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Everything depreciates. I remember looking at Harleys back in the early 90’s, I was stationed at Quantico Virginia and I remember the Harley dealer (Dale City or Triangle Va.) telling me that if I wanted one I would have to order it and it would be about a year wait.
Fast forward to August of 2002. I bought my first HD (2003 Softail Deuce) off the show room floor with no wait.
Here in Southern California the show floors are saturated with new HD’s. There is no shortage of Harley’s here.
I sold my 2003 Deuce two months ago and the buyer came out of state (New Mexico) to buy the bike. Not one contact from anyone in California.
To me it comes down to supply versus demand. There are two many new bikes on the showroom floors (at least here in California.) There are left over 2007 bikes that are being discounted. In the end it drivers down the value of used bikes.
The Internet has made buyers more knowledgeable by providing information.
In the end I bought my HD for the riding experience. I think I found a keeper with the Road Glide and she will not being going anywhere for sometime.
Stay safe and just enjoy the ride.
Resale value my ****. Maybe if you bought the bike 20 years ago. A 1983 FL cost 6500 new then is worth 7200 now. I don't see that same bike which costs about 20,000 being sold for that price or close 20 years from now, do you?
An 83 FL today is worth about $9,000. A 1983 metric is worth $0.00
The difference between shovel/pans and twincams is supply. There were never that many pans and shovels made. HD was a much smaller company. HD is now producing 300,000 twinkys a year. They will never be worth we we paid, ride them into the ground and have fun!
Wbogley hit it the nail on the head. If you want your bike as an investment HD needs to cut production. That will never happen because of the almighty dollar. Along with stockholders wanting a return on their investment.
I've been riding HD's for over 30-years ~ there use to be a time when HDdealers andmotorcycleswere few and far between. That's no longer the case ~ dealerships and motorcycles are everywhere...The good news is; more people that want HD's can buy HD's compared to years ago when that was not always the case. Bottom line, the days of anything...including HD'sholdingtheir value and or immediately becoming a profitable investment are gone.My advise, by a HD because you love the Motorcycle and enjoy riding it. If you're looking for an investment ~ you made the wrong purchase.
Most own Harleys for non resale investment reason, me too. However the original poster had mentioned the salesman tried to shine him on about resale bull. I believe the MOCO has squeezed everybit of that out and it doesn't exist like it use to. And I thought they were building bikes by the MANS system(manufactore as needed system). There seems to be a glut like maybe they were thinking the gas prices was gonna cause a surge in bike purchasing? I follow several bike sale sites and the prices appear to be dropping noticeably(or else I am seeing things?)
I understood what the OP was saying. I know I called all HD dealers within a 300 mile radius here and they were all selling at MSRP. Besides when did people start beleiving sales people. LOL
Ouch, that '08 Screaming Eagle Ultra that I was going to buy 4-5 weeks ago is still on the dealer's floor. A TON of anniversary bikes as well (at least one of each model). A sales person was going on and on with somebody about how much better the resale value of the HD is compared to a GoldWing. I laughed as said "not anymore jack." He wasn't happy...
My dealer has enough 08s on the floor (and lined up back in the shop area) where they wouldn't need an 09 delivered till late fall.
Still won't deal though. I'm looking for a Sportster for my wife and MSRP plus all the frieght, setup stuff is still the norm. I'm figuring in a month or so as the 09 model delivery looms things may change.
They will never be worth we we paid, ride them into the ground and have fun!
wbogley: I hope what you meant was they will never be worth what we paid to anyone else used. I paid $20,000+ for my ultra and I think it is worth every penny to me.
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