Advice on an expensive custom for sale
#21
03-16-2011, 10:16 PM
Unofficial HDF Chaplain
#22
03-16-2011, 10:18 PM
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God I'm so glad I came here before purchasing. I just realized I do know a great guy who can do the customizations. I can buy a stock Fatboy Lo and have him work on it. I won't be able to ride it off the lot looking like I wanted to, but I'm beginning to understand that it's about the process you go through with your bike that makes you love it. Maybe I will get my hands dirty.
Last edited by $tock; 03-16-2011 at 10:29 PM.
#24
03-16-2011, 10:22 PM
#25
03-16-2011, 10:23 PM
a nice custom i would value at 12-15k tops..a quarter of the starting bid..a custom isnt a HD its a pieced togeather chopper..nothing will fit it,it wont ride good,75%of custom paintjobs are not half the quality of factory paint,scratch or chip easier..but they look good??when i was working at a bike shop,i could of bought complete new kits like that with a 110ci engine and 6 speed trans for 10k.the chopper craze died a few years ago..a bike like that is hard to sell cheap
#26
03-16-2011, 10:24 PM
Cruiser
#27
03-16-2011, 10:27 PM
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When someone spends that kind of money, they had a vision of what exactly they wanted. Myself, I look at it as it's a really nice bike, but it's not *my* vision. Most of the custom add-ons don't add to the resale value, with the 105" engine being the main attraction. Some of that money spent was for labor which generally adds nothing to the resale.
Case in point. A friend was selling an '05 Fatboy that he put in about $37k total. I know that is true, he has more money than brains. Some of the mods I liked, some I could take it or leave, and the rest I didn't care for. A year ago, out of the goodness of his heart, he offered it to me only for $17k. To this day, it's still sitting in his garage with a price tag of $14k. After all was said and done, it was still a 6 year old bike with a few nice additions. I ended up with a newer bike for $11k, that appealed to me with a few mods that I really liked, and room to add mods that really mean something to me.
Case in point. A friend was selling an '05 Fatboy that he put in about $37k total. I know that is true, he has more money than brains. Some of the mods I liked, some I could take it or leave, and the rest I didn't care for. A year ago, out of the goodness of his heart, he offered it to me only for $17k. To this day, it's still sitting in his garage with a price tag of $14k. After all was said and done, it was still a 6 year old bike with a few nice additions. I ended up with a newer bike for $11k, that appealed to me with a few mods that I really liked, and room to add mods that really mean something to me.
#28
03-16-2011, 10:29 PM
God I'm so glad I came here before purchasing. I just realized I do know a great guy who can do the customizations. I can buy a stock Fatboy Lo and have him work on it. I won't be able to ride it off the lot looking like I wanted to, but I'm beginning to understand that's it's about the process you go through with your bike that makes you love it. Maybe I will get my hands dirty.
i still state that you should look into a used bike as your first, but it's your money so no one can tell you what to do with it but you. Whatever you choose, good luck with it
Oh also, periodically check out Sears for their Craftsman Mechanics Toolkit sales.. i got my dad a 260 piece kit at Christmas for $185, and with the exception of a breaker bar, it's had every single piece i've needed to work on my bike..both standard and metric. Also comes in a nice little case that keeps everything organized.. just something to think about if you want to get your hands dirty.
#29
03-16-2011, 10:36 PM
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a nice custom i would value at 12-15k tops..a quarter of the starting bid..a custom isnt a HD its a pieced togeather chopper..nothing will fit it,it wont ride good,75%of custom paintjobs are not half the quality of factory paint,scratch or chip easier..but they look good??when i was working at a bike shop,i could of bought complete new kits like that with a 110ci engine and 6 speed trans for 10k.the chopper craze died a few years ago..a bike like that is hard to sell cheap
#30
03-16-2011, 10:38 PM
Nice looking bike. He might have that much into if the indy shop that built it for him ripped him off.
In the late 80s I think it was Bartels HD was selling basically stock harleys with OEM parts sent out to be chromed and custom paint for $70K. People with more money than sense showed them there was a market for just about whatever they wanted for them.
Alot of what that guy has added to that bike is aftermarket. I think you'd need to find an indy shop to recreate the look if that's the look you want.
In the late 80s I think it was Bartels HD was selling basically stock harleys with OEM parts sent out to be chromed and custom paint for $70K. People with more money than sense showed them there was a market for just about whatever they wanted for them.
Alot of what that guy has added to that bike is aftermarket. I think you'd need to find an indy shop to recreate the look if that's the look you want.