Should i go for it or not?
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1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Should i go for it or not?
Hello every one, i am a big HD fan but since i am a student i cant really afford a 15k bike.. i found a 95 road king with 38 k miles and salvaged title. The seller told me that it runs fine and i will be able to register it in PA. he is looking only 5500 $ for it. Question how dangerous is it to buy salvaged title motorcycle? is 38k too much miles for a bike? and except for 6 speed gear box and 6 gallon tank, are there any differences between 95 and 09?
Thank you
Thank you
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Twin Cities, Mn
Hello every one, i am a big HD fan but since i am a student i cant really afford a 15k bike.. i found a 95 road king with 38 k miles and salvaged title. The seller told me that it runs fine and i will be able to register it in PA. he is looking only 5500 $ for it. Question how dangerous is it to buy salvaged title motorcycle? is 38k too much miles for a bike? and except for 6 speed gear box and 6 gallon tank, are there any differences between 95 and 09?
Thank you
Thank you
Be very very careful.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
there are about 4 generations between 95 and 09. frame, motor, tranny, efi, suspension.
salvage title is scary- who knows what happened, who "fixed" it
price is also high
I just sold my 1995 FLHTC in GREAT shape for $6500- it had just under 80000 miles.
There are good bikes out there in that price range.
I think you've taken a great first step by educating yourself before you buy
Mike
salvage title is scary- who knows what happened, who "fixed" it
price is also high
I just sold my 1995 FLHTC in GREAT shape for $6500- it had just under 80000 miles.
There are good bikes out there in that price range.
I think you've taken a great first step by educating yourself before you buy
Mike
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 7
From: Hoffman Estates, IL
The new bikes are quite the step up -- But I'd be a lying sack of [SELF-CENSORED] if I said I didn't have the time of my life with my '96 Road King.
That said - (A) I'd look for a bike maybe for a whisker more $$$ that doesn't have such a questionable past and (B) you can probably ride it for a couple years while and either trade up for a bit of a hit or sell it for nearly what you'd have paid for it if you take good care of it.
The important thing is to get one in decent shape and start turning some miles on it...
That said - (A) I'd look for a bike maybe for a whisker more $$$ that doesn't have such a questionable past and (B) you can probably ride it for a couple years while and either trade up for a bit of a hit or sell it for nearly what you'd have paid for it if you take good care of it.
The important thing is to get one in decent shape and start turning some miles on it...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,876
Likes: 3
From: Washington State
Man, tough call on that one. There are so many bikes for sale locally, thanks to the economy, if I was in the market I'd be like a kid in a candy store. Depending on whether you're in a hurry to ride, or live in a colder climate, you can try and hold off for one without a salvage title. Maybe save a few more bucks for the cause as well. Good luck!
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,079
Likes: 21
From: Queens, NY
do you have ANY mechanical skills at all?
go into my profile and take a look at my pics.
i picked my bike up for 5800 bucks from the police auction, it's a 2008 street bob that had 1500 miles on it when i bought it.
it was crashed, sure, but the work needed to get it on the road was minimal, simply a matter of replacing some parts on the right side of the bike.
the rest i did last winter when i saved my money up.
while you're in there, look at the fatboy album.
i picked that bike (actually a 1990 heritage softail) up for 4K from a guy who had laid it down on the highway, got scared and let it sit for 3 years. i went to the local HD dealership and bought a set of discontinued blemished tins (seriously had the most minute nick on the bottom of the rear fender) from a 99 fatboy and put them on. i stripped off all the crash bars, the passing lamps, bags, saddle bag guards, etc, and what i found underneath was a **** ton of chrome. put it all back together, rejetted the carb, and rode that bitch hard until someone bought it for enough money to pay for my dyna.
do your homework and don't settle.
go into my profile and take a look at my pics.
i picked my bike up for 5800 bucks from the police auction, it's a 2008 street bob that had 1500 miles on it when i bought it.
it was crashed, sure, but the work needed to get it on the road was minimal, simply a matter of replacing some parts on the right side of the bike.
the rest i did last winter when i saved my money up.
while you're in there, look at the fatboy album.
i picked that bike (actually a 1990 heritage softail) up for 4K from a guy who had laid it down on the highway, got scared and let it sit for 3 years. i went to the local HD dealership and bought a set of discontinued blemished tins (seriously had the most minute nick on the bottom of the rear fender) from a 99 fatboy and put them on. i stripped off all the crash bars, the passing lamps, bags, saddle bag guards, etc, and what i found underneath was a **** ton of chrome. put it all back together, rejetted the carb, and rode that bitch hard until someone bought it for enough money to pay for my dyna.
do your homework and don't settle.
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Joe Kucinski
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 581
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
I wouldn't even consider buying an older bike like that with a salvaged title for that kind of money. There are deals out there. It takes patience and searching to find them. Not telling you what to do, just giving you my opinion and would hate to see someone get burned. Good Luck.
These guys are right that seems pricey for a salvage title bike. For that money there are tons of deals out there. If you have some mechanical skills I wouldnt be wary of buying a salvage title bike. I find it fun to buy broken bikes and put them back together. Makes the ride that much more special for me. ORRRRR you can do like I did in college and have your roomate over bid his parents for his education. Have him go out and buy a motorcycle that he will eventually be afraid of riding. Let it sit for a few months, then ask him if you fix it can you ride it. 6 years later I still had that bike. He graduated and couldnt tell his parents they bought the bike for him so he told me to hang onto it he would come get it some day. He always kept it registered for me and I rode the **** outta that Yamaha 650 Classic till I could afford my first Harley. Just a thought!