For those of you following the saga I've been posting in the Sportster section, things have taken a change. For those of you that haven't, here's some background...

My wife wants to get me a bike for my 50th B'day. I was looking at a 97 Softail custom for $8750. She said she couldn't afford that one and it sent me looking at Sportsters. Today we went shopping and following some advice given me in that thread. I had her sit 2 up on both a Sportster and on a Dyna. The Sportster is no longer an option...lol!

We still cannot afford the Softail because it's being sold by an individual, and the amount of down payment we have puts the monthly payments over the budget (Damn... I really liked that ike too). However a bike I had not considered was offered by the local dealer... A 03 FXD Superglide with 5500 miles. It has a few customizations on it... Shin guards, fancy grips, cruise control... I sat on the bike and I swear it stood itself up! Wifey joined me on the back and felt comfortable on it. So here's my questions...

I was quoted $10,955 after hagling. Is that too much? There was another couple looking at it at the same time, but they were just "shopping" as were we, but it may go fast. Is this something I should make a move on or should I hold out for maybe a better deal on a Softail or a Wide glide? Or... could I even expect to find a beter deal? I've been to the Harley site and checked out MSRP, but these are used bikes, so I'm not sure.

Help! Please...lol.

*edit*

We're going looking again tomorrow, but I don't think I'll find anything any better for what we can afford.

 

Hi Axholio,
From the sounds of it that 03 superglide seems to be a pretty good price. Especially if it was customized at all.. I have a 2000 superglide and the "retail" is like 12k. so an 03 at 10k sounds like a deal.. And if it comfortable that is even better. I like the Wide glides better as well but much more demand for them so they tend to be a bit more expensive.
I am fairly new to the Harley seen so I hope some other chime in to help you out.. just wanted to post my opinion in hopes to help you out..

Good Luck

Harpoonhttp://www.bunnfamily.org/hdfuser/Harpoon/

 

Thanks Harpoon! I should add that the sales guy gept harping on the fact that it's a 100th Anniversary model. Is that worth all the hype?

It had a tiny back rest for the passenger so that'll have to be added.

Anyone else... please?

(No... I'm not anxious! I want it all and I WANT IT NOW!!! LOL!)

Mike

 

As long as the bike is dry.. no leaks, and has service records......
Sounds like a good deal to me !

Last year I paid 10k for my 98 dyna with 13k mileage...... and my Bank was HAPPY to do it !
( With the extras they said it came in around 12k in their estimate. )

You can always fins a shop to give you a mech. report for the bike, and sometimes thats a wise $ spent.

Anyways.....

Budds...........

* PS.... me and the wife ride 2-Up ALOT and the ride is plenty comfortable. *

 

I would say that is close, I would consider 5500 miles low.
Plus the few options you mentioned, just adds to the price.
KBB.com quotes 10950 as Suggested retail Value. If it has
been well taken care of, I could see paying 10500. Offer 10200,
see if they want to make a sale. I am in FL, the dealer's around
here have alot of bikes on the floor, new and used. I would say it is
a buyers market.

Good Luck!!
MW
2002 FXDX

 

My friend...I feel for you. I, too, get all giddy with the thought of getting something new..especially when it's a motorcycle or other motorized toy. My first question is, what is your monthly budget maximum? I just bought a DWG and although it's paid off now (I was able to sell off some stock and pay it off in full..just got the title today matter of fact) the first few months were handled with a payment. I know I paid higher than MSRP, but that's pretty normal with Harleys. I also added quite a few accessories during the purchase and that was incorporated in the loan. In the end, I think I owed HD credit somewhere's around 22 large. That put my monthly payment around 325 (I think..wifey does the bills
So with all that said, your monthly budget is a biggie. I always owned metrics before I could afford the harley. I figured that if I was going to buy a HD, I would hold out until I could afford the model I wanted. I'm still not sure if that was the right move, because I ended up spending quite a bit on a Jap bike that got me nothing in return. If you're already looking at a Harley, you're doing it right no matter how you look at it. But I will say...if you are going to take the plunge, make sure you get what you really want..because you're going to see a lot of Harleys that you really, REALLY like. You don't want to start second guessing your decision. I certainly don't. I love the wide glides, and always have...and now I own one! Good luck man!
BTW...The '03 models probably have my favorite paint jobs of all the Harleys.

Todd

 

Great questions...

Here's what I was thinking.

There's 1 red flag and it's too late to call, so I'll have to do that tomorrow. I went to the HD site and checked the retail. It's $12,195. Using their payment calculator a brand new Super with a $2000 down shows payments of $183.77 at 9% (72 months) (which is what the salesman was using for an estimate). He quoted me payments of $195-200 for 72 months with $3000 down. So something is wrong with this. He's managed to hike up the price bigtime somewhere. He did offer the 4 year/unlimited milage warranty, but I was under the impression this was included in the $10,955. This has been troubling me some. He said it has current tags, so I don't pay that. Where's the other few thousand coming from? It's almost like my down payment isn't even figured in there.

*shrugs*

The monthly budget is the determining factor ultimately in what I end up with. Ideally we'd like the payments as close to $150 as possible. Definately not over $200. We should have outstanding credit. My house is payed off, and we owe nothing but everyday bills. Nothing on the credit cards, and never a late or no pay.

As far as what I want... I wanted either a Wide or a Softail Standard and never even considered the FXD, but after checking it out 1st hand and getting a feel of it I do like it a lot.

 

Hi Mike, welcome from New Zealand. You are closer to it than I am, so I guess it is something for you to figure out. Just be aware that 12 months from now you will be able to say -what a lot of fun wifey and I have had.

 

You won't be disappointed with a fxd. I've had 2 of them (a 98 and an 01) and since then have had an electraglide, sporty, and now a softail....and guess what. My next bike will again be a fxd. Definately my favorite HD bike. It's extremely versatile. Throw on some bags and a backrest/rack and nice touring (sundowner is great) seat and hit the road. My wife and I rode 2800 miles in 5 days and we weren't sore at all. We couldn't believe it when we got home. Awesome bike. Even after the e-glide my wife still says the dyna was her fav. (and mine too)
Personally I'm not a big fan of the 03 paint but that JMO.
Be sure to find out where they've got that extra few grand hidden before putting your name of the paper. Good luck.

 

Yeah Haksaw... paint isn't an issue at this point. Everything I can afford has been basic black...lol!