General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

I dread the buying process.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 31, 2015 | 07:32 PM
  #1  
Cjacks's Avatar
Cjacks
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Salem, Ohio
Default I dread the buying process.

Since I have gotten older (65) I have really come to dread the process one must go thru to buy a new car, truck, or motorcycle. I returned from bikeweek with the desire to get a new bike. I currently have a 2013 Road King and was thinking about doing some mods like lowering it and converting from solo to two up setup. Then I heard about the new Ultra Low bikes. I don't want to spend a bunch of money on the Road King then trade it in next year. After much thought I decided to engage two dealers that I have worked with in the past. Today I decided to start the price negotiating process. After figuring out what I wanted or expected to pay and the value of my trade, I ask them what they could do. Keep in mind they aren't aware of my expectations yet. We are miles apart and I am in for the biggest bunch of bs since my last colonoscopy. Dealer #1 wants $85 a month more than I was expecting. Dealer #2 said he wasn't sure he wanted my 2-1/2 year old RK with 5000 miles in on trade, he said he might give me $13000 trade, but when he told me he wanted $435 for freight and $650 for set up I lost interest. We didn't even get to what he wanted for the new bike. Here we go, I just hate this process. I barely have myself convinced I want this new bike, let alone convincing them that I will only pay a certain reasonable amount. I have the deal I want down on paper and will probably call them tomorrow and start the fight. They do this every day, and I would rather take 3 lashes than go thru this process. Maybe it is just old age setting in, oh well I'll let you know how it goes.
 
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2015 | 07:41 PM
  #2  
dribble's Avatar
dribble
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 459
From: Here and now
Default

You're looking at it the wrong way. I don't consider it a fight. I consider it a game. I enjoy it and I go in with the intention of winning.
 
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2015 | 07:53 PM
  #3  
Ran When Parked's Avatar
Ran When Parked
Novice
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Galveston, Texas
Default

Originally Posted by dribble
You're looking at it the wrong way. I don't consider it a fight. I consider it a game. I enjoy it and I go in with the intention of winning.
Right on. They do it everyday but I've done it enough to know what they will come at me with before they do it. They're not clever.
 
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2015 | 08:15 PM
  #4  
IdahoHacker's Avatar
IdahoHacker
Club Member
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,468
Likes: 3,572
From: Idaho
Riders Club Member
Default

Somebody needs to start BikeMax.
 
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2015 | 08:18 PM
  #5  
C908's Avatar
C908
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,863
Likes: 55
From: Sedalia,Missouri
Default

Several things you said make me want to tell you to reconsider your decision. You own a 2013 Roadking with only 5,000 miles, first red flag. Talking about monthly payments second red flag. The Road King is a great bike and will do anything you need it to do. If you want to lower it, not a problem. If you want a fairing, not a problem. Save all that money you will lose if you trade. Get on that Road King and ride !
 
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2015 | 08:19 PM
  #6  
dickey's Avatar
dickey
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,980
Likes: 6,107
From: Florida
Riders Club Member
Default

Funny, but when I first saw your post, the very first word in the paragraph I noticed was "colonoscopy" & knew instantly it was about some dealer bullshit charges.

That's why Dickey don't buy nothing new--buy lo mile mint condition used. THAT'S the way to go.
 
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2015 | 08:30 PM
  #7  
formula223's Avatar
formula223
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Ormond Beach, FL
Default

I know many people don't like this idea but have you considered a slightly used bike? There truly are people out there who have bought an Ultra or Limited and suddenly realized after only a few miles the bike just isn't for them. They get excited every time they see one go past, run out and buy one, then find out its not a Dyna. So they go back to the dealer and find they can only get 2/3's or less of what they paid for it just a couple of months ago.

Finding a bike with less than 3K miles on it for six or seven grand less than new is not as rare as one may think.
 
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2015 | 09:40 PM
  #8  
Cjacks's Avatar
Cjacks
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Salem, Ohio
Default

dribble, thanks for the advice. I like your point of view.

C908, First red flag, do you know how much it would cost to turn a red RK into a
Amber/charcoal Ultra. Second red flag, i could pay cash but prefer to
make payments on my toys. Third red flag, I buy Harley's because they
are supposed to hold their value. My problem is not affordability, it's
dealing w/ the bs sales crap. They don't call em stealerships for nothing.

Formula 223, Yes I am considering what you are suggesting. But since I am
Looking to trade I am back talking to people who can't be trusted
trying to buy a used machine that has been thru Gosh knows
what. And it doesn't help to know they probably stole it from
somebody.

Like I said, I want a new bike I just dread the process. Since I am practicing for tomorrow, notice I didn't say I needed a new bike. And C908 don't take my comments personally. I appreciate you trying to give somebody good advice, but it's not about the money. Like dribble said, it's all about winning. OMG, I am starting to sound like Charlie Sheen, thanks a lot dribble!
 

Last edited by Cjacks; Mar 31, 2015 at 09:46 PM.
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 07:06 AM
  #9  
rbert0005's Avatar
rbert0005
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 138
Likes: 9
From: Mass
Default

I usually figure out what number is fair ,to both parties, and give them an offer.


Then I ask if they can do better. If it doesn't work for me I walk.


Someone usually calls back. Oh yeah, wait till the last day of the month. Quotas, you know.


Bob
 
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 07:19 AM
  #10  
Next In Line's Avatar
Next In Line
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,427
Likes: 164
From: Home
Default

Why do people make buying a new car, truck, motorcycle, etc. harder than it has to be?

The last 2 motorcycles I bought went like this:

ME: What is the lowest out the door price on this motorcycle?
DEALER: ______

If I didn't like it, I thanked them for their time and went out the door because I didn't want it bad enough.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:42 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE