🛵 The Untold Story of India’s Pre-Owned/ Used Bike Market

Booming. Broken. Begging for a Revolution.

A young man walks into a mechanic shop with ₹35,000 in hand — his savings from months of food deliveries. He wants to buy a second-hand bike so he can move faster, earn more, and maybe finally stop renting helmets.

He’s handed a shiny-looking bike with no service record, no paperwork clarity, and no warranty. But he has no choice. He rides off — hopeful, but uncertain.

Two weeks later, the engine fails. The mechanic’s number is switched off. And the dream? It’s suddenly a little heavier.

This isn’t a rare story. It’s the norm.

India’s pre-owned motorcycle market is huge — over 2.5x bigger than the new bike market. Yet, it runs on guesswork, gut feel, and Google searches.

There are millions of buyers and sellers, but no guardrails. No after-sales support. No peace of mind.

And when things go wrong, no one picks up the phone.

The Seller’s Side Isn’t Much Better

Imagine you want to sell your old bike. Maybe you’ve upgraded. Maybe you need the cash.

What do you do?

You:

• Haggle with dealers who want to offer you peanuts

• Post online and get 50 “Is it still available?” texts

• Worry about the RC transfer (or worse — skip it)

It’s stressful. And risky. Because if the new rider meets with an accident or defaults on a loan, your name is still on that RC.

Finance? Forget It.

Used bikes are usually bought in cash. Why?

Because most banks say:

“Too small to lend on. Too risky to recover.”

But most used bike buyers aren’t risky — they’re:

• College students

• Delivery executives

• Single parents

• First-time job holders

People who just need a reliable ride to get ahead. People who deserve access, not rejection.

So, What’s Missing?

Not tech. Not demand. Not bikes. What’s missing is trust.

The market needs:

• Certified vehicles with real inspections

• Transparent pricing

• Easy financing options

• A sense of responsibility — someone who cares after the sale too

• Local retail stores that feel like showrooms, not scrap yards

Because owning a bike should feel empowering, not exhausting.

A Chance to Rebuild from the Ground Up

This isn’t just a market problem. It’s a human problem.

If we build systems that:

• Protect the buyer

• Empower the seller

• Offer financing and service like in the new vehicle world

• And put people, not just profits, at the centre

We won’t just sell used bikes. We’ll enable livelihoods. Safety. Dignity. Growth.

Final Thought: The Pre-Owned Bike Market Deserves a Makeover

Not every Indian can afford a new bike. But every Indian deserves a trustworthy one.

So the question isn’t “Is there demand?” It’s “Who’s willing to lead with integrity?

Jugal Sai

Jugal Sai is the Head of Business Development at Autodealz.in, a rapidly growing startup reshaping India’s pre-owned two-wheeler market. With a background in Mechanical Engineering from Mahindra University and an MBA in Finance & Operations from TAPMI, Manipal, he began his career in corporate banking at IDFC First Bank. Passionate about mobility, customer experience, and innovation to revolutionise how India buys and sells used bikes — with trust, transparency, and tech at the core