Trade value? How much do you typically lose?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,275
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From: The Rust Belt!
I agree. I always do that. I have 4 I go to and wheel and deal.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 1,466
From: Charleston, SC
Thanks. I was talking about any newish Harley really. If we're talking about dealer experience anyway.
Say if you paid 24K out the door for your old bike, dealerships will usually only offer 16-18K in trade a few years later. 6-8k difference typically. Plus any new bike price increase. (?)
That difference gets even higher when you are buying up, say a SG to a Limited or Special. Easily 10K with all factors considered.
I usually trade up to a more expensive bike, so on average 10K is the number I do quick accounting with. I don't expect others to use this number. I do though which keeps me from buying new bikes every year.
Bottom line there is not a hard fast number but do factor in the new bike price increase and parts you have to leave on the bike and what it will cost to buy again for the new bike if that's the case.
Good luck on your purchase OP.
Say if you paid 24K out the door for your old bike, dealerships will usually only offer 16-18K in trade a few years later. 6-8k difference typically. Plus any new bike price increase. (?)
That difference gets even higher when you are buying up, say a SG to a Limited or Special. Easily 10K with all factors considered.
I usually trade up to a more expensive bike, so on average 10K is the number I do quick accounting with. I don't expect others to use this number. I do though which keeps me from buying new bikes every year.
Bottom line there is not a hard fast number but do factor in the new bike price increase and parts you have to leave on the bike and what it will cost to buy again for the new bike if that's the case.
Good luck on your purchase OP.
Banned
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4,576
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From: Viet Vet, crossroads
One has to realize you will lose all the mark up that was paid for the sale last time (dealer profit)
You will suffer the deduction for miles and being a used bike .
I have no clue what the avg dealer mark up is, but I would guess close to 5K or why bother selling the shet?
By the time the flooring charge comes through, set up, etc etc I dont think 2K would be worth it .
You will suffer the deduction for miles and being a used bike .
I have no clue what the avg dealer mark up is, but I would guess close to 5K or why bother selling the shet?
By the time the flooring charge comes through, set up, etc etc I dont think 2K would be worth it .
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: KMHT KFMY
Age of the vehicle% Depreciation Not exceeding 6 months 5% Exceeding 6 months but not exceeding 1 year 15% Exceeding 1 year but not exceeding 2 years20% Exceeding 2 years but not exceeding 3 years 30% Exceeding 3 years but not exceeding 4 years 40% Exceeding 4 years but not exceeding 5 years 50% Exceeding 5 years Depreciation increases at a rate of 2.5% every year.
Last edited by Neggy ZRXOA 5248; Nov 6, 2018 at 07:53 AM.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
Very wise! 
Why wait - let's go..... 
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 358
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From: Dallas, TX
Ive traded 1 Harley and 1 non-Harley, both on Harley's...
On the Harley to Harley trade, they gave me MORE for my trade than I paid 1 year prior. This was not at the original selling dealer so they did not know what I paid for it(I paid under MSRP).
On the non-Harley to Harley trade I didnt make out that good, but they came in 2000+ over book value which with the sales tax offset and some money I got back from an extended warranty on the trade in bike, I got out of that bike even to what I owed.
On the Harley to Harley trade, they gave me MORE for my trade than I paid 1 year prior. This was not at the original selling dealer so they did not know what I paid for it(I paid under MSRP).
On the non-Harley to Harley trade I didnt make out that good, but they came in 2000+ over book value which with the sales tax offset and some money I got back from an extended warranty on the trade in bike, I got out of that bike even to what I owed.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 214
Likes: 33
From: Colorado
I've traded in many bikes over the years. I understand that you will get far less than if you sell it yourself. But sometimes the hassle of selling isn't/wasn't worth it to me. As many others have mentioned, there are alot of factors. But the biggest one is how easy is it for the dealer to re-sell your trade-in. What I've recently found though is dealers don't go off of Blue Book or NADA. They are going off of what "auction house" prices trend. Based on that, I've been offered 20% less than low Blue Book/NADA on a very clean bike (which they wound up selling less than a week after trade-in). Trade-in values have definitely gotten worse in my area.
One dealer I used to buy my Euro bikes from was very generous IMO. They typically gave me full trade-in value.
I was recently sadly disappointed when the local Harley shop where I previously purchased all my Harleys offered me very little on my 2017 FLSS on trade in. At the time Blue Book valued it at like 15k trade-in. They offered me just over 10k. I was shocked. I had expected maybe 13k-14k... They said they thought it would take them a long time to sell as the color (Olive Denim) and the fact it was a "Slim" would only appeal to women. I was actually surprised by that "women" comment. In any event I kept it and just bought the FLHXS (which by the way they gave me an excellent price on the 2018 FLHXS).
One dealer I used to buy my Euro bikes from was very generous IMO. They typically gave me full trade-in value.
I was recently sadly disappointed when the local Harley shop where I previously purchased all my Harleys offered me very little on my 2017 FLSS on trade in. At the time Blue Book valued it at like 15k trade-in. They offered me just over 10k. I was shocked. I had expected maybe 13k-14k... They said they thought it would take them a long time to sell as the color (Olive Denim) and the fact it was a "Slim" would only appeal to women. I was actually surprised by that "women" comment. In any event I kept it and just bought the FLHXS (which by the way they gave me an excellent price on the 2018 FLHXS).
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Joined: Oct 2018
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From: Parma
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Ohio
What is this "trade-in" you're talking about? I'm perfectly happy with my bike. 
Seriously though, for years I had the "got to get a new bike" fever BAD. I traded bikes every year, and in one case after just a couple months. I shudder to think of all the money I lost in extras alone, only to have to start all over and spend money on the new bike, which I also lost the next time I traded in. I finally came to my senses and learned to be content with the bike I already owned.
Seriously though, for years I had the "got to get a new bike" fever BAD. I traded bikes every year, and in one case after just a couple months. I shudder to think of all the money I lost in extras alone, only to have to start all over and spend money on the new bike, which I also lost the next time I traded in. I finally came to my senses and learned to be content with the bike I already owned.
Last edited by hd4evr2008; Nov 8, 2018 at 07:43 PM.