The seller.

 

Guess I am trying to figure how a special paint job and medallion will ever translate to "big" money. And they made what some 300K units. Think you might be waiting a very long time for a return on your "investment".

Just do not see how an otherwise normal bike could/will ever translate to a big ticket item along the lines of something like a 36 Knuckle and a few other later models where MoCo was intent on improving the design, engine, frame and ride characteristics and capabilities.

Even with that said there are exceptions for whatever reason... limited production and oddities like the Shovel Boatails and Heritage Edition models.

Obviously there are others...

 

A few months ago I was asked about color likes and dislikes and was able to provide my preferences as a member of the HD Advisory Panel.

Anyone can sign up and you receive a monthly web based survey via email asking your opinion on many different aspects of the MoCo from marketing considerations to bike preferences to color schemes.

Sign up from the HD website if you would like to participate. Each survey takes from 10-15 minutes and while they "pick your brain" with some tick a box questions, other questions require written input via a text box.

I guess it's an opportunity to have your say-- along with a hundred thousand or more other "Advisors". I find it interesting anyway...

 

In the "For What Its Worth" catagory. This information concerns the 2003 anniversary edition model year;

"Before the opening bell, Milwaukee-based Harley (HDI: news, chart, profile) reported net income of $202 million, or 66 cents per share. That is up from the $144.3 million and 47 cents of a year ago and handily above the 58-cents consensus estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call.

The profit figures are a company record, Harley said, as were revenues, which climbed almost 22 percent to $1.22 billion.

"Our U.S. dealer network sold more motorcycles in this quarter than in any other quarter in our 100-year history," said CEO Jeffrey Bleustein in the earnings release. "Retail sales grew more than 14 percent compared with last year and outpaced our wholesale shipments by over 11,000 units."

Revenue from motorcycles was $955.4 million, up 25.7 percent, as worldwide shipments rose 16 percent to 76,025 units.

The company beat its second quarter production target by 600 units, and is bumping it full year target from 290,000 to 290,600 - a 10.2 percent jump over last year."

Now, Rumor has it that the Luxury Rich Red Pearl models were the rarest. However, I'm to lazy to confirm or deny the rumor.

 

My 'Bones is worth a ton of money to me!

To others, eh... not so much...

 

I see the '03s all over the place in the Phoenix area. There's no way those will ever be rare enough to be worth anything more than any other similar bike.

 

I've never understood the "investment" thing.... be it car, truck, or motorcycle... those that think this way tend to leave it in the garage and not use it.. and that seems blasphemy to me. I mean, it's got wheels on it, so it's meant to be ridden.

Nothings sadder than a 2003 HD with 50 miles on it.

 

Guy I know has a 95th FL serial #1 of whatever they made, I think it's less than 1,000 and only has 7,000 miles on it.

Last summer he decided he was going to sell it for a bunch money.....He still has it. Found out you can pick em up on ebay all day for less than $10,000.00

 

That was either April Fool, or it means they ran out of ideas for ugly paint schemes.

 

Sadly "Anniversary" model means nothing. It has become a joke. Now every 5 years you can expect it to be another anniversary year. It didn't used to be that way, but that is what it has become.

For what it's worth, I owned a 100th year anniversary Ultra Classic. It was a great bike, but just like all the rest. Aside from the paint scheme there wasn't anything unique that made it a collectors bike. I think if Harley ended it there and stopped producing anniversary bikes every 5 years, then the bike would surely appreciate over time. Something like a 25th or 50th anniversary bike makes a lot more sense and would ensure those that own those bikes would see a nice increase in value. But lets be clear on something...Harley doesn't crank out anniversary bikes every 5 years to benefit the collectors among us, it's pure profit driven. Nothing wrong with making a profit, but this marketing ploy of theirs has become lame, because it's so patently obvious. A quick read through this thread should point out to somebody in Milwaukee what Harley owners think of the idea.

One last thing...the bike I'm riding in the picture below is an '08 which happens to be anniversary year. You'll notice I didn't buy the super duper, whippity dippity doo, limited, special edition, highly exclusive "anniversary model."