Dealer claims rebuilt engine doesn't enhance the bikes trade in value
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,438
Likes: 6
From: Gulf Coast of Mississippi
We get that all the time in the car business. People will talk about their rebuilt trannies, engines, AC compressors and everything else that they've fixed or replaced. The reality is that no value is added for the simple reason that the **** is supposed to work. I would recommend selling it yourself though. You might loose some tax credit depending on which state you're in but I'm sure you can find a buyer that finds more value in that.
Sell it yourself.... ask retail and settle somewhere in between anything over trade plus the tax break is gravy...
Charlie D.
If you sell the bike yourself, you can advertise the fresh engine as a selling point, but don't expect to recoup your costs. It might be the thing that tips your bike in favor in the mind of a buyer over another one he's considering. Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, and good luck.
It always cracks me up when I read somebody's ad for their bike, car, etc where they say they've invested so many dollars in their vehicle. If it's a repair, it's an expenditure, not an investment. And chrome is not an investment, either.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 829
Likes: 1
From: lakeland fl
Why would you rebuild an Evo with 40k ?
Anyway
$7000 is a good proce for a 97 softail
$6k plus the dif in sales tax for a deal right now on a bike you want, well that's up to you.
Keep looking and/or make you best deal.
Of course there's allot to be said about a paid for 97
Anyway
$7000 is a good proce for a 97 softail
$6k plus the dif in sales tax for a deal right now on a bike you want, well that's up to you.
Keep looking and/or make you best deal.
Of course there's allot to be said about a paid for 97
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,250
Likes: 0
From: St. Cloud Minnesota
I went to see a dealers 2009 softails which they had sent me a sales flyer for July-August. I looked at several models available and also looked at a 2007 repo. I asked the saleman to look over my 1997 Heritage Softail Classic for trade in advising him that the motor was rebuilt by Harley Davidson and it had 2500 miles on it. He told me that his sales book listed the bike for $7500 at retail, and he would offer me $6000 for any bike he had on the showrrom floor. rebuilt engines do no increase the price because they base it all on the current milage of 44,831. Is he correct that a rebuilt engine does not enhance the value of any bike? at $3500 for a complete rebuild I would guess there should be some extra value. He also never offered the sales add deal at all, I'm thinking I should see a dealer that wants to do business.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
Likes: 7
From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
It only matters to them when they sell it. Makes for a better sales pitch and more money. Private is the best way to reclaim most of it.
Ron
Ron
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 5
What a rebuilt engine does for you is sale ability! I would buy yours before one that was not ever rebuilt, or one not rebuilt by HD with the same mileage....
Why did it have to be rebuilt? They should go farther than 40k before needing a rebuild?
What you did by rebuilding is maintaining the value of your bike. One that comes in needing a rebuild is worth less.
By the book, value assumes it has a good engine.
Why did it have to be rebuilt? They should go farther than 40k before needing a rebuild?
What you did by rebuilding is maintaining the value of your bike. One that comes in needing a rebuild is worth less.
By the book, value assumes it has a good engine.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
What a rebuilt engine does for you is sale ability! I would buy yours before one that was not ever rebuilt, or one not rebuilt by HD with the same mileage....
Why did it have to be rebuilt? They should go farther than 40k before needing a rebuild?
What you did by rebuilding is maintaining the value of your bike. One that comes in needing a rebuild is worth less.
By the book, value assumes it has a good engine.
Why did it have to be rebuilt? They should go farther than 40k before needing a rebuild?
What you did by rebuilding is maintaining the value of your bike. One that comes in needing a rebuild is worth less.
By the book, value assumes it has a good engine.