Decisions decisions......
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 462
Likes: 1
From: Arizona
RE: Decisions decisions......
Personnelly I would buy used. Take your time and get what you want. I see you have test rode some thats good. Don't forget the other American Vtwin (Victory). They will let you test ride a bike unlike HD. Why are you worried about resale value? If you find a bike you like, you will NOT want to sell it. I own a 91 springer softtail and a 06 Vic 8-Ball. Honestly the 8-Ball is a better bike. I still love my Springer and have put a lot of money and miles on her. (over 200,000 miles). It's your choice. Would recommend taking a saftey course is you haven't already! Ride Safe.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,234
Likes: 106
RE: Decisions decisions......
ORIGINAL: PlanoRider
Well I have been obsessing about motorcycles for about 6 months now and still have not bought a Harley yet. I wish someone would have warned me about the adictive nature of motorcycles. Heroin has nothing on motorcycles... LOL
I still need to rent several bikes and ride them to pick the exact model but I have narrowed it down to the Road King, Fat Boy, or the Deluxe. But the question in my post is not about that part.
I keep going back and forth about whether to buy new or used??? Individual or dealer? I don't need financing so would I get a better deal from an individual??? Mechanic inspection or not? Of course it will be cheaper if used but there will be no warranty so it could get expensive if there is something major wrong. This will be my first major bike and I feel there is a good chance that even if I take a long time to pick the bike I still might find I really want something else so I don't want to take a bath in the bike. I don't mind losing one or two thousand but I really don't want to drop $5k or more in loss to get out of one bike and into another and I am afraid that is what happens with new bikes. But I want a lot of mods and accessories and if I buy them and put them on it is very expensive but I can find them on a used bike much cheaper
Also Screamin' Eagle/CVO or not??? Do they keep their value better enough to justify the bigger price? Or are they just harder to sell? I mean with one of those there is little need for mods, its all done.
2007 or later or 2006 and earlier?? Will the old 88's with 5 speeds begin to drop in value once there are used 96's with 6 speeds out there? Will the temp problems and other issues with the new bikes continue? Or are they just the ranting of the few that got a lemon????
My target time frame is the fall since I don't want to buy in the spring or summer when prices are high. Is this usually a big difference??? I know this winter the market has been depressed. If I was ready I could have gotten several good deals. But not sure how good they are/were when I cannot guess where the market is going in the future. The market is really in a state of flux. I cannot decide if there is really an over supply and prices will drop over the long haul or if this is just the standard yearly cycle.
Thoughts? Advice?
Thanks,
Mike
Well I have been obsessing about motorcycles for about 6 months now and still have not bought a Harley yet. I wish someone would have warned me about the adictive nature of motorcycles. Heroin has nothing on motorcycles... LOL
I still need to rent several bikes and ride them to pick the exact model but I have narrowed it down to the Road King, Fat Boy, or the Deluxe. But the question in my post is not about that part.
I keep going back and forth about whether to buy new or used??? Individual or dealer? I don't need financing so would I get a better deal from an individual??? Mechanic inspection or not? Of course it will be cheaper if used but there will be no warranty so it could get expensive if there is something major wrong. This will be my first major bike and I feel there is a good chance that even if I take a long time to pick the bike I still might find I really want something else so I don't want to take a bath in the bike. I don't mind losing one or two thousand but I really don't want to drop $5k or more in loss to get out of one bike and into another and I am afraid that is what happens with new bikes. But I want a lot of mods and accessories and if I buy them and put them on it is very expensive but I can find them on a used bike much cheaper
Also Screamin' Eagle/CVO or not??? Do they keep their value better enough to justify the bigger price? Or are they just harder to sell? I mean with one of those there is little need for mods, its all done.
2007 or later or 2006 and earlier?? Will the old 88's with 5 speeds begin to drop in value once there are used 96's with 6 speeds out there? Will the temp problems and other issues with the new bikes continue? Or are they just the ranting of the few that got a lemon????
My target time frame is the fall since I don't want to buy in the spring or summer when prices are high. Is this usually a big difference??? I know this winter the market has been depressed. If I was ready I could have gotten several good deals. But not sure how good they are/were when I cannot guess where the market is going in the future. The market is really in a state of flux. I cannot decide if there is really an over supply and prices will drop over the long haul or if this is just the standard yearly cycle.
Thoughts? Advice?
Thanks,
Mike
I bought a 2006 Low Rider. Right off the floor. It was what I wanted. First new one I ever bought. But that was me. I plan on riding her a long time.
There are lots of good used rides out there. People that are buying new. People that have to sell. Right now I think it is a buyers market. Dealers won't give you anything on a trade. They offered me $8000 on a trade up to an '07. I was still laughing as I walked out the door. I just wanted to see what they would give me. I found out they are crazy. But I guess people do it.
You can find a good used 2006 and probably save enough to get a big boar kit. I love the 6 speed trans. The FI is great. I have the SERT to tune as I need to. By buying used you can still get a carb if thats what you want.
As for the warranty, there are aftermarket warranties you can get if that is a concern. I have one lined up for the Dyna that will be about half what Harley wants.
Use the dealers to decide on the model. Then look for the deal.
Good Luck
Novice
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Decisions decisions......
ORIGINAL: PlanoRider
Thats a pretty heavy bike but then all Harleys are pretty heavy.... So how did the weight feel at first? I am getting really comfortable on the Rebel but it weighs less than 350lbs so I don't know how it will feel when I try a big bike........
Thats a pretty heavy bike but then all Harleys are pretty heavy.... So how did the weight feel at first? I am getting really comfortable on the Rebel but it weighs less than 350lbs so I don't know how it will feel when I try a big bike........
Never ridden a bike before my Dad bought his 07 RKclassic last year.. He let me ride it around the block and it freaked me out, but made me fall in love with it at the same time. I went out and bought a used 04 RKcustom. I had my dad come down to my area so he could ride it home for me.
I spent every min away from work playing around with it in parking lots (dropped it 2 times)/ then I took a MSF course so I could get the MC endorsement+ got the ride like a pro DVD.
I still felt UN-easy with it at times.. Last week I said F*ck it and rode up to my Dad's place.. then we went to bike-week. I put more than 1400 miles on my RKcustom last week and I swear I love it to death. (More than the first day I had it in my garage.)
I would definitely go used if you can find one you like. Last year.. I bought my 04 RK custom for around $13000, and it has well over $3000 in extras that the previous owner put into it. (under 8000 miles when I got it)
It is very heavy compared to the Rebel.. but I think If you get the bike you like, all you got to do is ride it.. (put some miles on it). Like I said above^^ I felt UN-easy at first, but after putting some miles on it... I now feel like the bike takes me to the places I want to go instead of me taking my bike places.. it just makes me happy.
sorry for the long post...
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Decisions decisions......
Any of the touring bikes are great to ride so long as you have a place to practice. I live 3 blocks away from the High School parking lot and have spent the majority of my riding time practicing the excercises from the Ride Like A Pro IV video and from the MSF class. I took it very slow and stayed on quiet side streets until I felt comfortable for more. The bike doesn't feel heavy to me anymore and having a faring is awesome.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,317
Likes: 11
From: Tucson, Az
RE: Decisions decisions......
You only have to look. Bargains are to be found.
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Joe Kucinski
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,947
Likes: 5
From: Ontario, Canada
RE: Decisions decisions......
Don't be intimidated by the weight. Learn how to ride and the weight won't be a problem. FYI, a bike standing perfectly straight up doesn't weigh anything as far a the rider having to hold it up.
SE bikes, from the sounds of it are way out of your experience bracket and as has been said before, Harley's aren't an investment. They will lose value, especially if you add stuff to them. I've added lots, I know it's money spent, not money invested.
Whatever you do, get crackin', times a passin' you by!
SE bikes, from the sounds of it are way out of your experience bracket and as has been said before, Harley's aren't an investment. They will lose value, especially if you add stuff to them. I've added lots, I know it's money spent, not money invested.
Whatever you do, get crackin', times a passin' you by!
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Decisions decisions......
Harley... better than drugs and completely legal!!
You didn't tell us what your riding experience level is, or what kind of riding you plan to do. That can effect your target bike. What you are looking at are all excellent choices. Are you going to have a passenger or take any road trips? the RK would be better suited for that.The Deluxe is a VERY smooth ride. My wife has one, and I enjoy getting out on it occasionlly, ane we go out 2 up on hers (local riding). the Deluxe iis an excelent choice for a first Harley. Fatboy is somewhat sporty and nostalgic. Fun bike. If you have little experience, you may want to wait on a SE bike.
Bottom line.. get the bike NOW and enjoy the riding season. Do you REALLY want to wait until fall and let ANOTHER year slip by? just my opinion...
You didn't tell us what your riding experience level is, or what kind of riding you plan to do. That can effect your target bike. What you are looking at are all excellent choices. Are you going to have a passenger or take any road trips? the RK would be better suited for that.The Deluxe is a VERY smooth ride. My wife has one, and I enjoy getting out on it occasionlly, ane we go out 2 up on hers (local riding). the Deluxe iis an excelent choice for a first Harley. Fatboy is somewhat sporty and nostalgic. Fun bike. If you have little experience, you may want to wait on a SE bike.
Bottom line.. get the bike NOW and enjoy the riding season. Do you REALLY want to wait until fall and let ANOTHER year slip by? just my opinion...