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Step 1
Gather as much information about the bicycle as possible. This not only includes the bike's year, frame type, wheels, tires and gears but also the bike's biography. Compile a list of the number of miles on the bike (estimate if necessary) and the frequency and thoroughness of servicing and replaced parts. Providing this kind of information makes buyers much more likely to buy.
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Step 2
Do some cosmetic touch-ups. If the bike is in relatively good condition and you don't want to sink more money into it before selling, making some light cosmetic improvements greatly increases your chances of a good sale. Change the handlebar tape, give the bike a thorough cleaning and oiling and consider making minor additions such as new lights and reflectors.
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Step 3
Emphasize the bike's versatility. One of the great advantages of touring bikes, in contrast to road bikes for example, is that they can be used on various surfaces for a number of different purposes. If you have extra seats, tires and wheels for the bike, put them on and take some photos to show how a buyer can easily transform the bike to suit his needs.
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Step 4
Advertise the bike correctly. Pictures are your best aid in trying to sell the bike. A set of good photos not only gives potential buyers a good look at the bike but also attracts more people to look at the bike in the first place. Place ads for the bike in both mainstream sales outlets such as eBay and bike-specific sites such as Bike Touring 101 and Dave's Bike Dump.
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Step 5
Include touring gear, such as bags, clips and bike kits. If you have extra equipment, throw it into the the sale to entice buyers. Even if you raise the price a little bit on account of the extra gear, offering buyers a fully loaded bike can help make the sale.
