HD Depreciation Debacle 2025
Novice
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 16
Likes: 2
From: Palm Coast, FL
It heavily depends on the exact car/brand etc.
Market always define it's value. Always. Let's say Porsches (except SUVs) has a very low (maybe even lowest for all mass production cars) depreciation rate from all luxorious brands, same with Lexus (prices for used high milage LX just unbelivable). Maseratti at the same time going down faster than a crashing plane.
The thing is used market expose a real value of the vehicle and a real demand on it.
Also one thing catched me in this discussion - comparation of Harley and lux car brands. Is Harley really a luxury brand? Should it be a luxury? Was this an idea?
Luxury is always limited. You cannot have 3 dealers per county for a luxury niche (motorcycle is always a niche product if we are not talking about regions where it is the only available cheap enough way to drive somewhere) product, it is by the definition something which has limited availablity. It will ended up by moving everyone to ride Honda (nothing bad about Hondas btw) or Indian (I am sure they will do all they can to move riders to their brand this year, just because they are the most close competitors, btw they already started by offering 3y/0% APR loans). Even if you love the brand - how many people can sacrifice few grands (sometimes ten or more) just to stay with it?
Looks like all the vehicle manufactureres did the same mistake - Jeep, Ford, probably Harley now. They are trying to shift to the luxury world but forgot to study how it works and now struggling with overpriced inventory and unclear positioning on the market.
Market always define it's value. Always. Let's say Porsches (except SUVs) has a very low (maybe even lowest for all mass production cars) depreciation rate from all luxorious brands, same with Lexus (prices for used high milage LX just unbelivable). Maseratti at the same time going down faster than a crashing plane.
The thing is used market expose a real value of the vehicle and a real demand on it.
Also one thing catched me in this discussion - comparation of Harley and lux car brands. Is Harley really a luxury brand? Should it be a luxury? Was this an idea?
Luxury is always limited. You cannot have 3 dealers per county for a luxury niche (motorcycle is always a niche product if we are not talking about regions where it is the only available cheap enough way to drive somewhere) product, it is by the definition something which has limited availablity. It will ended up by moving everyone to ride Honda (nothing bad about Hondas btw) or Indian (I am sure they will do all they can to move riders to their brand this year, just because they are the most close competitors, btw they already started by offering 3y/0% APR loans). Even if you love the brand - how many people can sacrifice few grands (sometimes ten or more) just to stay with it?
Looks like all the vehicle manufactureres did the same mistake - Jeep, Ford, probably Harley now. They are trying to shift to the luxury world but forgot to study how it works and now struggling with overpriced inventory and unclear positioning on the market.
Last edited by Onlinehead; Mar 17, 2025 at 02:12 PM. Reason: luxury
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,621
Likes: 1,624
From: Eastern Ohio
It heavily depends on the exact car/brand etc.
Market always define it's value. Always. Let's say Porsches (except SUVs) has a very low (maybe even lowest for all mass production cars) depreciation rate from all luxorious brands, same with Lexus (prices for used high milage LX just unbelivable). Maseratti at the same time going down faster than a crashing plane.
The thing is used market expose a real value of the vehicle and a real demand on it.
Also one thing catched me in this discussion - comparation of Harley and lux car brands. Is Harley really a luxery brand? Should it be a luxery? Was this an idea?
Luxery is always limited. You cannot have 3 dealers per county for a luxery niche (motorcycle is always a niche product if we are not talking about regions where it is the only available cheap enough way to drive somewhere) product, it is by the definition something which has limited availablity. It will ended up by moving everyone to ride Honda (nothing bad about Hondas btw) or Indian (I am sure they will do all they can to move riders to their brand this year, just because they are the most close competitors, btw they already started by offering 3y/0% APR loans). Even if you love the brand - how many people can sacrifice few grands (sometimes ten or more) just to stay with it?
Looks like all the vehicle manufactureres did the same mistake - Jeep, Ford, probably Harley now. They are trying to shift to the luxery world but forgot to study how it works and now struggling with overpriced inventory and unclear positioning on the market.
Market always define it's value. Always. Let's say Porsches (except SUVs) has a very low (maybe even lowest for all mass production cars) depreciation rate from all luxorious brands, same with Lexus (prices for used high milage LX just unbelivable). Maseratti at the same time going down faster than a crashing plane.
The thing is used market expose a real value of the vehicle and a real demand on it.
Also one thing catched me in this discussion - comparation of Harley and lux car brands. Is Harley really a luxery brand? Should it be a luxery? Was this an idea?
Luxery is always limited. You cannot have 3 dealers per county for a luxery niche (motorcycle is always a niche product if we are not talking about regions where it is the only available cheap enough way to drive somewhere) product, it is by the definition something which has limited availablity. It will ended up by moving everyone to ride Honda (nothing bad about Hondas btw) or Indian (I am sure they will do all they can to move riders to their brand this year, just because they are the most close competitors, btw they already started by offering 3y/0% APR loans). Even if you love the brand - how many people can sacrifice few grands (sometimes ten or more) just to stay with it?
Looks like all the vehicle manufactureres did the same mistake - Jeep, Ford, probably Harley now. They are trying to shift to the luxery world but forgot to study how it works and now struggling with overpriced inventory and unclear positioning on the market.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 392
Likes: 258
From: Florida
I was thinking along the lines of trading up to a new Road Glide when I saw the 117 powered 2024s come out. But having recently retired, the thought of spending that kind of money makes me want to vomit! Now that my 2020 Heritage is worth relatively little but paid for and in excellent condition, I'll just continue to enjoy it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 35,833
Likes: 38,737
From: Post Falls, ID
I was at the Spokane motorcycle show last Friday, all the makes and brands were showing their new bikes, including Lone Wolf Hardley Davidson. I havent been inside a HD dealership for a long time so I was interested in browsing the 30 bikes they had a on display. As soon as I started "looking", I was pounced on by 3 salespeople. None of the other brands bothered me. I guess my gray hair and beard meant I was a serious prospective buyer. No thanks, just looking, those salespeople at Harley are hungry and hurting. Told them I had an old Wide Glide, none asked me to trade it in.
PS, no Livewire on display, where did they go?
PS, no Livewire on display, where did they go?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 90
From: People's Republik of Kalifornia
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 201
Likes: 59
From: Cedar Rapids Iowa
My 24 will be a keeper, yes I want the 117 and those tubeless spoked rims. A salesman friend of mine said they dont do book anymore its some regional website that reflects what the market value is. Looking on Market place there is a ton of low mileage HDs and other brands out there for a very reasonable price.
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