You can buy my 2007 pimped out and ready to roll for 18K. This is my 6th Harley Touring bike since July 2003, I like to take on a winter project and sell them in the spring. Wasn't a lot I could do to this one except add bling to it!

 

I have to say that the ultimate decision is yours. It really is in all of what you want. We recently sold our 05 EGC that I bought used. It was loaded with all the goodies and was well maintained. I did nothing to it other than ride it which was sort of nice. Then came along the RB Street Glide which now is in the process of getting some add-ons.

To me, its what I enjoy doing and depends on what I want. Last time I saved a few bucks and bought used, this time I bought new....since it was what I wanted.

If you find yourself going back to one particular bike, buy it regardless of the price, as that is the one you want !!!

 

The tax deduction is not much of a factor. It's only a reduction of your taxable income, not a tax credit. Let's say you buy a new $22K Ultra and your trade is $10K. If your state tax is 5%, you're talking about 600 bucks off of your taxable income and that's what? $200 in taxes? Better than nothing but I don't see it as a strong incentive to buy new. Just my opinion.

 

i gotta respectfully disagree here hahah

women are a pleasure item, not a necessity... my heritage is as neccessary for my survival as whole milk and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!

 

the 2009 is going to be worth more in the long run.

it's the next "generation" of touring bike, and there will be a huge disparity in 09/08 pricing as more people realize how much a 08 and older bike wiggles over bumps

 

In a way, I'm glad I do not have this dillemma to 'ponder'.
I jus' "aks" the 'checkbook', and it jus' responds:





The only "new" Harley, was a '76 XLCH. For 15 yrs, it's been 'used' and CASH. I refuse to pay interest to the 'Money Changers'.

 

If it was me I'd buy the 09.

 

Isn't the FED excise tax all so on the write off that tax is way more then 5% more like 11% built in to the price of the bike.

 

I had a 06 Ultra and had put about 25000 mile on before trading in. At the time before the market crashed I received a good trade in value for the bike. I have 09 Ultra now with about 5000 Miles on it. Contrary to what most say, I cant tell much of a difference in the two bike other than a little queiter in 6th because of the lower rpm's. The 06 was probably the last year before the EPA slammed the door on HD for emission. My 09 does seemed to throw off more heat, hopefully a PCV in the near future will take care of that. Dont no if this helps your decision making, but if I could save a few bucks I would buy the older model, especially a 06 because it was the first year for the new HK radio and last year of the old EPA standards.

 

I haven't seen that you can write off all taxes built in the price of a vehicle. Just the sales tax.

Here is an example:

The deduction is limited to the state and local sales and excise taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of a qualified new foreign or domestic cars, SUV's, light trucks, motor homes or motorcycles that weigh no more than 8,500 pounds. You can still buy a qualifying vehicle for more than $49,500 (e.g a $80,000 BMW per a commenter's question below), but you will only get a tax deduction up to the specified limit.

The deduction is only available to families making less than $260,000 (or $135,000 for single filers). It is phased out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is between $125,000 and $135,000 for individual filers and between $250,000 and $260,000 for joint filers.

The new vehicle must be purchased on or after Feb. 17, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2010, to qualify for the deduction. Purchases before Feb. 17, 2009, are not eligible for this special deduction.

The deduction is available regardless of whether a taxpayer itemizes deductions on their return (Schedule A). The deduction cannot be taken on 2008 tax returns (even if they are amended or filed late). Also, unlike other tax credits in the economic stimulus package this tax break is not an offset to your federal taxes (i.e. a tax credit), it is a deduction against your taxable income.

To illustrate the above tax deduction, consider the following example from a commenter. The average new car purchase price the first 11 months of last year was $28,280, and the average used car trade-in value was $15,203, according to data from the National Automobile Dealers Association.

States typically tax the difference — $13,077 in this case. So a 5% sales tax rate would be $654, meaning the deduction would reduce taxable income that much. Each state has a different car sales tax, so the deduction will vary by state.