Buying a used bike from dealer
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Western Kansas
We went to one of the local dealerships to buy a new 110" Ultra Limited after looking at used Ultras at other dealerships, and rode out on a used Ultra. Had a tremendous experience and the bike was well within all of the pricing guides. The bike had sat for a while, and was priced to move. I just happened to come along at the right time.
I have done that in the past....if something used (pickups, guns, etc...) catches my eye, and is a little overpriced, I will let it set for a couple of weeks. It it is still there, I shoot them a price I can live with....and usually end up getting a deal. If not, move on...there are always going to be more.
I have done that in the past....if something used (pickups, guns, etc...) catches my eye, and is a little overpriced, I will let it set for a couple of weeks. It it is still there, I shoot them a price I can live with....and usually end up getting a deal. If not, move on...there are always going to be more.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 23
From: MD just outside DC
I got my 08 from a dealer.. It was a few grand off of what a new bike would have been but on a Sportster that over 20%.
The miles where pretty low around 1800. I am not a mechanic (or anything close to it) and was buying the bike alone as a woman. I personally would be afraid of being taken advantage by a private seller who might assume a women will not notice problems. By buying the used bike from the dealership and extending the warranty till 2012 I have some security.
The final thing for me was that I needed to take loan out for it and doing that with the dealership was the easiest.
I think it depends on how much you know about bikes, if you care about the warranty, and if you are getting a loan. If those things are not factors I do think you will pay less from a private seller if you look around.
The miles where pretty low around 1800. I am not a mechanic (or anything close to it) and was buying the bike alone as a woman. I personally would be afraid of being taken advantage by a private seller who might assume a women will not notice problems. By buying the used bike from the dealership and extending the warranty till 2012 I have some security.
The final thing for me was that I needed to take loan out for it and doing that with the dealership was the easiest.
I think it depends on how much you know about bikes, if you care about the warranty, and if you are getting a loan. If those things are not factors I do think you will pay less from a private seller if you look around.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 353
Likes: 1
I bought mine at American Motorcycle trading Company (sellharleys.com) without even seeing it in person, I seen pictures and a video of it running.
Price was great, cheap shipping. They under sold and over deliverd. The bike was much better than I expected.
Of coarse you never know, the dealer wants you to have a good bike as well but they are used. My experience was good, I would never buy a new one, they have over 100 used harleys, Texas dream cycles has over 200 used harleys, fun to look at, but watch out you may end up buying one as I did
Price was great, cheap shipping. They under sold and over deliverd. The bike was much better than I expected.
Of coarse you never know, the dealer wants you to have a good bike as well but they are used. My experience was good, I would never buy a new one, they have over 100 used harleys, Texas dream cycles has over 200 used harleys, fun to look at, but watch out you may end up buying one as I did
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 62
From: kingman AZ. We aren't in hell, but you can see it from here!!!
I bought mine used from Mother Road HD, and since it was my first motorcycle I decided to bite the bullet, but I also got an ESP and a "free" helmet!
I had started looking at a local repair shop who had a 95th anniv. Ultra. but the bike had been laid down and needed a lot of work. He wanted to sell it to me for almost $13K and I only paid $14k with everything and a much better bike.
I had started looking at a local repair shop who had a 95th anniv. Ultra. but the bike had been laid down and needed a lot of work. He wanted to sell it to me for almost $13K and I only paid $14k with everything and a much better bike.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Oswego, IL
Bought my 2006 sportster from a dealer. Did alot of searching around, alot of dealers have the used bikes marked up too much and they know it. They expect you to haggle it down, just show them the kelly blue book value of the cycle and then show them ads in chopperexchange.com and craigs list for a similar bike for thousands less. Hard to argue with that.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 30,914
Likes: 16
From: Springfield, Ohio
all of my Harleys have been used, and I've had pretty good luck talking them down on the price. It's always a safe bet the price they have on it is far from what they gave the original owner on trade. I know dealerships are there to make a profit, but the good ones will work with you.
Farrow's was asking 2500 more for my Softail than what I paid for it
Farrow's was asking 2500 more for my Softail than what I paid for it
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 543
Likes: 1
From: Lowell, NC
I've bought 3 Harleys. 1 from a private and 2 from a dealer.
The 2 from the dealer 1 seems flawless right now and the other I had to replace a Engine Temp Sensor on after about 1000 mi. It was $250 I didnt even check to see if it was covered. Both dealer bikes had about 12k on them in showroom condition.
The bike I bought private developed a fuel leak after 1 month ,, I found a cracked carb bowl that had JB weld smeared on it. Just so happen to catch the owner of C&A HD working the parts counter and he went in back and pulled me a brand new take off sold it to me less than 1/2 price his book was showing new.$200 bux.
The 2 from the dealer 1 seems flawless right now and the other I had to replace a Engine Temp Sensor on after about 1000 mi. It was $250 I didnt even check to see if it was covered. Both dealer bikes had about 12k on them in showroom condition.
The bike I bought private developed a fuel leak after 1 month ,, I found a cracked carb bowl that had JB weld smeared on it. Just so happen to catch the owner of C&A HD working the parts counter and he went in back and pulled me a brand new take off sold it to me less than 1/2 price his book was showing new.$200 bux.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,788
Likes: 2,222
From: Texas
If the bike is right and the price is right, why not buy from a dealer?
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
Shopped around for a RKC for quite some time and think I found a great deal when I got mine (2005) on craigslist with only 5300 miles. Took a Ride out to WV and 11,500 later I was riding her home. Couldnt have been happier.
My advise would be to shop around you can find some great deals, especailly this day and age.
My advise would be to shop around you can find some great deals, especailly this day and age.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,913
Likes: 87
From:
I have bought both new and used bikes from dealerships and used from private owners also. All of the experiences were good. Unless I fell in love with the used bike, if the price was close to a similar new one, I would buy the new bike.