So you want to sell your bike.

Ebay is a great place to sell your motorcycle and accessories. In order to make the process as pleasant as possible, you will need to follow a few important guidelines.
First of all, a good picture is an absolute necessity, the more pics, the better, but be sure that the photos show details of the bike. Do not show pictures of you riding around the block or vacant lot or track if it's a dirt bike. Even pictures of your girl friend in a bikini, however attractive, probably won't help the buyer make a decision. The kinds of pics that do sell bikes, are clear, close shots of both sides, and to a lesser extent front and rear of the bike. If you are selling a dirt bike, take some extra shots of the motor, clearly showing the exhaust and any othere special features, the wheels, showing chain and sprockets and disc brakes, if applicable. On all bikes, be sure to take close ups of damaged parts, dents or dings or anything that may help the buyer determine the condition of your machine. Now, it may seem like common sense, but please wash your bike before you take the photos! I am amazed at the stuff that people try to sell covered with dirt or grease or rust, I have sold bikes for hundreds more than an identical model, just because the thing was clean and shiny.
Next, be sure to give a good description that covers the make, model and year. (One great feature of ebay is that you have lots of room to describe your product. If you were paying by the word, there are many details that just don't matter to most buyers.) In your description, let the buyer, who may be buying a bike for the first time, know what is the motorcycle's intended purpose. For instance, if you are selling an XR50 or some other mini bike, tell the buyer that this is a beginner's motorcycle, whether or not it requires shifting, clutch operation, does it have a method to limit the speed, is it electric start. Other detail might include the seat height and fuel needs, do you have to mix the gas/oil, many of these details may help the buyer decide that your bike is the one that suits his/her needs.
If you are selling a street bike, tell the buyer what it's for! Let your buyers know if you are selling a 200 horsepower repli-racer or a big v-twin cruiser, or is it long-distance rig with a Cadillac ride and a 3000 watt sound system, many newbies may not know the difference between an R1 and a Dyna Glide, (of course we hope that they don't start riding on either of those machines).
Next, make it very clear whether you intend to ship the bike or if it is for local pickup only.
If you plan to ship, make a few calls and get a price, before you list the item. This will help the buyer determine the shipping cost and keep you from getting nailed with an expense that you had not anticipated. In fact, this is a good idea when ebaying anything, a few months ago I sold a set of drums and charged thirty bucks for shipping, which I thought was more than enough. When I actually shipped the drums it cost me over fifty dollars just for shipping and that didn't include the packing materials I used to protect the drums! If your bike is for local pickup only, be sure to let the buyer know your general location and whether you can help with delivery, within a certain area. Many buyers don't have a truck or trailer and this may be a selling point.
Don't forget your payment details and to get a deposit, this insures that your buyer will make the appointed day and time of your meeting.
Finally, do a little research and determine a good asking price for your motorcyle. If you price right and don't expect to make a fortune on one sale, you can move your bike almost every time, on ebay. The great thing about being on ebay is the huge customer base that will see your ad and the fact that if it is an item that is perceived to be of value, you can get a very good price, often more than you anticipated and certainly more than a local newspaper classified ad will ever bring for less advertising dollars.
To recap, you need good pictures, good description, good shipping info and competitive and detailed pricing.
One final word of caution, when selling a vehicle in person, it might be a good idea to meet at a local parking lot, service station or some place other that your home and let a family member or friend know your location.  These days you just don't need to take a chance on showing a stranger your garage full of bikes, watercraft, guns, etc., or even your wife and kids, it's a jungle out there!
Hope this helps if you're selling a bike and if you do I hope it's just so you can get something new!