New or used?
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 127
Likes: 48
From: Michigan
I would love a new street glide special. But that's definitely out of the budget at $30k ish.
I just picked up a 2012 street glide with 4900 miles, original owner. Have dumped about $2k in upgrades over the last two weeks and love the bike so far. Buying used is definitely cheaper if you do your research and find a good one.
I just picked up a 2012 street glide with 4900 miles, original owner. Have dumped about $2k in upgrades over the last two weeks and love the bike so far. Buying used is definitely cheaper if you do your research and find a good one.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 4,506
Likes: 2,361
Buying used, you run the risk of buying someone else’s headache, I bought my last bike new in ‘97, kept it for 23 years and a couple of rebuilds and it never let me down, I just picked up a new 2019 Roadglide and will probably do the same, there’s just something about getting a new fresh canvas and slowly making it your own, but hey, what ever you can afford.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,638
Likes: 4,121
From: Virginia
Done both and been lucky with both. Never buy a highly modded used bike without seeing all the receipts for the work done by reputable shops. Also be wary of a used bike that’s seen more than one owner in less than a few years. Having said that, there are plenty of used bikes out there that hardly get ridden that you can find if you look.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 193
From: Las Vegas, NV
I used to be a "buy new" guy, but my last three bikes I bought used. Nevada doesn't charge sales tax on private party sales. That's a big savings for me, sales tax here is 8.38%. Two years ago, I bought a 2015 BMW K1600GTL with 1,340 miles, still under warranty, for $15,250. That was a $10k savings on the bike, plus no sales tax. I bought a 2017 Triumph Bonnieville a year ago for $7,500. That was a $5,000 plus tax savings, and the bike had a bunch of extras. I sold it a few months later and made $500. In March I picked up a 2008 Super Glide. Great bike, and even after doing some needed service, adding bags and different seat, I'm only in it about $7k. In contrast, I bought my 2009 Ultra new, and although I road that bike for 90,000 miles, I also had over $25,000 into it before adding any extras... There are lots of use Harleys for sale, some of them have mods you're not interested in, but some of them have the types of things you would do anyway. Keep your eyes open, and keep looking. You'll find the right bike at the right deal.
The only thing I insisted on buying new was my 2017 Corvette. I really didn't want a car that anybody else had beaten on, and since I had the GM employee discount available to me, I ordered the exact car I wanted and I'll keep it forever.
The only thing I insisted on buying new was my 2017 Corvette. I really didn't want a car that anybody else had beaten on, and since I had the GM employee discount available to me, I ordered the exact car I wanted and I'll keep it forever.
Last edited by vistavette; May 31, 2020 at 07:32 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 309
Likes: 186
I don't mind buying new if there's some possibility I'm gonna pay it off. That way I know it was broken in and maintained properly. If you decide to trade it in or sell it before about three years you're gonna really take it on the chin. It's not just depreciation, there's taxes. All the crap they add on at the dealership (unless you say no to everything). Amazing the extent to which the original basis is so much more than list price, ya know? And still is a year later.
Other thing is technology. Lots of frame, suspension and engine upgrades lately. Which can be a two edged sword. I wouldn't be eager to get a used M8 right now. Which partially informed my decision to buy new last time. Along with the fact I figured I'd be able to leverage the whole covid thing. (I only buy new stuff during a crisis, or during the holidays. Which is basically the same thing in my world)
Had a lot of fun for a while buying old bikes and working on them. I think there's a good argument for that, just get a disposable bike basically, take it apart, put it back together. Learn a lot about engines and systems, have fun riding it and then sell it for what you bought it for (if it's running) or ditch it in the arroyo (if it isn't; I've done both).
Tricky part is, if you buy used but really need it to be working well right out of the box. Over the years I've found it's best to either budget a certain amount for repairs and deferred maintenance -- which gets expensive at the dealership -- or plan on working on it yourself. That said, my very first bike was a Dyna that was a couple of years old, never had a bit of trouble with it. Shoulda kept it.
If you can find a used Dyna for a good price, buy it stat
Other thing is technology. Lots of frame, suspension and engine upgrades lately. Which can be a two edged sword. I wouldn't be eager to get a used M8 right now. Which partially informed my decision to buy new last time. Along with the fact I figured I'd be able to leverage the whole covid thing. (I only buy new stuff during a crisis, or during the holidays. Which is basically the same thing in my world)
Had a lot of fun for a while buying old bikes and working on them. I think there's a good argument for that, just get a disposable bike basically, take it apart, put it back together. Learn a lot about engines and systems, have fun riding it and then sell it for what you bought it for (if it's running) or ditch it in the arroyo (if it isn't; I've done both).
Tricky part is, if you buy used but really need it to be working well right out of the box. Over the years I've found it's best to either budget a certain amount for repairs and deferred maintenance -- which gets expensive at the dealership -- or plan on working on it yourself. That said, my very first bike was a Dyna that was a couple of years old, never had a bit of trouble with it. Shoulda kept it.
If you can find a used Dyna for a good price, buy it stat
Last edited by AbqDave; May 31, 2020 at 09:59 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,557
Likes: 1,846
From: Albuquerque, NM
Used from a private party for me. A big part of making the purchase decision is getting to know and then making a judgement on the dude selling it. I can usually tell someone who's honest or not. The only times I've been screwed on a used bike is when I bought one from a dealer.
These days another reason I would only buy used is that no one including Harley is making bike I'm interested in owning.
These days another reason I would only buy used is that no one including Harley is making bike I'm interested in owning.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,333
Likes: 355
From: San Diego
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 193
From: Las Vegas, NV
That's true for many things...but a bike for most not a need. You can know the price of everything, and the value of nothing.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,032
From: Carlsbad, CA
I would love a new street glide special. But that's definitely out of the budget at $30k ish.
I just picked up a 2012 street glide with 4900 miles, original owner. Have dumped about $2k in upgrades over the last two weeks and love the bike so far. Buying used is definitely cheaper if you do your research and find a good one.
I just picked up a 2012 street glide with 4900 miles, original owner. Have dumped about $2k in upgrades over the last two weeks and love the bike so far. Buying used is definitely cheaper if you do your research and find a good one.