What kinds of add-ons REALLY increase resale value?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,250
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From: St. Cloud Minnesota
The reason I mentioned paint is I sold a V-Rod a few years ago with a hard-to-find HD paint set. I sold for maybe $1500 over Blue Book, which ain't bad at all. I probably could have got more for the paint set by itself, but the point is that I got the bike sold in less than a week, when it took me a couple of months to get my previous bike sold after I returned it to stock. And the buyer said he'd seen that particular set in the HDGMA catalog and always kept an eye out for it since.
Wondering if you thought that was true as a rule, or if that was a fluke.
Wondering if you thought that was true as a rule, or if that was a fluke.
More and more bikers are just keeping the bikes till the wheels fall off. High mileage on a bike is a killer, then you really do not get anything regardless if you have the bike dipped in gold.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 786
Likes: 1
From: Sheridan, AR
If you have a bike without a windshield and saddlebags, and you install detachables, you probably will get a decent return on those, because most everybody wants them.
Anything else has too much personalized style in it and reduces the marketability of the bike.JMHO
Anything else has too much personalized style in it and reduces the marketability of the bike.JMHO
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Added Value
depends on what kind of bike it is too, and what kind of people usually buy those bikes...
I have a friend who is into touring bikes, especially Ultras and the like, he doesn't like bikes that have a lot of stuff on them, ESPECIALLY engine mods. He says he sees people doing all these engine mods that may reduce the life of their motor etc., only to ride down the road next to him, so what's the point. He's the kind of guy who actually takes a few months to ride around the country.
I think engine mods are ok on some bikes, but depends on the miles, the condition of the bike, who did the work, what kind of records they have, etc.
I have a friend who is into touring bikes, especially Ultras and the like, he doesn't like bikes that have a lot of stuff on them, ESPECIALLY engine mods. He says he sees people doing all these engine mods that may reduce the life of their motor etc., only to ride down the road next to him, so what's the point. He's the kind of guy who actually takes a few months to ride around the country.
I think engine mods are ok on some bikes, but depends on the miles, the condition of the bike, who did the work, what kind of records they have, etc.
Having bought a used 2004 Road Glide last year, I had two items I was looking for,
1) A bike that had documentation from new on warranty, service work performed.
2) Preferably a bike that had the 88 C.I. cam chain tensioner replaced with gear drive, and a 95 C.I. upgrade.
I found an exceptional bike that met item #1. It did not have item #2 work done on the bike, however.
I would have been willing to pay more for a bike that had all the #2 items performed on it.
In my opinion, a bike that had already gotten rid of the weak point of the 88 motor, the tensioner, is worth more than one without.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 91
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When I traded in my last HD for a new one, the dealer told me he'd give me .30 on the dollar for any accessories I left on the bike. If I wanted to take them off and keep them, he'd be fine with that. So, I'd say stock is the best plan if you want to go return on investment.
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cruzmisl
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Feb 7, 2016 11:26 AM
accessories, add, adding, aftermarket, cycle, davidson, doesnt, harley, harleys, increase, motor, motorcycle, parts, performance, raise, resale
