Dealer claims rebuilt engine doesn't enhance the bikes trade in value
 

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.

Book is book. If he plays he plays, if not then go somewhere else.

You shouldn't hesitate to go elsewhere. But, like Hammer said, they pretty much go by the book. Rebuilt engines, expensive accessories, custom paint, none of that usually counts for doodly when trading.

Will find a dealer that wants the business and for now I try selling it my self and wait for a better opportunity to buy new.

Dealers go by book value. They may give you a little more fudged in on a trade if it was a later model bike. I doubt there is much market for a 97 softtail with 43000 miles as far a the dealer is concerned.

The most accurate saying in the motorcycle sales world is: "A fifteen-thousand dollar motorcyle with fifteen-thousand dollars worth of add ons is still a fifteen-thousand dollar motorcycle. Anything done after the stock bike leaves the factory is meaningless.

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 sh!t 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.

Only affects the value if THEY are the ones who did it.

Sell it outright. Better chance to recoup.

IF it happened to be TC North, RUN !!!!!!!!!, to one of the others. JMHO, based on MY experiences with that "F"in' place. DON'T 'aks', jus' makes me MADDER!!!! Dipwads that they iz!!! :icon_hunter:

Of course it matters......find another dealer.

I perused both Kelley Blue Book AND NADA...I could not find a checkbox titled "Rebuilt Engine"

It might matter to You......and it Might matter to a buyer......but dealers go By the Book.