Shop Around
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 903
From: South Florida (Ft Myers area)
Plenty of horror stories buying from a dealer and from private sellers. Legally, it is easier to deal with a shady dealer than a shady private seller. So pick your poison.
Not sure what they eventually get, but some private seller asking prices are more unrealistic than most dealer prices. Going private seller also requires a trip to the DMV, not bad where I am in Florida, but some of them are pure hell.
Depending on overall price, $1,000-$2,000 isn't really that bad to avoid hassles and headaches for some people, just like some prefer to trade-in to dealer rather than the hassle of selling it themselves.
News flash, most dealers will give a few thousand less on a trade-in than you could sell privately.
Not sure what they eventually get, but some private seller asking prices are more unrealistic than most dealer prices. Going private seller also requires a trip to the DMV, not bad where I am in Florida, but some of them are pure hell.
Depending on overall price, $1,000-$2,000 isn't really that bad to avoid hassles and headaches for some people, just like some prefer to trade-in to dealer rather than the hassle of selling it themselves.
News flash, most dealers will give a few thousand less on a trade-in than you could sell privately.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 791
Likes: 386
From: New York
Above statements are true.....I should have said that most of the time if you're financing a dealer is your easiest option. There are lenders that aren't too keen on lending privately for used motorcycles, but I digress, you can get a loan in those cases...may be a bit more work IMO but I stand corrected lol.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 7,323
Likes: 11,762
From: Omaha,NE
Obviously you can find better deals buying privately but if you have to finance you're only option is a dealership. Plus there's the 12 month powertrain warranty like previously stated, which will appeal to some, and I believe the option to buy a two year full warranty or maybe even more if you're willing to pay for it. These are some of the things you are paying for. They have overhead, they are in business to make $ and you have to understand that dynamic going in. Now having said that there are dealers who deal in good faith and some who don't.
Dealers also give you an easy way to trade, generally giving a fair wholesale offer for your bike. Also, in my experience, they can get you a Carfax report on the used bike you're interested in for free. That's $39.95 I don't have to spend. The only recent used purchase I got from a dealer was my BMW. I traded my Rocket 3 for it and my non-Triumph dealer (who also owns the HD/Indian franchise, as well as most metric bikes) gave me far more for my trade than the Triumph dealer would. Like, a lot. So there is that benefit, also.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,243
Likes: 3,267
From: west Michigan
never buy a used vehicle from any dealer. If you are a first-time buyer, take a friend who knows Harley's and let him evaluate it for you. Much cheaper prices, plus you save on bullshit dealer fees and taxes.
only way I would ever buy from a dealer would be if I were trading a vehicle in. So while you get raped on the fees, you save with the tax break on your trade-in.
only way I would ever buy from a dealer would be if I were trading a vehicle in. So while you get raped on the fees, you save with the tax break on your trade-in.
Some dealers do a lot of business in used bike sales, and they can't succeed in that by selling crappy bikes and screwing their customers.
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Mike M
General Harley Davidson Chat
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Sep 21, 2012 08:36 AM
