts like an engine might be stripped off the bike and sold to a 3rd party for remodeling. Then it gets sold again as a used motor with a warranty. In fact, many used motorcycle parts you can get at the junkyard you can get a warranty on. The motorcycle salvage yard near me charges $6 for a warranty on a part. If you get home and the part is no good, you can bring it back and get a different one.
There are tons of used motorcycle parts you can pull such as mirrors, gas tanks, motors, clutches, wheels, seats, exhaust, and more. Once the junkyard feels like they have gotten the most out of a bike, some of them sell what is left for scrap metal.
Should You Buy a Motorcycle from a Salvage Yard?
When it comes to motorcycles salvage bikes are the cheapest bikes you can get, however just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s good. I don’t buy motorcycles from the junk yard near me, I just buy parts, but you can find used bikes for cheap….
First let’s establish what kind of deals you might find. I’ve seen bikes like a 2006 Harley Fatboy with 31K miles going for less than $5,000 and bikes like a 2012 CBR600rr with about 4K miles on it for about $4000.
While that seems tempting there are several reasons why you should probably not buy a salvage motorcycle:
- Insurance companies will not allow you to get full coverage on a salvage bike. So if your bike gets stolen or damaged you don‘t have the comprehensive coverage you need.
- They are hard to resell (unless you are restoring an old classic bike). The resell market is just not there on salvage bikes.
- Salvage bikes can have underlying damage that can put your safety at risk.
Pro Tip: If you are considering buying a salvage bike you need to do a full inspection or hire a fully certified mechanic to do an inspection before you purchase it. That will probably cost you about $100 to have done.
So When Might I Consider a Junked Bike…
The only two reasons I would consider buying a salvage bike are if I found a classic bike to restore or if I was looking for a track bike…. that’s it. With a track bike if something goes wrong with it and you have to dump it it’s better to have it happen on the track than out on the road. You just don’t know if the balance of the bike will be off and it will cause the death wobble at high speeds.
If you are looking to save money on a bike the best way to do it is to go to a dealership and get “leftover new”. You can save thousands off MSRP and you walk away with a brand new motorcycle that will be safe to ride on the streets. You can trust that it will operate safely. If you are a motorcycle mechanic, on the other hand, buying a salvage bike is advantageous. You can buy a bike with a wrecked front end, get the parts you need, and do a custom fix.
Salvage Yards Near Me That Buy Motorcycles
When you sell a motorbike to a junkyard near you, there are a couple of things you need to consider.
The first is to see if the bike is repairable. Do an honest assessment and see if the level of damage is worth it to repair or if it’s better to just cut bait and sell the bike for parts.
If you decide to sell it to a motorcycle junk yard make sure you get all of your personal belongings out of the bags. You can also siphon the gas and save it for yourself. Additionally, you need to return the license plates and cancel your insurance. This will allow the motorcycle junkyard to take full ownership of the bike.
You should also know the value of your bike before you negotiate the sales price. Even if it’s wrecked and beyond repair, it is still worth something. Take a look in the Kelly Blue Book for Motorcycles. If you are negotiating over the phone, be honest and represent the true condition of the bike.
The best part about selling your bike to the junkyard is that you can earn a nice check for a wrecked or damaged bike. You must also have the title for the motorcycle as you will need to sign it over to the junk yard.
The motorcycle salvage yard is a two–way business. You can not only sell them your bike, but you can go there and buy used motorcycle parts that are extremely cheap. Some places not only sell at their yard, but also sell online on sites like eBay and Craigslist. For other alternatives, check out who buys junk motorcycles near me.
Bob’s Used Cycle Parts Rye Salvage Yard
How to Find Used Parts: Motorcycle Junkyard Tips
When I look for used motorcycle parts I often go to the salvage yard with a plan in mind. Here are some tips and tricks for pulling used parts off of salvage yard motorcycles:
- Take the minimum amount of tools with you and keep your bag light weight. Pull the part you need off your current bike first and set aside the tools you used. This will be the toolset you need to bring with you.
- If you work on American bikes you only need to carry SAE wrenches and sockets. For imports bring metric sets.
- Look for parts that don’t have any green on them. Green is a sign of corrosion.
- Ask the attendant how the yard is organized before you start walking around.
- Bring something to kneel on like a piece of cardboard or a small piece of carpet.
- Ask about warranties on the parts you are purchasing. If they offer warranties purchase one for any complex part.
Other options for finding used motorcycle parts are online junkyards or auctions. Also if you can find a specialized yard for your brand that’s even better. For example, going to Harley Davidson salvage yard for Harley parts is your best option.
The One Part I Would Never Buy at a Scrap Yard…
In my opinion, you should never get used tires for your bike. You might see these looking newish and organized by size and/or tread type. Some places will have them thrown in large piles for sale. When it comes to tires you should always think safety first. a tire is not something I would risk my life on, since this is all I have between me and the road.
If you must buy used tires to save money…don’t slack on your inspection. Make sure you are getting a tire that is brand new and has no signs of chicken strips or wear. Find a matching set. used motorcycle junkyard tires are sketchy and it is buyer beware!
Spare Parts at Motorcycle Salvage Yards
You will find a variety of great used motorcycle parts such as side mirrors, windscreens, seats, frames, gas tanks, front ends, back ends, tires, racks, handle bars, fenders, motors, and more. There are a lot of advantages to buying these used parts at the junkyard. Motorcycle enthusiasts can easily find classic or vintage motorcycle parts here. In fact, there are enough used parts available that you can build an entire salvage bike from scratch. Normally though if that will require visiting several bike salvos to find everything you need.
First, you can get the parts at a very cheap price. Many parts you will find might still be in good condition. What happens is some people try and fix their bikes by throwing parts at it. When the bike still doesn’t work, they junk it. So you may find some bikes with brand new pieces. Also some people of course wreck brand new bikes and junk them. Here you can salvage what is left and customize the rest.
Another advantage is that most of the parts you will find will be original and installed by the manufacturer. If you are doing a restoration or a rebuild it’s a good way to find the original parts you need.
Lastly, you can find parts that still have a lot of value and then resell them to people on eBay.
Disadvantages of Buying Spare Parts from the Motorcycle Junkyard
it’s possible that the parts that you purchase may not be durable. There is a saying, “cheap is expensive”. When you pull a part off a bike you have no idea how many hours it’s got on it and can’t truly tell if is near the end of its life span. You could look at the odometer on the motorcycle if it’s still there, but you don’t 100% know for sure if the part you are pulling is the original.
You can’t always find what you need. Sometimes I walk around the motorcycle junkyards near me for hours and never quite find the exact parts I am looking for. It’s fun to walk around the yard, but when come home empty handed it can be frustrating.
Want to Experience a Motorcycle Salvage Yard?…
If you have never been to a Motorcycle junkyard, it’s kind of hard to wrap your head around. The video below is a fun watch, no talking just showing bikes and parts at the cycle salvage. Really does a good job documenting such a cool experience of a bunk salvo…
Scams By Junkyards That Buy Motorcycles
There are also a few issues that you may come across when selling your motorcycle to a junkyard.
One of them is delayed payment. Never agree to give up your ride before being paid. You should make sure there is a written agreement that guarantees you payment. This is imperative if you are having them haul away your motorcycle from you. Some shady salvage yards will haul away your bike and then try to pay you less than you agreed on once it is in the possession.
If you are having a haul away done some of the motorcycle salvage yards will try and subtract the cost of towing from the sale price. Don’t agree with this. If you don’t have the ability to drop your bike off to them, try and negotiate for them to incur the haul away cost.
The junkyard may try and tell you that your motorcycle is worthless. This is simply a tactic to try and get the bike from you at a cheaper price. Remember the bike is NOT worthless to them. They are gonna sell it for used parts and whatever is left will be sold as scrap metal. A wrecked bike that may go for $500, could be worth $5,000 when the leftover functional parts are all sold individually….so it ain’t worthless!
Motorcycle Salvage Yards Near Me Conclusion
If you are new to working on motorcycles, bikes, or choppers you probably don’t first think about used parts. Once you have spent money on new parts enough, you will begin to think about saving some money by getting used parts. Whether you are buying or selling to a junkyard or using eBay Motors there is a lot to consider. I would encourage you to approach doing business with them cautiously. With that said though there are many great motorcycle salvage yards that do solid honest business.
These locations are great places to find used motorcycle parts. You will not find cheaper parts for your bike anywhere. They are like a big mall for people who perform their own repairs on their bikes. You can also make any salvage bike look like new with a little chrome, paint, and air brushing!
Additionally, motorcycle junkyards help clean up the environment. If these places didn’t exist do you know how many wrecked bikes would be sitting around neighborhoods? Where would these wrecked motorcycles, ATV’s, choppers, go karts, go? We would be inundated with damaged vehicles and a world full of worthless scrap metal everywhere.
Anyway, I hope you learned something from my experience with the motorcycle salvage yards near me.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Motorcycle Salvage Yards Work?
Motorcycle salvages buy junked motorcycles that have a value below the cost to repair them. They sell off any working parts for use on functioning motorcycles. They primarily get their inventory from private owners, auctions, and insurance companies. Some salvages will pick up your motorcycle for free to incentivize you to sell it to them.
Do Scrap Yards Take Motorcycles?
You can sell a motorcycle for scrap the same way you would a car. Scrap value however is based on weight and the type of metal and may not net you the amount of cash you are interested in. Scrapping is often the easiest option to get rid of a bike, but certainly not the most lucrative.
What do you do with a Wrecked Motorcycle?
There are four main ways to sell a wrecked motorcycle: Salvage yard, junk motorcycle buyers, scrap yard, and independently. Each option has its pros and cons and the level of damage may determine your best choice. A motorcycle that is repairable, will be worth more than one that isn’t. If you are considering a salvage yard, look beyond just your local salvage to find the best buyer.
Can you get a Loan on a Salvage Motorcycle Title?
Some banks will issue a loan on a salvage motorcycle title, but it is harder to get than a clean title. Since a salvage title carries more risk, interest rates will be higher. Additionally, the big banks will likely not be an option.
