I’ve been keeping my eye out for a Low Rider for a little while, so when one showed up at a dealer near my job, pretty close to my specs, I got moving. I knew I’d get hosed on the trade of my 07 XL1200C. They gave me “the list” of all the things wrong with it. The front fender needed to be repainted or replaced. The front tire had maybe 500 miles of tread left. I had a new tire I was planning to install, so I said I’d give it to them so they wouldn’t deduct for it. They said it was leaking from the rocker boxes. A drop a month, maybe. But after they rattled off the list, they said “we can’t sell it this way,” and they would have to put over a thousand dollars into it. Their standard approach I’m sure.

They did some obvious service to the Low Rider I was eyeing (new tires & battery) and they stated it was “fully serviced.” The only experience I had with this dealer over the years was buying parts, but I didn’t see any red flags. Since I didn’t want the Sport in my garage for the next year, I did the deal.

About a month later my Sporty shows up for sale on their website. I was planning to pickup a part that week so I was kind of interested in seeing what they did to the fender, etc. Oh, they gave me $2K on trade, and had it listed for sale for $5,495. That’s for an 11 yo Sporty with 30K miles.

So I get down there on my lunch break and there’d my old bike. Still has the rusty fender. Still has the near-bald front tire. It didn’t look like they did anything to it. I also noticed the oil filter – a K&N identical to what I had on it. I seriously doubt the HD dealer is using K&N oil filters, especially since no other used bikes there have one. Did they bother to change the oil? This floored me, especially considering the $3.5K markup. It’s still there for sale, unchanged.

So then I got to thinking about the bike I just bought. You know, the one that was “fully serviced.” My confidence disappeared. It has Redline in the transmission, not a an HD product, so they didn’t change that. I wondered if they even did the oil and filter. No way to know, so I changed those. When I bought the bike, I figured I could ride it through to fall before having to start wrenching, but not anymore.

I love the new bike, I put 2K miles on it and don't have any issues. But my trust in this dealership definitely took a hit. Or is this standard operating procedure?

 

I don`t know the dealer so I can`t say if it is SOP but all that really matters is if you are happy with your new ride. That`s what counts. The Sporty and the deal are history.

 

That's why I traded my car at a dealership 100 miles away. I didn't want to take the hit and see the mark up from a local dealership.

 

You would buy a used bike and not expect to and immediately change all fluids/go over it? That is the only surprise I see here. Yeah, I trust a dealership....

 

Pretty much standard. They do everything possible to maximize profit and minimize cost including sucking every possible penny out of the customer's pocket. In some places there's no limit to how low they'll stoop. I bet your place even took the tire you gave them and have it for sale at full retail!

 

And you're surprised by this???



Seriously though, I would be SHOCKED if the dealer did anything to either bike before selling.

 

I don't even trust my fav/friends dealership.

 

At that price and condition they are going to sit on that Sporty for a looooong time. Nice Sportys in my area in primo condition, low mileage and newer can be had here all day long for $4,000 to $5,000. Some pretty decent ones for $3,000. Don't sweat it. Check yours over, change fluids and move on. Enjoy your new bike.
kk

 

Well..I find it interesting too. I guess I am naive about dealing with them as well. I would have thought at least the service and such would have been done but the K&N filter??? When I bought my Sporty from the dealership it only had 2400 miles on it but I was told it had been serviced.. Now I really wonder..Glad you are digging the new bike though!

 

Exactly this..

Also - Years ago I had an 04 Heritage that I went to trade in on a new 15rk. I rode about 50 miles to a dealer that had the exact bike I wanted. The 'service advisor' told me the bike hadnt been serviced, the oil was old, the tires were shot, I had a leak, yadda yadda.. I pulled out the invoices that the work was done less than 100 miles prior at the dealer he used to work at. He signed the work order out in fact.. I told the service advisor and the sales guy to shove the deal (in those words)... I rode the 50 miles back home then another 30 to Williams HD (my usual dealer - they initally didnt have the bike) bought the new RK, didnt get my chops busted, was offered 3000.00 more on the trade and cut a better deal... All Im saying is shop the deal..