I have been reading this forum for some time now and I see this a lot, many 883 owners like to say that it is cheaper to buy a New 883 and then down the road convert it up to a 1250 than it is to buy a 1200 from the start.

The aforementioned is true but the resale on the bike would not reflect the same price as a standard 1200 would fetch, in fact one would think the 883 with major motor work done might even be less on resale than a standard 883. Even thou the 883 was pumped up to a 1250 on the pink slip and registration it would still reflect the 883 size and I would have think that most buyers would be very careful when buying a bike that someone performed major work to the motor, that in some cases might even lower the resale value of the bike from the standard 883?

The old saying when it pertains to Harley's is that all the mod's we do to the bike really has no barring when it comes time to sell the bike, whatever the resale value is we can ask a little more and maybe get it but being that the 883/1250 is still an 883 on paper I wonder if it would be a tough sell trying to get some of the funds back. So on a resale point of view I think the 1200 might be worth the extra dollars at the start if someone was buying a new bike..

What do you think??

 

I agree. I would be very leery of any upgraded bike. I know if I did the upgrade it would be perfect, but how can I trust anyone else. And I assume others think the same about their skills versus me.

John

 

I went the other way when i bought mine..
I was strictly looking for a 883 / 1200 conversion. In canada you cannot drive without insurance, and insurance goes up like crazy as soon as you cross the 1000 cc mark. So i save money every month having a "883"
And up here no one wants a 883.. they sit on internet sale sites for months.. but the 1200's go fast.

 

I agree with John and Dog812 both,i have a 1200 and they wanted 1100 dollars for my insurance with collision down here in Canada.

 

Aw Jeez, if you are going to build a 1200, make it run like a raped ape and ride the crap out of it. It's a Sportster, resale isn't that great. If you turn it into a little beast with some improved h.p. and good sounding pipes, when you go to get rid of it, someone will want it, but if you deck it out right, you will want to keep it even if you get a bigger bike down the road.

 

When I bought mine about 3 years ago, used Rubbermount 883s were about $5000, 1200s were 7 or 8.

I wanted a 1200, but didn't want to spend the $, so I found my conversion for $6000. So I paid a bit more than an 883, but not what a factory 1200 goes for. The previous owner took a hit on what he'd spent on it.

But, that's what happens when you make changes or upgrades. The market gets much smaller. I think most buyers are looking for close to a dead stock bike.

I've spent quite a lot in upgrades since then. But I just consider that a cost of ownership, I want them, I enjoy them. I don't expect to see a penny back for them when it's time to move on to the next bike.

 

This applies to new bikes. If one is worried about $$ trades valve ect. Buy used. You loose your azz buying a new sporty. Walk out the door with it and you're 2 grand in the hole. Lol

 

Well said! My chick bike was 2800. 4000 in engine work. That's not even 7 grand yet. It's still worth 2800 if I where to sell it. I don't care.

 

Resale for any seems so varied from one location to another. Anything with major engine mods will be a loss and maybe harder to sell as said. Ib I agree with you. I think a stock engine with a stage 1 883 will sell faster than a converted to 1200-1250 simply from a reliability standpoint. Sure the conversion could have been done perfectly to the t but unless you have had a dealer do work most will be hesitant if they plan on long trips. Again a dealer may not do the work as well as a good diy mechanic with the knowledge and skill. Buying the stock 1200 is better for resale but the market has a lot of bikes for sale. I PD $6500 for my 1200 in august and where I am I looked for almost 3 months before pulling the trigger on mine. Seemed 7k was starting price for a 1200 efi private party. Dealer was mid sevens. 883's were in low 6 range. Not low enough to justify. I waited till I found low miles and no damage with a color I had never seen on a sporty. I didn't even look at 883's simply because I wanted the power of 1200 and my wife would have killed me if I went ***** deep into a 883. Math wise it would have cost more to get 883 and convert for me than go with 1200.

 

I wouldnt buy a modded bike would have no problem modding my own. I never worry about resale.