Need some advice.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,557
Likes: 6
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Need some advice.
I haven't been here that long, but I do like the intelligent people that post on here.
I do have an honest question though.
A few weeks back, I put a refundable deposit down on an 09 Fat Bob.
Here's my question:
I currently have an 07 Honda CBR 600RR. I've been riding sportbikes almost all my life, although I was raised on Harleys in PA.
I'm 41 now and, as you may know, tastes change as you grow older with a hobby.
Although riding sportbikes was fun in my youth, I'm maturing and slowing down. It's been a long time since I've felt the need to drag my knee in every corner. Most of my friends ride Harleys and I ride with them as well. We have a lot of long rides and I'm the only crotch rocket in the pack. They all bust on me but it has become quite a joke.
The thing is, I haven't had a motorcycle payment in about 8 years. Since I paid one of the bikes off, it's been one fully paid off bike after another. It's nice owning a bike outright.
So, the problem is that I ordered the new Fat Bob but I will have to finance a good portion of it.
The payment will be about 230 dollars per month.
It is nice to have a new motorcycle with no payment at all. Problem is, it's a sportbike.
What would you guys/gals do in this situation?
Would you continue to ride an 07 Honda CBR for a few years or would you break down and pay 230 dollars per month and enter a new contract with payments again for a Harley?
Yeah, the Harley is the bike I really want right now. But is it worth it to go into a full bike payment when I already have an almost brand new bike that is paid in full????
Thanks,
Tom
I do have an honest question though.
A few weeks back, I put a refundable deposit down on an 09 Fat Bob.
Here's my question:
I currently have an 07 Honda CBR 600RR. I've been riding sportbikes almost all my life, although I was raised on Harleys in PA.
I'm 41 now and, as you may know, tastes change as you grow older with a hobby.
Although riding sportbikes was fun in my youth, I'm maturing and slowing down. It's been a long time since I've felt the need to drag my knee in every corner. Most of my friends ride Harleys and I ride with them as well. We have a lot of long rides and I'm the only crotch rocket in the pack. They all bust on me but it has become quite a joke.
The thing is, I haven't had a motorcycle payment in about 8 years. Since I paid one of the bikes off, it's been one fully paid off bike after another. It's nice owning a bike outright.
So, the problem is that I ordered the new Fat Bob but I will have to finance a good portion of it.
The payment will be about 230 dollars per month.
It is nice to have a new motorcycle with no payment at all. Problem is, it's a sportbike.
What would you guys/gals do in this situation?
Would you continue to ride an 07 Honda CBR for a few years or would you break down and pay 230 dollars per month and enter a new contract with payments again for a Harley?
Yeah, the Harley is the bike I really want right now. But is it worth it to go into a full bike payment when I already have an almost brand new bike that is paid in full????
Thanks,
Tom
Banned
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 2
I don't know, you're 41. ...what do you want to do? Your priorities are obviously screwed up if you still ride a honda sport bike at 41 when you could have had a Buell.
I went through a sport bike phase (1996 Buell S2T). Kept it for about 11 years, while not a true sport bike in the sense of the word I enjoyed it too. When I got ready to purchase another bike(Ultra) the Buell went.
Choices are:
* can you afford a bike payment?
* commit to the HD and see if they'll take as trade and how much
* private sale (as its paid for, time is on your side)
* keep it and have both?
* deny yourself the HD and keep going in the direction your going with the CBR.
I went through a sport bike phase (1996 Buell S2T). Kept it for about 11 years, while not a true sport bike in the sense of the word I enjoyed it too. When I got ready to purchase another bike(Ultra) the Buell went.
Choices are:
* can you afford a bike payment?
* commit to the HD and see if they'll take as trade and how much
* private sale (as its paid for, time is on your side)
* keep it and have both?
* deny yourself the HD and keep going in the direction your going with the CBR.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,557
Likes: 6
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Thanks.
I had a Buell M2 Cyclone in 2002. I was not happy with the performance of the old XL motor. But that's neither here nor there. Buell is not the question here. And I do have friends in their 40s the still race bikes. I'm 41, I'm not dead yet
I had a Buell M2 Cyclone in 2002. I was not happy with the performance of the old XL motor. But that's neither here nor there. Buell is not the question here. And I do have friends in their 40s the still race bikes. I'm 41, I'm not dead yet
I bought my bike new, financed for 5 years and my payment is $303 a month, in years past I have had new car payments more than double of that, so the payment in my book is not a bad trade off. As I can afford to do so I double up on my payments each month, until such time comes that I can no longer afford to do so. The #1 question you have to ask yourself is does the payment amount change your mind about wanting the bike. #2 question is, Can I afford the payment. #3 question is can I pay it off early. If you answered no, yes, and yes, get the bike, if you answered any other way wait till you answer the corrct way.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
It's personal decision, many people finance their purchase. If you have a steady and secure job and live within your means ... you may be OK.
Many people will say that you only go around once in life, buy whatever you feel makes you feel good, etc. Taken to the extreme that view point has gotten more than a few people into trouble financially.
Personally I try not finance anything that has the potential to depreciate with the exception of a home which allows for the interest to be written off. Cars, motorcycles, etc. fall within the cash only purchase.
If you don't need the latest and greatest, an option may be a low mileage used bike. For many years bikers got by with less than 6 speed trannys and 1550ccs.
John
Many people will say that you only go around once in life, buy whatever you feel makes you feel good, etc. Taken to the extreme that view point has gotten more than a few people into trouble financially.
Personally I try not finance anything that has the potential to depreciate with the exception of a home which allows for the interest to be written off. Cars, motorcycles, etc. fall within the cash only purchase.
If you don't need the latest and greatest, an option may be a low mileage used bike. For many years bikers got by with less than 6 speed trannys and 1550ccs.
John
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 0
From: Cape Coral, Fl.
If its the age thing and you are really planing on slowing down for something more comfy, and if you cant afford the new payment, find a way to replace your existing bike for a metric cruiser which is waaay less money than a Harley.
If after you ride a cruiser for a while, and you arent missing the sport bike, then go for a Harley. Good Luck
If after you ride a cruiser for a while, and you arent missing the sport bike, then go for a Harley. Good Luck
Trending Topics
Banned
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 2
I sense the frustration of the mental shifting of gears with regards to a different riding approach...sport bike vs cruiser. Keep both. Have the best of both worlds.
I recently kind of went through a similar conflict of riding styles. Been riding all my life. Swore I'd never own a garbage barge now I own 2! Selling the Buell and the rigid Pan to do so. My heart may still want to personify one style but the reality of what it really was ultimately dictated the choice. Kids are grown and gone, have 2 grand kids and I want to ride alot more and ride always with my wife(she has a calming effect on me most of the time). Ultra was the logical choice for me. Tons of storage, great passenger comfort and we are really digging the cruise/CB/WBC/AM/FM radio/cassette player and especially the intercom setup. My hearts still wants to be in the rigid framed, lone wolf make believe world(for me now anyways) of the FTW biker(when with drinking buddies:Free The Wino's/when with other 2 wheeled friends:Forever Two Wheels, or when in the rain: Fast Thru Water).
Thinking real hard of turning my '83 FL into a bobber, minus the kick only like the Pan was? Imagine, a rigid with both kick and electric starter.
Sounds like you made your choice already,eh.
I recently kind of went through a similar conflict of riding styles. Been riding all my life. Swore I'd never own a garbage barge now I own 2! Selling the Buell and the rigid Pan to do so. My heart may still want to personify one style but the reality of what it really was ultimately dictated the choice. Kids are grown and gone, have 2 grand kids and I want to ride alot more and ride always with my wife(she has a calming effect on me most of the time). Ultra was the logical choice for me. Tons of storage, great passenger comfort and we are really digging the cruise/CB/WBC/AM/FM radio/cassette player and especially the intercom setup. My hearts still wants to be in the rigid framed, lone wolf make believe world(for me now anyways) of the FTW biker(when with drinking buddies:Free The Wino's/when with other 2 wheeled friends:Forever Two Wheels, or when in the rain: Fast Thru Water).
Thinking real hard of turning my '83 FL into a bobber, minus the kick only like the Pan was? Imagine, a rigid with both kick and electric starter.
Sounds like you made your choice already,eh.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Windsor, CO
), but I just don't get the question.
Would you continue to ride an 07 Honda CBR for a few years or would you break down and pay 230 dollars per month and enter a new contract with payments again for a Harley?
Yeah, the Harley is the bike I really want right now. But is it worth it to go into a full bike payment when I already have an almost brand new bike that is paid in full????
