Future collectable
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,870
Likes: 499
From: Alberta
A few I would find mildly interesting in stock or near stock shape as I age myself:
1. Sportster S model; with four plugs and four pot brakes;not sure what years that covers
2. Any FXDX/T that hasn't been "clubbed" to death; FXDXT bags themselves will have deteriorated to useless with many miles
3. Origional springer TC bikes (not for me, but many like 'em)
4. I'd like a CVO Fat Bob in extra clean shape, particularly the classy brown paint job; not one of the gaudy ones.
5. Maybe an 883R; but a little slow in stock form
I see the occasional original FXR around up here and they're fugly stock in my eyes. Maybe a Shovel FXR would be unique, but slow.
As with cars; low volume unique engineering trumps merely flashy trim packages and HD is usually more about flash...
1. Sportster S model; with four plugs and four pot brakes;not sure what years that covers
2. Any FXDX/T that hasn't been "clubbed" to death; FXDXT bags themselves will have deteriorated to useless with many miles
3. Origional springer TC bikes (not for me, but many like 'em)
4. I'd like a CVO Fat Bob in extra clean shape, particularly the classy brown paint job; not one of the gaudy ones.
5. Maybe an 883R; but a little slow in stock form
I see the occasional original FXR around up here and they're fugly stock in my eyes. Maybe a Shovel FXR would be unique, but slow.
As with cars; low volume unique engineering trumps merely flashy trim packages and HD is usually more about flash...
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,125
Likes: 51,443
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Yes they will and two guesses what people will look at in a crowded parking lot every time. Twin cams have become the honda's of the Harley line they are so plentiful.
Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Apr 26, 2016 at 06:54 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,897
Likes: 29,874
From: PNW
I agree that the so called flops like the XLCR end up being collectibles because of the short run and low sales numbers. I bought a Bad boy (3 year flop run) just as interest seemed to be rising and did pretty well on it. That said, for the fuel injected era, if pressed I would say a Cross Bones or some of the "standards" like an EG std. It's tough to find a good deal on either of them vs their contemporaries.
Yeah, but you never know. Not that I care for this comparison as a TC owner, but think about a Ford Maverick, or even a Pinto. They made a lot of them. Disposable pos's. No longevity built into them at all. Despite the numbers produced, when's the last time you saw a Maverick going down the road? Maybe different in CA. Here in the rust belt they have mostly returned to the earth.
So take this glut of not so special bikes that are in every garage in suburban America. Eventually they'll end up as a beater and then trashed. Over the course of time they might actually go back up in value. Factor in inflation and they may even be worth more than we paid for them. I figure in about 150 years, I should be able to do alright!
So take this glut of not so special bikes that are in every garage in suburban America. Eventually they'll end up as a beater and then trashed. Over the course of time they might actually go back up in value. Factor in inflation and they may even be worth more than we paid for them. I figure in about 150 years, I should be able to do alright!
Last edited by nevada72; Apr 26, 2016 at 06:54 PM.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
panZ -- How do you translate "mean nothing to me" to loath. Not synonymous in any way.
If it's a H-D I like it. I just don't consider them meaningful to me to collect. I much prefer my Street Bob with the 120R to any early Harley early model.
The value to me is now when I ride them 30 to 40K a year. Absolutely priceless.
Gotta go now to pack my Road King to head out in the am to Vegas then Laughlin for the River Run. TC's have taken me from ocean to ocean several times, Key West to the Arctic Circle, 49 States and most of Canada without a single issue. That so far is over 300K and at about 50 mpg. TC's yesterday, TC's today and TC's tomorrow!
If it's a H-D I like it. I just don't consider them meaningful to me to collect. I much prefer my Street Bob with the 120R to any early Harley early model.
The value to me is now when I ride them 30 to 40K a year. Absolutely priceless.
Gotta go now to pack my Road King to head out in the am to Vegas then Laughlin for the River Run. TC's have taken me from ocean to ocean several times, Key West to the Arctic Circle, 49 States and most of Canada without a single issue. That so far is over 300K and at about 50 mpg. TC's yesterday, TC's today and TC's tomorrow!
Last edited by lh4x4; Apr 26, 2016 at 07:26 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,125
Likes: 51,443
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
I agree that the so called flops like the XLCR end up being collectibles because of the short run and low sales numbers. I bought a Bad boy (3 year flop run) just as interest seemed to be rising and did pretty well on it. That said, for the fuel injected era, if pressed I would say a Cross Bones or some of the "standards" like an EG std. It's tough to find a good deal on either of them vs their contemporaries.
Yeah, but you never know. Not that I care for this comparison as a TC owner, but think about a Ford Maverick, or even a Pinto. They made a lot of them. Disposable pos's. No longevity built into them at all. Despite the numbers produced, when's the last time you saw a Maverick going down the road? Maybe different in CA. Here in the rust belt they have mostly returned to the earth.
So take this glut of not so special bikes that are in every garage in suburban America. Eventually they'll end up as a beater and then trashed. Over the course of time they might actually go back up in value. Factor in inflation and they may even be worth more than we paid for them. I figure in about 150 years, I should be able to do alright!
Yeah, but you never know. Not that I care for this comparison as a TC owner, but think about a Ford Maverick, or even a Pinto. They made a lot of them. Disposable pos's. No longevity built into them at all. Despite the numbers produced, when's the last time you saw a Maverick going down the road? Maybe different in CA. Here in the rust belt they have mostly returned to the earth.
So take this glut of not so special bikes that are in every garage in suburban America. Eventually they'll end up as a beater and then trashed. Over the course of time they might actually go back up in value. Factor in inflation and they may even be worth more than we paid for them. I figure in about 150 years, I should be able to do alright!
Timelines about right... maybe
It started with the evo's but the twin cams sealed the deal , while both are great lines and twinkies have a lot of different styles mass production and marketing has just killed the soul in harley's, what happens when a niche becomes the common mainstream.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 44
From: VA
I don't know about investment wise
But as previously mentioned springer ! Bad Boy springer, 100th anniv, or 105th anniv. Springer. Seemed to read somewhere the 105th anniv was a fairly low production number for softail custom sprinters as compared to other years of course all should be pristine and stock or close to stock
But as previously mentioned springer ! Bad Boy springer, 100th anniv, or 105th anniv. Springer. Seemed to read somewhere the 105th anniv was a fairly low production number for softail custom sprinters as compared to other years of course all should be pristine and stock or close to stock
Last edited by rowan; Apr 26, 2016 at 07:55 PM.