Used 2017 bikes.......
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: SW Ohio
I guess the differentiation most people are making is that the first owner of a machine originally bought it to keep and probably didn't beat on it (no guarantee). A demo bike is more likely to have been run hard in it's early life by potential customers who had no intention of making THAT bike their own. I mean lets face it, you've seen the questions new owners ask here, geezus, they park them on carpet in a heated garages. That same guy, 8 times out of 10 will take a demo ride on a bike with 10 miles on it and wind the throttle to the stop or miss a gear dramatically and hit the rev limiter.
I'm not saying it's true in every case but that's what people think when they hear the word "demo". I don't care either way, I only buy several year old garage queens now. But in any case, any bike that isn't a 0-5 mile bike sitting on the showroom floor is worth much, much less to me and a lot of other buyers. The fact that it's 2k cheaper than one that hasn't been used as a demo isn't even close for me.
I'm not saying it's true in every case but that's what people think when they hear the word "demo". I don't care either way, I only buy several year old garage queens now. But in any case, any bike that isn't a 0-5 mile bike sitting on the showroom floor is worth much, much less to me and a lot of other buyers. The fact that it's 2k cheaper than one that hasn't been used as a demo isn't even close for me.
Last edited by Campy Roadie; Jan 18, 2017 at 01:39 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
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Dealers are supposed to put 5-10 miles on a new bike as part of the PDI.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
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From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Mine had 4 miles on it when I picked it up. I deliberately took the stop & go scenic route home just to give it a proper break in for the first 75mi.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 795
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From: Manasquan NJ
A dealer in PA had a 2017 Ultra Classic with something like 300 miles on it I think. It was around 3 or 4 K under MSR. He said guy bought it and traded it for an Ultra Limited. I would have jumped on that if I didn't also want a Limited.
Banned
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,820
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From: Northern California
I'm probably in the the minority here, but I just don't have the lack of mechanical sympathy to abuse a new motor. Dealer bike or mine.
I rode a brand-new M8 and I doubt I got over 3000 rpm. That being said, I did notice it's way torquier than my breathed on 103. I wanted to check out the linked brakes, too, but I can't hammer new brakes either.
I WILL ride an M8 with a few thousand miles on it before I buy one, if I get that far. Then I'll twist a grip and grab a handle and stomp on a pedal. But not on a new bike that's not mine.
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Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,862
Likes: 17,918
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Originally Posted by DanHappy
Its weird how people will never buy a demo bike but will buy a used one. Weird. It is potentially the same thing. Now all demo bikes are trashed.
If three bikes are identical and same model year and one is used, one is a demo, and one is new, which one would you buy if they are all the same price?
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 11,630
Likes: 990
From: NC
Maybe I missed it, but has anyone on here ever bought a Demo or a Rental and had trouble out of it?
You know, something like some of the things guys on here have alluded to, like over-revving, speed-shifting or hitting the rev limiter???????
Some of the bikes I've seen that were rentals or demo's were dogged pretty good.
First rental I ever rented, the SM said, "look it over real good before you leave", because anything that is wrong with it when it comes back, "I'm" (me) responsible for..........
You know, something like some of the things guys on here have alluded to, like over-revving, speed-shifting or hitting the rev limiter???????
Some of the bikes I've seen that were rentals or demo's were dogged pretty good.
First rental I ever rented, the SM said, "look it over real good before you leave", because anything that is wrong with it when it comes back, "I'm" (me) responsible for..........
Last edited by not a sock; Jan 19, 2017 at 08:50 PM.