motor build & resale value? does it hurt?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,140
Likes: 17
From: Wisconsin
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 16
From: in a van down by the river in Ga.
once you modify the engine you have backed yourself into a corner re-sale wise. Lower value with a much smaller audience. No one believes the stories sellers tell about how gently the bike was ridden or how carefully the engine was put together and how much better it is than stock after someone modded the engine. Receipts don't mean squat to me unless the receipt gives me a warranty on that modded engine. Now i have bought toys with modded engines but they were a great bargain not at a top dollar price.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Just like some have said here, I would buy a bike with engine mods. I would pay more if there was reciepts and know who did the work. For me, I had over 40K in my Night Train. I knew that when I sold it, I wasn't going to get half of what I had in it. I didn't do it for the resale. I did it because that is what I wanted and loved every minute of it. Wish I still had it honestly. But, every time I rode it, I pretty much broke something. Mainly, because I rode it like I stole it. I had the money to do it and didn't care at the time. Now, I can't get that felling out of me and want to mod my glide. in the area that I live in the mech is well known and most of the bikes, he is the one that works on them. Not the dealership. If you have that kind of info, I would buy it.
Now, instead of putting all that money into the motors, I am going to buy a procharger and when I sell it, I can take it off.
Has everyone that thought of not buying a bike with mods thought of that? You really don't know what you are getting on any bike these days. There is a threadon here that a guy posted the other day about buying another stage I kit and his bike already has it on there. The dealership told him it was stock.
Just something to think about.
Now, instead of putting all that money into the motors, I am going to buy a procharger and when I sell it, I can take it off.
Has everyone that thought of not buying a bike with mods thought of that? You really don't know what you are getting on any bike these days. There is a threadon here that a guy posted the other day about buying another stage I kit and his bike already has it on there. The dealership told him it was stock.
Just something to think about.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 10
From: Mass
..WOW..can't believe how many "scare-d-cats" there are..hell YES I would buy a bike with a built motor..WHY NOT?...can you imagine someone looking at a 69 Chevelle and saying to the seller..."sorry, the motor is built, not interested"...just do a compression test..take it for a good test ride...then buy it and save yourself thousands over what you would have spent to get it that way...this forum is FILLED with people asking about building their bike...but yet hardly anyone would buy one done?..amazing...but no..it's not worth anymore because it's built...same value in my opinion..
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,817
Likes: 7,850
From: SE Louisiana
After some research, I bought a bike with modded engine, had all reciepts and it was professionally built by a indy shop with a good rep.The build was six months old with 1000 miles on it since the mods.
It was built the way I would have done it myself. Runs very well and it's been reliable.
It was a case that his OL hated bikes and pressed him to sell, also talking to him, he seemed scared to run it hard anyway.
This guy had a hard time selling it because most potential buyers were scared of the mods.
To answer the OP's question, in this case, I bought this bike for less than the total on the reciepts.
It was built the way I would have done it myself. Runs very well and it's been reliable.
It was a case that his OL hated bikes and pressed him to sell, also talking to him, he seemed scared to run it hard anyway.
This guy had a hard time selling it because most potential buyers were scared of the mods.
To answer the OP's question, in this case, I bought this bike for less than the total on the reciepts.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 616
Likes: 1
From:
Me personally, I would look for a modded engine over a bone stocker any day. I also think to the right person the bike would have more value.
After several thousand miles of excessive heat from a stock set up I wouldn't go within 50 feet of that bike over a bike with good mods and a good tune.
I think people that invest in their motors do it for various reasons which many have been stated in this thread. Performance, safety, longevity without excessive heat etc etc.
I did a 98" kit in my 2006 Ultra and my 2011 CVO Streetglide (which I bought used with 650 miles on it) has cams, head work; intake porting; pipes and a good dyno tune. I wouldn't want a bone stock 110. I could have bought a stock used CVO $2000 cheaper than I bought this bike for but the motor work made my decision. In the end I still saved a bunch of money with everything this bike came with but no way in my mind is a stock bike worth more than a tastefully modded bike.
After several thousand miles of excessive heat from a stock set up I wouldn't go within 50 feet of that bike over a bike with good mods and a good tune.
I think people that invest in their motors do it for various reasons which many have been stated in this thread. Performance, safety, longevity without excessive heat etc etc.
I did a 98" kit in my 2006 Ultra and my 2011 CVO Streetglide (which I bought used with 650 miles on it) has cams, head work; intake porting; pipes and a good dyno tune. I wouldn't want a bone stock 110. I could have bought a stock used CVO $2000 cheaper than I bought this bike for but the motor work made my decision. In the end I still saved a bunch of money with everything this bike came with but no way in my mind is a stock bike worth more than a tastefully modded bike.
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As far as resale value, I don't think my motor mods have added any significant value, but they very well might attract a buyer if I ever sell it.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 47
Likes: 1
From: Canada
Take away the fact that it's a motorcycle and a Harley. Pretend it's a car...I'm looking at this '98 corvette and the guy has the motor replaced with a comp motor from GM...what hahappened to the old engine? Did the guy blow it up? Was he beating on it and it wasn't enough power? Did he get the work done and now it's lost all of it's drivability? My thing is if their is an elaborate story or excusses just walk away.
Ask the guy for a build sheet on the motor, any decent engine builder will have the build sheet. If he don't then he is a rookie, didn't do the work or he baught it like that.
Ask the guy for a build sheet on the motor, any decent engine builder will have the build sheet. If he don't then he is a rookie, didn't do the work or he baught it like that.