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 morein 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'd say look now, and look used (private sale)! Let the first guy take the depreciation hit. There are a ton of nice bikes for sale right now, the used market is flooded. I'm sure you could find what you're looking forat much less than new price.

 

Buy now and buy used and GO RIDE! Don't wait!

 

I've become a strong believer in recent vintage used. I bought my 05 1200 C with 1300 miles on it about a year ago. It was and still is perfect. I figure the original owner lost somewhere around $4,000.00. Better him than me !!

 

I suggest you to "feel" your bike. It's simply passion, not a math test.
Seems like it's a hard job for you, while it should be the funniest part of own a bike.

By the way, in my opinion own a Harley-Davidson, and don't customize it. Buy it, drive it, "live" it, and then, if you want, sit on your sofa with your catalogue and start building YOUR bike.

 

It's a hard choice,new,used ,RK, Softail,Deluxe.I wasn't really ready to buy when I went into the dealer that Friday afternoon 2 years ago,but when I saw the Lava Red RKC sitting there it was all over. Rode the bike home.I think you'll know when you see the bike for you,It'll jump out at you like lightning.

 

Look for a 12-18 month old bike somebody has upgraded the motor to 95 inch and wants to get out. Look hard and long enough and you will find what you are looking for. I would say ebay local classifieds, thrify nickel (penny saver) type publications should be scrutinized. Stay away from cycle trader, as in most cases prices are severly inflated as are most websites dedicated to selling hd's (most, not all).

I bought my 05 Deluxe last year in late August. The guy had reciepts for almost 25k. 12k miles, motor had 5k worth of upgrades done at 8k miles. Bike still under dealer warranty (runs out next month). I gave less than 14k for the bike.

It's your money.

 

You ask so I'll respond. I, from how you worded your post, you are not ready, so at this point I would advise you to do nothing, you seem more worried about the $$$$ you are going to spend than the fact that spring is on the way and the riding season is coming up.Purchasing a bike is NOT an investment, you WILL loose $$$ the momentyou buy it, so forget that part, this is the real world.Again wait until you are less concerned about the $$$$ and more concerned about getting the bike that is "right" for you. I'll wave as I go by on the way to RT 66 trip this May.

 

Well I think you misinterpreted my points. Its not that I am worried exclusively about the $$$. But it is a BIG purchase and I don't want to make a mistake. I am new to motorcycles so I am concerned that my first bike may not be the one I stick with so I am trying to plan to be able to survive a mistake with minimal damage.

There will be a riding season every spring and here in Texas the winter is probably more pleasant time to ride anyway. Summer can be too hot to be comfortable. Do you not take into account the cost factor in major purchases and do the necessary research?

 

Yeah that is what I am seeing with regard to private sellers. Especially here on this forum. There seems to be a glut in the used market and very few buyers. Of course I don't want to try to buy in Virginia or New York and try to get it back to Texas so I am limited to the local market. We have a place here that sells used bikes exclusively and they have a lot of very nice looking bikes. They are thriving!! Even the dealers are looking like they are not selling as fast as they want to but this used bike placeis selling really well. I saw a really beautiful Deluxe there 2006 with only 125 miles on it and they only wanted $17.9k out the door tax and everything which sounded like a good deal to me based on what I have seen. But then I get back to all the questions. Do I want to go 2006 and have to face the value drop when the 96" bikes with the 6 speed are common and used?