Purchasing my first HD... help!
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,681
Likes: 233
From:
i bought a bike with a clean title (ducati monster) for 5K that should have been totaled. It was a fair price...not great but not bad. Ive learned alot of lessons since then! Yes you can buy a clean title bike thats totaled! Imagine my surprise a week later when a huge golf ball sized bubble appeared on the tank. Peel away at the bubble to see bondo...go further and scrape away all the bondo to see the big crack in the tank and gas leaking out. About that time is when i noticed the frame was bent, there was a huge oil leak forming in the fins and the VIN number had been scratched off the frame. Try to contact the person that sold it to you and his number is not valid (throw away phone) go to his apartment 2 weeks later to find out he no longer lives there. ugg. lessons learned.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
I'm another that says you can do better. Tires were mentioned - check tire dates, especially on low mileage sportsters over 5 years old, they can have good looking tires that are too old to be safe, and most of us would say that's in the 6 to 7 year range, max.
The market is swimming in sportsters. Cast your net wide. Get a dealer's ear, continue on Craigslist, ebay, cycle trader.. etc. 4-5k can get you a 2011+ bike. Take your time.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 28
Likes: 4
From: Ohio
Hopefully you read all the replies and they were helpful. More importantly when you try to resell it, as you read, no one wants a salvaged title bike. You might own this one for a very Loonngggg time. I agree with trudger. If the paint is what got your attention, do a search on ebay. you can probably find a set of sporty tin take offs in that color there. Or maybe even here...
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,333
Likes: 355
From: San Diego
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 17,625
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From: Blairsville GA
+1 Last fall I got a seriously upgraded 2011 Iron for just over $4K.
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Stage II
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: East Bend, NC
Thank you all very much for your advice! I offered $2,000 and was told no, and that he had turned down $2,500 multiple times.
So... I guess he can keep sitting on that bike because I am definitely not paying that much for it!! haha
I will attempt to be patient and keep watching for one that I love ( In my price range) to pop up!
So... I guess he can keep sitting on that bike because I am definitely not paying that much for it!! haha
I will attempt to be patient and keep watching for one that I love ( In my price range) to pop up!