why are some guy trading in the bikes so fast?
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 6,905
Likes: 4,877
From: Midwest
Happens all the time. My brother in law did the same thing. A lot of people dont even test ride and buy based solely on aesthetic considerations. They get it home and it quickly falls out of favor once they put some miles on. They dont enjoy the ride and start looking for something else to trade for. My relatives street glide lasted all of three months before he was itching to get something else. Ended up on a new heritage.
Road Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 188
From: West Chester, Ohio
Things change and people like to have a different color or a new something or other.
The other reason is the difference in cost when trading a 1-2 year old bike isn't that much if you get a good deal on your trade and the new one. In some cases guy's may only spend a few grand to have a new bike. That is assuming theirs was paid for. My dad used to trade every two years which was around 40k miles and it made sense to him financially. At 4 years and 80k how much would his bike have been worth? In those cases it's easier to make sense of versus guy's trading in a bike with 2000 miles for the same model in a different color, in that case they either have the money to burn or they are half crazy.
The other reason is the difference in cost when trading a 1-2 year old bike isn't that much if you get a good deal on your trade and the new one. In some cases guy's may only spend a few grand to have a new bike. That is assuming theirs was paid for. My dad used to trade every two years which was around 40k miles and it made sense to him financially. At 4 years and 80k how much would his bike have been worth? In those cases it's easier to make sense of versus guy's trading in a bike with 2000 miles for the same model in a different color, in that case they either have the money to burn or they are half crazy.
i see a lot of touring guys trade in their bikes ever 2-3 years the frame hasn't changed and there was only one motor change in that whole time. so why are people wasting/losing money on trades so much? i saw a post where a guy had 4-5 of the same bike in since 2010. what the hell is the point of that?
Seriously, more power to them.
Personally, I'm more of a keep your bike forever guy. Buy them old and cheap. Modify them however I want.
The guys who trade in every few years are the ones creating the glut of used bikes I can buy for pennies on the dollar, so you'll never hear a critical word about them from me.
Novice
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 17
Likes: 3
From: Texas
Some people just like having new toys every couple years.It doesnt matter what their finances are, Harleys are the easiest bike to get financing on. Lots of people I know that have Harleys because their credit wasn't good enough for Yamaha or any other metric bike. As long as the used market is saturated, I can get good deals on any make or model I want.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
It's simple.
Decades ago a Harley rider knew every inch of his machine and had no fear of striking out on the open road because they knew they could fix whatever might go wrong along the way. The 80s, 90s, 2000s brought a different kind of rider to HD, one who for the most part couldn't tell you how the engine makes power or how it's transmitted to the rear wheel; all they know is "new colors this year". Every new noise petrifies them because the magic is leaking out of their Steppenwolf Magic Carpet and they owe payments so high they can't afford to have anything fixed if it isn't under warranty. They have two choices; quit owning an HD or keep trading them in for newer models with a warranty and get stroked deeper each time. There's always a price for being "baddass".
Decades ago a Harley rider knew every inch of his machine and had no fear of striking out on the open road because they knew they could fix whatever might go wrong along the way. The 80s, 90s, 2000s brought a different kind of rider to HD, one who for the most part couldn't tell you how the engine makes power or how it's transmitted to the rear wheel; all they know is "new colors this year". Every new noise petrifies them because the magic is leaking out of their Steppenwolf Magic Carpet and they owe payments so high they can't afford to have anything fixed if it isn't under warranty. They have two choices; quit owning an HD or keep trading them in for newer models with a warranty and get stroked deeper each time. There's always a price for being "baddass".
Last edited by Campy Roadie; Sep 3, 2019 at 01:47 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 6,905
Likes: 4,877
From: Midwest
Some people just like having new toys every couple years.It doesnt matter what their finances are, Harleys are the easiest bike to get financing on. Lots of people I know that have Harleys because their credit wasn't good enough for Yamaha or any other metric bike. As long as the used market is saturated, I can get good deals on any make or model I want.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,028
From: Carlsbad, CA
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 1,189
From: Anywhere we stop
Wait till Harley leases them....then see how the market gets flooded. That being said I drive old stuff cause they are easier for me to fix, I like doing my own work.
Last edited by Mountainkowboy; Sep 3, 2019 at 02:00 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 836
From: KMHT KFMY
cripes I see used bikes all the time less than a year old... and in the northeast they have low miles.
My 13 was bought used in Sept 2014, some guy bought it in October 13, the dealer stored it over the winter, it did not see the street for the first time until April, and I bought it on Sept 4 with 6K on it.... I think he rode it to Sturgis and back and then wanted a M8.
SO figure a 2013 Limited, with a stage 4 kit, tuner, pipes, LED lighting all around, 2 amps, 4 additional speakers installed before delivery.... the guy had to be into the bike for about 34 grand. I got it for 17 grand.
Let someone else pay the depreciation.
My 13 was bought used in Sept 2014, some guy bought it in October 13, the dealer stored it over the winter, it did not see the street for the first time until April, and I bought it on Sept 4 with 6K on it.... I think he rode it to Sturgis and back and then wanted a M8.
SO figure a 2013 Limited, with a stage 4 kit, tuner, pipes, LED lighting all around, 2 amps, 4 additional speakers installed before delivery.... the guy had to be into the bike for about 34 grand. I got it for 17 grand.
Let someone else pay the depreciation.
