Hello fellow riders. I am new to the forum and to the HD scene. I have wanted a Harley since I got my first bike when I was 12. I am now 39, and my wife has given me the go-ahead.

Below is a quote from my local HD dealer for a 2009 Dyna Super Glide Custom:

13344 - Bike Price (with Red-Hot Sunglo Paint)
345 - HD Factory Security System
149 - Documentation Fee
210 - Dealer Prep
300 - Freight
648 - Sales Tax
17 - Title Fee
1859 - Seven Year Warranty
=====
16900 - Total price out the door.

Three questions:

1. Do I need the HD Factory Security System?
2. Do I need the additional warranty?
3. Does the above sound like a decent deal?

The dealership said that they are a MSRP dealership. The owner owns
another dealership about 20 minutes away. There is another dealership
about an hour east of me and another dealership about an hour west of
me.

I am presuming that I would get the same price from the owner's second
store about 20 minutes away. Should I check with the other two out-
of-town dealers?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Rob
Mobile, AL

 

Being an MSRP dealership used to be something to brag about. Now, they all hope they can get MSRP for the bikes. Most still want at least MSRP though even though bike sales are down. However, you may find some willing to give incentives like free service or in-store credit for buying a new bike. Sometimes as much as $500 or $1000. What you have above is basically a straight MSRP deal. So you aren't getting any bargains anywhere but I don't see that you are being taken either. The only charge I don't agree with are what the dealers call "setup" or what you have as "dealer prep". However, $210 is not so bad. Some charge 5 or 6 hundred bucks and it's basically for nothing - just added profit for them. I don't like doc fees either but in the scheme of things, it's not that much. Whether or not you need the warranty is up to you. Divide the total amount of the warranty by the number of years it covers and see if that amount is worth it to you for the peace of mind of having it. Keep in mind, you get 2 years, unlimited mileage with the bike.

Security system is also your call. I didn't care for it because, the bike, after all, does have a key. And, I'm required to have insurance to keep a valid license plate in my state so I'm covered if something happens to it anyway.

 

Never hurts to check... You may want to take in your quote, give the other dealer an incentive to drop their price!

As for security, i dont have it, and wouldnt want it on my ride. If you forget you fob at home and shut your bike off, then your waiting on someone to bring you fob, if you dont set your security code in. Some people say even if they have their fob, around high current power wires, the bike will not read the fob, then you need that code again to start your bike.

If someone wants your bike, the security is not going to stop them very much. Most likely a theif is going to part your bike out, not steal it to ride around in. All it takes is 4 guys and 2 ax handles, and the bike is in the back of someone truck.

Additionally warranty never hurts, but your dealer may try to wiggle out of it and say it is not covered under warranty for such and such reason.

One thing i would suggest you leave the store with is a maintenence manual, if you wanna do your own work which is a lot cheaper, if your a mechanical person. Also doesnt hurt to have if a little issue turns up, will save you a lot of money in the long run.

 

I got them to drop
345 - HD Factory Security System
149 - Documentation Fee
210 - Dealer Prep
300 - Freight
whe i got my bike and then worked em... of course this was a few years ago and in December in chicago... no one was selling bikes... no the security is not nessassary... tell them to take it out (they will not) so they will throw it in.. i do not think the 7 year warnt is a bad idea if it is your first harley... but get them to throw it in... i got my st bob the end of 05 for just a bit over 12500... brand new black cherry, then got the SE race tuner added on and was out the door with SERT and slip on at 13,000... work them man you can get it done

- work with as many dealers as you can! that is the trick, make them work against eachother... i have the security in my bike but i tore out the stock stuff and had a buddy add in a sensitive touch as well as a db siren... it screams! in chicago people liek to take bikes, or sit on them to be funny... well now everyone in a 2 mile radious knows when my bike is being touched!

 

I could have bought my bike at this dealer, but i found a dealer who doesnt charge "dealer prep" and "freight" so that saved me some money right off the back. They didnt have the bike instock however, but they were able to trade with another dealer and had my bike ready in a day or two later.

But i would say go check the other dealers, even the one owned by the same person, that salesmen may be able to wiggle if he needs the sale. You will more than likely find another dealer to drop the price a bit just to sell you the bike. But after you do find a lower price make sure you go back to the people who quoted you first and see if they can beat the lower quote.

 

As far as shopping dealerships with the same owner, presume nothing. I shopped two local dealerships owned by the same man. [Rick Rossiter] His "Manatee River" store in Bradenton was $1200 higher than the "Rossiter's" store in Sarasota for the exact same bike.

And I had a "friend" at Manatee River. Go figure...

 

I agree with most of what has been posted, and just wanted to add, the 7 year warranty has been worth it for me already in just 3 years it has paid for itself.

While I do the majority of my own wrenching, if something breaks it is easier sometimes to let HD fix it. Such was the case when my valve seals went bad. I don't really care to have to dive into the motor or trans, anything else I do myself.
Just something to think about.

BTW, I had no questions about the warranty and they took the initiative to see if my bike was covered since it was not the dealer I bought it from. It has been worth every penny so far.

 

My opinions on question's 1 and 2 are both no. Although I guess i wouldn't mind a security system, it's not a need. I didn't do the extended waranty either, too much money.

 

I love the new security system. It works by proximity and while it won't stop a really determined thief it will stop the local kids taking bits off.
Much better than the old system
My local Triumph dealer is just across the road from the MI6 HQ in London. Couldn't figure why my Rocket wouldn't respond to the fob. The dealer told me it was all the high powered spy equipment that MI6 used. You have to go right up and point the fob under the seat. Not something I had come across before.

I'd go for the extended warranty myself but that's just a personal choice.

 

My bro-in-law has the security system, and I really don't feel like his is any more secure than mine without it. OTOH, he has had a couple of key fob incidents that were a pain. I say do like Joe said and tell them to take if off - maybe they'll just deduct it from the price. I would have a hard time paying around $2k for 5 extra years of warranty, but if you plan to put on the miles, keep it a long time, and you don't like to wrench, it might be worth it.

BTW- that's some seriously low sales tax. Are you sure that's right?