I don't get it????????
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: In your closet
I own 2 Sportsters, a 2000 and a 2003. They are both completely rebuilt into something they wheren't.
What I don't get is why would anyone spend $10,000 on a new FI Sportster and then have to pay another $1-2000 for a Tuner, Dyno tune, pipes or mufflers and an aircleaner.
Why woundn't you people buy a good used Sporty and spend 1/2 what it costs to tune a new bike????
I can see spending that much on my RK but not a Sportster, that's money you will never get back ($1-2000 is 10-20% of what the bike is worth) and the percentage is even worse for the 883 owners.
What I don't get is why would anyone spend $10,000 on a new FI Sportster and then have to pay another $1-2000 for a Tuner, Dyno tune, pipes or mufflers and an aircleaner.
Why woundn't you people buy a good used Sporty and spend 1/2 what it costs to tune a new bike????
I can see spending that much on my RK but not a Sportster, that's money you will never get back ($1-2000 is 10-20% of what the bike is worth) and the percentage is even worse for the 883 owners.
As far as "not getting your money back".. you think you'll get it back on a Road King?
I just looked up resale on an '08 RK and an '08 Nightster.. At the wholesale level(true indicator of vehicle's worth), the RK lost $6800, and the Nightster lost a little less than $3k. With MSRP's of roughly $9900 and $17,000 respectively, do the math and tell me which one looses more value..both overall and percentage wise. You lose a bigger percentage of what you spent on the RK than you do on the Sportster.
Beyond that people usually are smart enough to know vehicles aren't purchased as an investment. The vast majority of them lose value the second you ride/drive it off the lot.
They therefore don't buy them for that reason. They buy 'em with the expectation of having fun, and that's the return they look for from their investment. This being the case...what you spend and what you get back when you sell it is a moot point. You'll spend what you can afford to, and you get re-paid from the enjoyment the bike gives you.
As far as investing in things that make your bike go faster, I look at it totally opposite of how you do.. I see a Road King and think of an RV. It's big and slow. Spending money to make it go from 0-60 in 8 seconds, to 0-60 in 7.8 seconds(an example as I have no idea how slow they are) doesn't change the fact that it's still slow, and always will be. I wouldn't do it..but then again I wouldn't buy a Road King either.
Spend an equal amount of money on a Sportster, and you'll get something back that's actually reasonably quick. Very quick for a Harley.
So there's an answer to your question...
Not everybody thinks the way you do.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 929
Likes: 3
From: Caro, Michigan
I bought a new bike because I wanted a new bike...have had used in the past and just wanted new.
A better question is...why are you so judgemental about other people's actions? And why do you care?
Everyone does what they do for various reasons...maybe they had a bad experience with a used vehicle. Maybe they didn't want a carbed bike. Maybe they couldn't find a used bike in good shape. The list is endless.
A better question is...why are you so judgemental about other people's actions? And why do you care?
Everyone does what they do for various reasons...maybe they had a bad experience with a used vehicle. Maybe they didn't want a carbed bike. Maybe they couldn't find a used bike in good shape. The list is endless.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 0
From: East Central Illinois
Different people have different reasons/opinions. Me personally, I bought mine new. I actually bought earlier than I planned and wasn't able to put as much down as I would have liked. But mine is an 06 1200c, the 07's were coming out and I wanted a carbed bike and it was the only one I could find in my area in the color I wanted. So I got new with warranty, got a good deal(for new) as the dealer wanted the 06's out the door before the 07's started arriving. I do most of my own work, had it dynoed after I put the air cleaner and exhaust on, and enjoy the hell out of riding every chance I get.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 330
Likes: 2
From: IL
Because I wanted a bike to ride, not wrench on constantly. I've bought old junk and will continue but I wanted something to put miles on and will get another to tinker with. I originally had saved up cash for a truck but decided a new bike would be much more fun.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 485
Likes: 1
From: Born and raised in the NC Mtn's
It only costs half as much to tune a used bike as it does a new one?
As far as "not getting your money back".. you think you'll get it back on a Road King?
I just looked up resale on an '08 RK and an '08 Nightster.. At the wholesale level(true indicator of vehicle's worth), the RK lost $6800, and the Nightster lost a little less than $3k. With MSRP's of roughly $9900 and $17,000 respectively, do the math and tell me which one looses more value..both overall and percentage wise. You lose a bigger percentage of what you spent on the RK than you do on the Sportster.
Beyond that people usually are smart enough to know vehicles aren't purchased as an investment. The vast majority of them lose value the second you ride/drive it off the lot.
They therefore don't buy them for that reason. They buy 'em with the expectation of having fun, and that's the return they look for from their investment. This being the case...what you spend and what you get back when you sell it is a moot point. You'll spend what you can afford to, and you get re-paid from the enjoyment the bike gives you.
As far as investing in things that make your bike go faster, I look at it totally opposite of how you do.. I see a Road King and think of an RV. It's big and slow. Spending money to make it go from 0-60 in 8 seconds, to 0-60 in 7.8 seconds(an example as I have no idea how slow they are) doesn't change the fact that it's still slow, and always will be. I wouldn't do it..but then again I wouldn't buy a Road King either.
Spend an equal amount of money on a Sportster, and you'll get something back that's actually reasonably quick. Very quick for a Harley.
So there's an answer to your question...
Not everybody thinks the way you do.
As far as "not getting your money back".. you think you'll get it back on a Road King?
I just looked up resale on an '08 RK and an '08 Nightster.. At the wholesale level(true indicator of vehicle's worth), the RK lost $6800, and the Nightster lost a little less than $3k. With MSRP's of roughly $9900 and $17,000 respectively, do the math and tell me which one looses more value..both overall and percentage wise. You lose a bigger percentage of what you spent on the RK than you do on the Sportster.
Beyond that people usually are smart enough to know vehicles aren't purchased as an investment. The vast majority of them lose value the second you ride/drive it off the lot.
They therefore don't buy them for that reason. They buy 'em with the expectation of having fun, and that's the return they look for from their investment. This being the case...what you spend and what you get back when you sell it is a moot point. You'll spend what you can afford to, and you get re-paid from the enjoyment the bike gives you.
As far as investing in things that make your bike go faster, I look at it totally opposite of how you do.. I see a Road King and think of an RV. It's big and slow. Spending money to make it go from 0-60 in 8 seconds, to 0-60 in 7.8 seconds(an example as I have no idea how slow they are) doesn't change the fact that it's still slow, and always will be. I wouldn't do it..but then again I wouldn't buy a Road King either.
Spend an equal amount of money on a Sportster, and you'll get something back that's actually reasonably quick. Very quick for a Harley.
So there's an answer to your question...
Not everybody thinks the way you do.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 9,254
Likes: 283
From: Lake City, Florida (Native)
Bought many Low Mileage Used Harleys with no problems at a Great Discount and sometimes with a lot of extras that in the end exceeded the price of a New one ... Is a Matter of Choice.. And My Chgoice for the 08 Electra is wanted at least one more new Bike before get too old to enjoy riding .. Other than 08 the only other Bike Bought new was the 1969 XLCH figured was time to try another new one ... 
Last edited by JayStronghawk; Sep 7, 2009 at 03:17 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,023
Likes: 1,352
From: Virginia
My sporty purchase was my first ever new bike let alone a H-D. I didn't want something someone else had broken in. At my age it will probably be the only bike I ever buy so I wanted it to be new and mine. That to me is worth every cent I paid.