Bikes end up as junk differently
A car usually dies in one go. A motorcycle tends to fade: the battery goes flat over one winter, the carburetor gums up over the next, the tires crack, and three years later it’s a rusted bike under a tarp behind the garage. Crashes are the other common route, and a bike that went down hard is often a write-off even when it looks fixable.
We take all of these: street bikes, cruisers, sport bikes, mopeds and scooters, and off-road dirt bikes, whether they run, turn over, or haven’t moved in years. The price depends on the bike and what’s still on it; the tow costs you nothing either way.
What to have ready
- The title. Illinois requires a title for a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle bought new on or after January 1, 1980, and for an off-highway motorcycle or ATV bought on or after January 1, 1998 (625 ILCS 5/3-101). If yours is lost, tell us what you have instead; our no-title page explains how we check papers before anyone drives out.
- The key, if you have it. It helps with the steering lock, but no key doesn’t stop a sale. Our guide to selling with no keys covers what changes.
- Your ID. Illinois scrap processors record two forms of identification from a private seller, one of them a driver’s license or state ID (625 ILCS 5/5-401.3).
- An out-of-state or salvage title works differently; see out-of-state and salvage titles.
Take the plate off before pickup. In Illinois, plates stay with the owner.
Pickup realities for a motorcycle
A bike is light compared with a car, but it’s awkward to load if it won’t roll or won’t stay upright. These are the details that change how the driver handles it:
| Detail | Why we ask |
|---|---|
| Does the front wheel turn? | A locked steering head or flat tire changes how it’s rolled onto the truck |
| Is the kickstand or center stand still there? | A bike lying on its side needs two people to lift safely |
| Where it’s stored | Garage, basement walkout, gangway, shed or behind a fence |
| Is there a gate or step in the way? | Gangways between Chicago-style houses can be narrower than a cruiser’s bars |
| Fuel in the tank | A leaking tank is worth mentioning before the driver arrives |
Bikes often live in places a car never would: a basement with a walkout, a backyard shed, a gangway between two houses. If the bike is somewhere it would take two people to get out, tell us. We’d rather plan for it than find out at the gate.
Local spots we often pick up from
Around Riverdale, a lot of bikes sit in garages off the alley, which makes for an easy load. Calumet Park writes its inoperable rule about any “vehicle” with parts removed or damaged for 7 days, so a gutted bike left in view on a driveway is worth moving before a notice arrives. In Dolton, where most homes are single-unit houses, a bike is usually in a driveway or a detached garage; if that garage opens onto the alley, say so, because the village wants alleys kept clear.
Payment and next step
The driver checks the bike against what you described, you sign the title over, and you’re paid on the spot by cash, Zelle or Cash App. Fill in the form with the year, make and model (a Honda, Harley-Davidson, Yamaha or anything else), or call us. If the bike is one of several vehicles, the makes we buy page shows the range we take.