Would you?
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 36
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Would you?
I have a refundable deposit on a bob which should come in next week. I love the bike and am thrilled to get my foot in the HD world. The thing is that I have a POS car ... a dependable rice burner, with under 100 k but she's looking rough. That means the bob's my main mode of transportation, which is fine in the hot states (I really only need 4 wheels for rain & groceries). When the time comes for a new truck though, I will have to go used if I buy the bob, or get student loans of 5-9k to furnish a new one in 1-3 years (hopefully) when my beater is run to the ground. So if
- you lived in a state where riding is good for at least 9-10 months of the year
- you had the money for the bob
- you only have 1/2-2/3 of an affordable pickup after getting the bob
- you are in school the next 2.5 years without the ability to work at that time
- your car will probably get you through the next 2 years if you take it easy
- you are not in debt based on your cost of living expenses and have access to student loans
WOULD YOU?
- you lived in a state where riding is good for at least 9-10 months of the year
- you had the money for the bob
- you only have 1/2-2/3 of an affordable pickup after getting the bob
- you are in school the next 2.5 years without the ability to work at that time
- your car will probably get you through the next 2 years if you take it easy
- you are not in debt based on your cost of living expenses and have access to student loans
WOULD YOU?
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22,096
Likes: 5
From: Indiana
RE: Would you?
BIKE!!!!! 9-10 MONTHS A YEAR!.......HELL YA. PUT YA LITTLE MONEY IN AT A TIME GET THE CAGE ROLLING AGAIN. DO NOT KNOW IF YOU ARE A DO IT YOURSELFER BUT THAT IS THE ROUTE I WOULD TAKE. GET THE FRIGGIN HAYNES MANUAL FOR THE CAGE AND SOME TOOLS AND FIX THE FRIGGIN THING.....GET SOME BAGS FOR THE BIKE, STRAP YOUR GROCERIES DOWN AND YOUR GOOD TO GO. JUST THINK OF ALL THE GAS $$ YOU'LL SAVE WITH THE BIKE, PUT THAT TOWARDS THE CAR
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 2
From: Colorado Springs, CO
RE: Would you?
In your case, no I wouldn't. You're a student with no income. The last thing you need is to saddle yourself in debt for a luxery item. When the newness of the bike wears off and the trans in your POS car suddenly goes, you'll be kicking yourself over this. You'll end up selling the bike at a loss.
My advice, get your deposit back. Finish school. Then buy a used Bob from other student who did the same thing and now has to unload it at a loss.
I love Harleys, and motorcycles in general. I think everybody should ride one. But now is probably not the best time for you to be spending $16K. If you must have a bike, you get get a used metric for a couple thousand that will last until you graduate.
My advice, get your deposit back. Finish school. Then buy a used Bob from other student who did the same thing and now has to unload it at a loss.
I love Harleys, and motorcycles in general. I think everybody should ride one. But now is probably not the best time for you to be spending $16K. If you must have a bike, you get get a used metric for a couple thousand that will last until you graduate.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 8
From: Dogtown, Oakland, CA
RE: Would you?
ORIGINAL: bobcowan
In your case, no I wouldn't. You're a student with no income. The last thing you need is to saddle yourself in debt for a luxery item. When the newness of the bike wears off and the trans in your POS car suddenly goes, you'll be kicking yourself over this. You'll end up selling the bike at a loss.
My advice, get your deposit back. Finish school. Then buy a used Bob from other student who did the same thing and now has to unload it at a loss.
I love Harleys, and motorcycles in general. I think everybody should ride one. But now is probably not the best time for you to be spending $16K. If you must have a bike, you get get a used metric for a couple thousand that will last until you graduate.
In your case, no I wouldn't. You're a student with no income. The last thing you need is to saddle yourself in debt for a luxery item. When the newness of the bike wears off and the trans in your POS car suddenly goes, you'll be kicking yourself over this. You'll end up selling the bike at a loss.
My advice, get your deposit back. Finish school. Then buy a used Bob from other student who did the same thing and now has to unload it at a loss.
I love Harleys, and motorcycles in general. I think everybody should ride one. But now is probably not the best time for you to be spending $16K. If you must have a bike, you get get a used metric for a couple thousand that will last until you graduate.
Get yourself a used Honda Magna or something. They are super fast, have lots of style, are VERY reliable, handle well, and are pretty inexpensive - enough so that you could prob use the difference to get that truck. Buying used means someone else gets to take the depriciation.
Best of all, they have their own style, and a very unique engine. The V-4 is a piece of art that will stomp most HDs stock, while not being a clone.
On craigslist I find the following:
Honda Magna V4 750 1997 - $4250 9700 miles (sf bay area http://www.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/138269580.html)
thats over $11,000 less NOT INCLUDING TAX, ETC. Harleys are great and all, but if you dont have the scratch for one, dont hock the farm just to get on two wheels. Not to mention the insurance savings.
If thats too much performance for you, there is always the Shadow. There are so many on craigslist its hard to pick just one.
2000 Honda Shadow Aero VT1100 - $5300 4500 miles, Like Brand New, $2000 in chrome upgrades (http://www.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/138223044.html)
You get the idea...
Of course, I'm old school on finances. I dont like consumer debt. Financing education, or a house is worth it, while few other things are.
Dont drink the kool-ade until you can pay the tab.
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Banned
Joined: Aug 2005
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RE: Would you?
And these are our future leaders in action folks. This is the third forum this week that I have seen kids wanting to use student loan money to buy toys.
My advice is fix the car, finish school with as little debt as possible. If you can accomplish this you should do well in life.
Student loans are not free money, you have to pay it back. Takes the better part of ten years in most cases.
A student with no income does not need a Harley- period. Take the long road and you will appreciate any large purchases in the end, more so than you will now.
Load up with debt now and its a memory that will not soon fade.
My advice is fix the car, finish school with as little debt as possible. If you can accomplish this you should do well in life.
Student loans are not free money, you have to pay it back. Takes the better part of ten years in most cases.
A student with no income does not need a Harley- period. Take the long road and you will appreciate any large purchases in the end, more so than you will now.
Load up with debt now and its a memory that will not soon fade.
