I recently sold my 2009 Street Glide to buy something newer. I am looking at a 2016 Street Glide that has 24K+ in add ons to include Harley Custom Shop Paint Set, 110 CI Engine Upgrade, Audio Upgrade etc. I have been provided the Work Order from Harley Davidson where the work was done documenting/ detailing all the work and there was clearly no expense spared.

I really dig the paint set, but I don't want to grossly overspend because of all the "extra's". I can buy this bike for around 25k, while I am seeing other 2016 SG in the 15-18 range.

I had my last bike for 5-6 years so it has been a while since I have been in the "buy" mindset, so my question for the group..... is there a rule of thumb on value accessories add to a used bike if any?? I don't want my emotions to lead me down the path of losing my *** if I ride this for a year and sell.

Thoughts??

 

Accessories add very little if at all when traded to a dealer. JMO

 

Upgrades are only worth something when you are buying the bike...when you go to sell it, you get doodly dick.

 

is this from a dealer or from a private party?

typical trade in is $13,375 and dealer retail is $16,600. you can bet your bottom dollar that when that bike was traded in, they gave the previous owner next to nothing for all the extras. so why should you pay for them now? no way would i pay $25 for that bike. you can buy a cvo of that era for a little more than that price. if i really liked the paint, i might give up $500-$1000. but no more than that.

if you pay the asking price, you would absolutely have allowed your emotions to lead you down the path of losing your ***. my thinking is that if you think you're only gonna ride this bike for a year, then don't buy it. every vehicle that i buy, i plan on keeping for the long haul. it may turn out that i don't, but that's the plan.

 

Customizations add to the value, but they depreciate just like the bike does. You absolutely shouldn’t pay full retail for the parts or work done, but it’s not reasonable to think that you will get a custom paint set and other big ticket components for the same price as a bike without them. In the end, you’ll have to consider if you’re going to want the same add-on’s if you buy the $15-$18K bike, or if you’d spend the $ on slightly different components. If you want the exact setup as what’s on the one in front of you, what will they cost you to add them on?

All that said, I would question spending $24K on a 4 model year old SG. Honestly, I’d question spending $18K on one. You can buy a brand new Electra Glide Standard for $18,999 MSRP, get a factory warranty and make it your own custom with the extra $5-6K. If you’re gunna want one blacked out, get a SG Special. Lots of 2017, 2018 and 2019 used ones out there and having done a 110 Tire Shredder kit on my 2015 RGS you’ll be just as happy, if not happier, with a 107 or 114 M8, especially if you put a cam in it.

Good luck with your decision though.

 

It's a dealer who has it. I asked him for the No BS price if I paid cash he we are not right at 20k

I appreciate the advice and everything you all mentioned are great points and probably what I needed to hear. I was asking for the advice because I don't want to make an impulse buy. Much like my last bike, I will probably keep this next one for the long term, but I try to approach things from a worst-case scenario and backward plan.

I have a little gunshy on the Milwaukee 8's based on what I have read on the oiling issues, but they may have that figured out by now.

 

25K will buy you a brand new street glide, with a radio, and a full warranty. If you are really concerned about the " oiling issue" get a extended warranty. Adding all the accessories to a bike is not a good investment. The dealer selling that bike is just trying to play off the buyers ignorance. Can't blame them for trying to make a buck.

 

Treat the dealer like he treated the guy that traded it in. Tell the dealer you like the Custom paint job and will pay extra for it. But all the other crap that's on it is of no use to you, and you would not have put it on your bike, so you won't pay extra for it. After all, that's what the dealer tells you when YOU trade in for a new bike, and you put an extra $3000 in accessories on it.

So find out what the Custom paint job cost and discount it because it isn't original anymore and it has been "weathered". Then add that paint cost to $15,000, and tell him that's what you'll pay. If he doesn't accept that offer, walk away.

Remember, you can buy a $15,000 bike and add what YOU want on it and add as much cost as your wallet can stand. One of our members here did that. He bought a 2 or 3 year old bike, added the custom stuff he wanted..to the tune of $10,000, and he had a $25,000 bike, which was cheaper than he could have bought one like it new.

 

Thats a fact Jack!

 

For 25 you can buy almost any bike new except the CVO. I’d go new