When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Let's say you have an accident and your bike is totaled. You owe $18,000, but the blue book and what the insurance will pay is $14,000. You are stuck paying $4,000 out of your pocket on the loan.
If you have GAP coverage, the $4000 would be paid by the coverage and you wouldn't owe a dime.
You have to look at the fine print of GAP to see if there is a cap on how much they will pay.
I paid cash for mine. I had it at the time and I hate giving big corporations money (financing charges) if I don't have to. Plus, buying a H-D is kinda like money in the bank. They have allot better resale than most non-american made bikes (that's what I told the wifey anyway )
I had to finance mine,PUB here (poor urban biker) they will lower the intrest rate but, want you to buy the extended warrenty,if you can get lower at your bank,go for it[sm=biker2.gif]
Paid 50% down and financed the other with a home equity loan. Usually do not finance toys. I ride mine to work everyday so I justified it in my mine and paid cash for my boat.
I charged it on my ex's credit card (taxes too).
Didn't want her to think I lost my sense of humor.
She hit the roof!
Long story short, I paid it off pronto and she got to keep the miles (perk).
I got to keep the voice mail message and play it to my buds.
Priceless!
Cash, cash, cash. Made a pack with wife a few years ago that we would never buy anything again that we can't afford to pay cash for. Damn I am glad I am retired military and she is GS-14. Makes that cash a lot easier to find!!!!
Pay cash if you can. If you can't, put down as large of a down payment as you can. If you have to finance, shop the financing as you would the bike. If you have to finance, GAP can be good protection, but try to negociate the price on the policy. As far as dealers making money on the financing, sure it happens, if you don't educate yourself you will get taken. On the other hand, if you have marginal or poor credit, the dealer may be your only choice.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.