If I can come up with coins, I have my heart set on a '06 Deluxe. But I have been looking and wondering, why is there so many fairly new to 2-3 year old Harleys for sale.
I live in Indiana, and it seems like there are thousands for sale at almost new prices.

Why so many? Unhappy owners?

 

My opinion--just shows how many people buy Harleys to keep up with the Joneses. Newness has worn off, time to sell...

Same people selling these bikes probably have an empty hot tub in the back yard and a two year old boat that's only been in the water twice...

 

Usualy a motorcycle is the first thing to go when people run into hard times. Since Harley Davidson retains its value pretty well you get the idea.
Along the same lines are those that cannot realy afford the payments and then end up selling it or trading it in for something cheaper.
There are also those that have never ridden before that buy HD that have a bad experience and then end up selling.
Yes there is also the dissatisfied customers. Straight from the factory with no performance parts installed HD is not a top performer. Not to mention some that have owned sportbikes before have problems with the transition.
Then there are those that must have the newer models. I have a friend that trades his about every 3 years. However he is pretty well off and has quite a motorcycle collection already.
Bad Dealership experience is another. Like here in the midwest around spring time HD repair facilities get alot buisness. To the point it slows things to a crawl when it comes to getting your bike repaired. This is the biggest complaint I have heard from my friends and other members of our district. This I admit is my reason for not buying a new bike in a long time.

 

 

I agree.....it's alot of residual from folks getting caught up in the Discovery Channel inspired Chopper madness craze, and people buying into an image, later finding out that they really don't like riding, or as stated earlier are unhappy that the 88 straight from the factory doesn't run like the big custom motored bikes they see on T.V. and at the bike shows/rally's.

The large amount of bikes now for sale really hurts the value of the bikes. 10 years ago Harley's were in BIG demand. Many people still think that is the case! Well, unfortuneately, it's not. Sad thing is, many think that their used bike is worth as much or more than a new one. Go figure.

joe
[&:]

 

First off, I love my Harley. Bought it (05 Deluxe) in July after 25 years away. Had a Sportster in 75 sold in 80 to raise my kids and then decided the time was right (I now, it's the first time you've heard that story).

Having said this, you have to blame HD a little for this as well. They have made it EXTREMELY easy to buy a Harley on credit, which caters to the people that CAN'T afford to buy one. I was shocked at how many times the dealer tried to get me to finance the bike. I could even put accessories and new clothes into the loan.

When was the last time you could buy clothes and roll it into your auto loan? And right after I got home with my new bike and turned on the TV, I saw an ad for credit counseling. Shocking!

 

Do not think it is as much "unhappy owners" as folks who bought the scooter for the wrong reasons, many of which have been pointed out here. I owned several different brands of motorscooters and motorcycles (all very used !) when I was growing up. Rode used metrics when my son was still living at home and in school. My son also rides and nothing beats riding with your "boy" ...(or girl for that matter). Wifey is even starting to enjoy riding. One of the posters here pointed out the "financing" issue. Well, mine is financed, cause aint got that kind of cash laying around, BUT that said, I was shocked that the HD dealer wanted me to buy clothes, accessories for the bike, etc ...Don't see any percentages in that !

 

Kind of along the same lines:

https://www.hdforums.com/m_159787/mp.../tm.htm#160307

 

Interesting points.
It's almost like the bike has become the vehicle for high margin accessories and credit financing.. Kind of like chips are a vehicle for salsa.
Just like the auto industry.. Can't compete without interest revenues from car purchases and getting into the credit card business. Sad. Just wait, there will be a day when you get bombarded with someone trying to get you signed up on the H-D credit card, just like we get accosted when we go to the mall. I just love telling people how I do not and shall not have a credit card in my wallet.. And store employees STILL don't understand and keep pressuring.. It's amazing. No profit in the product, so have to go to the great evil that is peddling credit. Harley-Davidson has become no different.

The cruiser market is now (in my opinion) flooded.. which is why I think there are so many used scoots on the market. A lot of guys out there that grew up in the 80's dreaming of a harley.. Now they can afford them, so they get their fix, find out what they really wanted was freedom. With no time, too many bills, shrinking liberties from the socialist/democratic implosion going on, a mortgage, a car payment, and a few of those nasty credit cards.. No Harley is going to provide freedom over that level of oppression. So they give up and dump the hog to pay off the minivan and appease the wife.

Real freedom is the life I think that is lived by what I call the "1 percenters".. The old guys with the beards that don't believe in credit or mainstream BS, ride shovels to the rallies, or to anywhere, and simply refuse to conform. There's an image I have of those guys that have what I dreamed of in college looking at a harley.. The bike was just a symbol of that freedom (the old original image.. easyrider and all) that the moco has cashed in on. Used hogs are dreams unfulfilled by a machine.

Good Morning! hehehe

 

And a good morning to you too!

Well, mine is on credit, but it is replacing another vehicle. (Payments are about the same)
I had leased a Dodge truck in 2000 and it's lease was up in September. Turned that in and went looking for my ride. BTW; I'll never lease again. I managed to come out of it ok, but I had to bust my butt to clean the truck back up and replace a few items before I turned it in. Otherwise I would have had a huge bill at the end of the lease.