If you are looking for a way to make money and have spare time on your hands, there is no better marketplace than eBay to sell your powersports parts. This category of vehicles includes ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and PWCs. Plenty of people have started their online auto parts business as a hobby, only to have them grow into thriving enterprises.
Buyers of powersports products tend to be enthusiasts who know what they’re doing; they’ll buy from you without hesitation if they find what they need at a reasonable price.
If you’re looking for your niche and would like to know more about the most profitable powersport parts, read on!
Powersports Market Breakdown
What exactly are powersports vehicles? They include dirt bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles, and other off-road motorized vehicles. Compared to regular automobiles, powersport vehicles are typically more compact and lightweight.
The global powersports market is estimated to reach $12.75 billion by 2027, compared to $288.20 billion by 2026 in the global auto parts industry. The need for powersports may not be as large, but it is growing at a steady pace.
It’s also worth noting that people who enjoy powersports are often more likely to be affluent and have money to spend on their hobby than the average person, so it can be an attractive category from the perspective of potential buyers.
In terms of market segmentation by vehicle type analysis, the following products are expected to exhibit growth over the next few years:
- Light, cheaper, fuel-efficient motorcycles
- Personal watercraft
- Side-by-side vehicles
Back in 2019, heavy motorcycles owned the majority of the market share. However, over the last couple of years, consumer preference has changed. Younger buyers no longer wish for the large, loud bikes of their fathers’ generation and are opting for smaller, more environmentally friendly motorcycles.
That being said, the heavy motorcycle segment will remain one of the leading segments at least until 2027.
Find Your Niche
Theoretically speaking, nothing is stopping you from trying to sell all sorts of powersport aftermarket parts for motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles, water scooters…
However, there is a benefit in finding your niche. By specializing in only a specific type of powersport parts, an online seller can improve the customer experience and increase their chances of having return customers.
If a buyer gets an ATV part from you and they’re happy with the purchase, imagine how disappointed they’ll be to return to your store only to find that you’re now only offering snowmobile parts!
Having a niche may seem limiting at first, but you will quickly understand that the opposite is true. With a clearly defined specialty, your store will stand out from the competition, and you’ll be able to offer a more personalized and efficient online shopping experience.
Most Popular Powersport Parts on eBay
One of the best ways to find a niche is by looking at which parts sell best on eBay. What are other people selling, and what do they need? What are the most popular powersport aftermarket parts? What products have a lower supply because they’re hard to find or not made anymore?
It may be helpful to look at the most popular parts on eBay for you to have a better idea and perhaps get some inspiration.
The online marketplace declares that eight ATV parts or accessories are sold every minute on their automotive and powersports website (eBay Motors). In the same time frame, a whopping fifteen motorcycle parts were sold. Consumers are finding what they need with relative ease.
Parts with High Turnover
Similar to car aftermarket parts, the most sought-after parts and accessories for powersports vehicles are those that wear and tear relatively quickly. Consider parts such as:
- Tires and wheels
- Drive belts
- Fuel hoses
- Carburetors
- Throttle and cables
- Seals, gaskets, bearings
- Exhaust parts
- Headlights
If you’re looking to get a fast return on investment, these parts are a great place to start. Regardless of what type of powersport vehicle (or vehicles) you’re focused on, high turnover parts are always in need.
It’s also worth noting that many of these parts can be used to fix a variety of different compatible vehicles. It is well known in the auto industry that parts can be interchangeable – the one thing you need here is accurate and complete fitment data, including fitment compatibility.
For the best shopping experience, ensure that your product listings are as detailed as possible. What size, shape, and color is the product? What year is it from and what model of vehicle does the part fit on? These are all important factors to help buyers in their search in a timely manner.
Current, accurate fitment data is the foundation of any successful eBay store.
Riding Gear
Aside from the aforementioned parts and accessories, one other category of powersports automotive products often in demand is riding gear.
This particular type of product can significantly impact your bottom line due to its popularity with many different demographics.
We’re talking about potential customers who enjoy racing their dirt bikes, going for a leisurely ride on their snowmobile, or taking to the open water with a PWC.
In addition, less expensive versions can be worn for everyday use, and even children’s riding gear is popular among thrill seekers of all ages!
As you might have guessed from this overview, there are many different types of riding gear in demand. What you need to do is determine which one will work best for your budget and focus on that instead of trying to sell everything, including the kitchen sink!
Other Factors Affecting Your Online Sales
Offering only the best-selling equipment is one factor that will contribute to your success. What are some other factors that will increase your powersports parts sales?
- Price: If you’re selling only ATV or motorcycle aftermarket products, the price point is not as important (although it still needs to be competitive). However, if you sell a wide variety of items on eBay for different powersports vehicles, you’ll need to offer a complete range of prices. What are your competitors charging for their products? What is the market demand or supply, and what’s the average selling price for each product category in that specific niche?
- Quality: The quality of your aftermarket part needs to meet expectations! If it doesn’t operate as well as the original, then you’re going to have a hard time convincing someone to buy it. What does your competition offer?
- Customer service: Customers want quick and efficient responses from auto-part sellers. How quickly do you answer questions or resolve issues? What is the warranty and return policy like for your products?
- Marketing: What is your marketing strategy? What online channels are you using to ensure that your parts sales have high visibility on eBay and other platforms? What advertising methods do you use for these products? The “build it and they will come” principle doesn’t work anymore. You have to market your products to ensure that they’re discovered!
- Packaging: This might not seem important, but it’s worth mentioning. What type of packaging does the manufacturer recommend (if any)? Are there instructions in the box? What are some of the best practices for packaging and shipping these products to customers who order on eCommerce platforms or in a retail setting?
If it seems like there are too many factors to keep track of, don’t worry! There are plenty of apps, software tools, and other resources to help you manage all the details.
Conclusion
The powersport parts that sell best on eBay include high turnover auto parts like tires, brakes, and drive belts.
Additionally, the most popular parts are the ones that can be used on more than one model of vehicle. What this means is that they’re less likely to go out-of-stock when your inventory fluctuates because you need a different part for each make or model of powersport motorcycle.
Riding gear is also popular because it appeals to many different demographics. You don’t have to offer every single piece of gear, but it’s important to know which one will work best for your store and focus on that.
Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of other factors affecting your sales. Price, product quality, customer service, marketing strategy, and packaging are all things to keep in mind. What you do will determine the future success or failure of your online business!
If you’d like some help managing vehicle fitment data for your eBay store, please contact MyFitment. We specialize in helping powersports retailers make their online auto parts store management process easier.
