Hi, I am new to the forum and have a question regarding low mileage Softails. I am looking to purchase my first Harley, a 2016-2018 Softail deluxe. I've found exactly what I am looking for in a 2016 deluxe with only 500 miles. My question is are there any issues with buying a Harley with such low miles? I understand this may sound a weird questions but if a bike's been sitting around would there be concerns? Thanks

 

If you are worried about the low miles you can have an independent shop or your local Harley dealer conduct a pre-purchase inspection. It is not that uncommon to find low mileage bikes.

 

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It's not like you're buying a 2003 with 500 miles. Just do it if the bike is clean and hasn't been down.

 

Garage queens are out there, get you one.

 

Welcome to the forum from Dallas

 

A 2016 with 500 miles, I wouldn't worry about. That's only sitting for 2-3 years. Probably needs a new battery, drain the fuel and replace, change the fluids in the engine, trans, primary, brakes, and clutch (if hydraulic).

Now for my tail of two sportsters. My daughter got a 1997 Sportster with 40,000 miles on the odometer, shortly there after I got a 1997 Sportster with 4,600 miles on the odometer, from a title search it went 16 years without a registration renewal or safety inspection. Daughter's bike was ridden, but had regular maintenance. Daughters bike is still here and mine was upgraded to the 2006 1200 this past summer after the 97 had a catastrophic failure while I was on a road trip. Did sitting for 16 years without being run or having maintenance cause the problem, I don't know, but it sure didn't help any. I did put about 18,000 good miles on it before it had a problem. But in my mind a well maintained higher mileage bike is not a bad thing.

 

Not a Harley but, I bought a 2006 Honda VLX in 2014 with only 2020 miles on it, and I was the 3rd owner. Changed the fluids and put 16,000 trouble free miles on it.

 

Make sure the battery is good. They don't do well not being used, even if it's on a tender.

 

If the price is right I wouldn't hesitate at all.

Problem is, many sellers seem to think that if they don't ride their bike, it doesn't depreciate. You may have to educate them otherwise.