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Harleys holding Resale Value = Myth
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
An unwise buyer pays retail, then adds a bunch of worthless mods, making his bike not only cost more, but decreasing its broad appeal.
My '09 cost me $9k two years ago. It's still worth what I paid for it. So it has held its value.
My '09 cost me $9k two years ago. It's still worth what I paid for it. So it has held its value.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,114
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver B.C. Canada
That's true if you buy a 4 yo Harley and keep it low mileage, the depreciation will be minimum. Think about it, if you don't ride your Harley enough, what's the point of buying one? Motorcycle is an expense not an investment. 
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 14
From: navarre ohio
a few years ago, used HD's sold for more then new ones.. they started flooding the market, plus nothing is as good as it use to be lately.. unless you buy new, you will usually break even..i have never lost any money on a HD. never payed the going price ether..
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 637
Likes: 3
From: Iowa
in 1980 my stepdad bought a 79 FLH he kept it untill '05 when he traded it in on a new bike they gave him $500 dollars more for it then what he paid for it in 1980. I would say it held its value pretty well.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,411
Likes: 22
From: Connecticut
Sammi
Last edited by Sammi; Apr 13, 2012 at 06:21 AM.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,250
Likes: 36
From: Montana
the days of owning a harley for 5 years , tricking it out and getting what you originally paid for it are long gone. That said what other bike can you ride and then just put a new engine in it when it wears out? My brother with a yamaha had to sell his bike at 25,000 miles because you have to re-build the top end now at that point and every 27,000 miles after. Harleys hold there value in that you can fix them when they break and rebuild them when they get old . Not many other bikes you can do that with and have a strong running reliable bike.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 415
Likes: 2
From: Wichita Falls, Texas
Some do hold their value
Just the other day, I had a dealer offer me $10,300 trade for my '06 FXDi35. Another offered $9400. Granted, they would never come down on the WG I was looking at, but still I was rather surprised at the trade value of my ride.
Part of the reason for the high offers is the fact that it is a "special" edition with low miles and is in showroom condition.
Still, it's nice to know it is keeping it's value rather nicely.
Part of the reason for the high offers is the fact that it is a "special" edition with low miles and is in showroom condition.
Still, it's nice to know it is keeping it's value rather nicely.