I just wanted to share my experience with the Dealership trade-in process. I bought my bike from this dealership 2 years ago. Recently I decided to upgrade my bike to a used Street glide. They came out to look at my bike for trade-in. Now keep in mind i put a few upgrades on it and when I bought my bike they made it sound like it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. When they told me what it was worth now, i was floored. My bike was now worth $8000 less then when i bought it 2yrs. ago. So without bringing a lot of cash to the table and take a huge loss on my bike.There would be No deal. When i bought my HD they told me that Harley's retain there value. You will be able to sell it for close to what you paid for it. Well i know now that this is one big lie. This experience has really shaken my beliefs in Harley. Hope you have a better time at this then me.

 

Welcome to the HD Forum from the sunny shores of SoCal.

 

Maybe its just the dealer trying to screw you? Iv always heard that Harleys hold their value pretty well. My guess, either the dealers trying to lo-ball you or the whole "holding their value" thing is geared more towards private selling.

 

If you look a KBB retail values for the first 5 years after purchase, Harley's do retain a lot of value. Trade-in will kill you though. Better to try to sell to a private party than trade it in.

 

Buy low sell high...

 

Trades usually happen like this, even from the original dealer. Welcome from Oregon.

 

It used to be the case that the ratio of supply to demand was balanced differently and you could retain most of the value from bike to bike. Of course that was before a million Evos hit the road in the 80s and 90s. Now Harleys are everywhere and not nearly as in demand.

I went many years, basically riding for free, but not anymore.

 

You need to find a better dealer, I trade in my 11 v-rod for a 13 ultra limited, got what a paid for the V-rod 18 months before.

 

I just traded my 2010 Deluxe for a new 2012 Road Glide Custom (same dealership and salesperson) and got what I feel was great money on my trade. Dealers are people too. Some are honest and some just suck.

 

The days of a Harley being an "investment" ended 20 years ago.

The market is flooded with Harley's.

Might as well keep and enjoy.

~Joe