would you buy a hi milage bike?
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 39
Likes: 4
From: Boise
would you buy a hi milage bike?
Greetings,
Experienced touring riders please give me your opinions...
I am new to the touring world, long time rider but no long distance stuff.
I have decided on a electra glide ultra classic, and have found one i love at the local dealer. Am ready to pull the trigger on it but am a bit nervous about one thing.... It is a 2007 and it has 88k miles on it. I guess that is not too far off for its age, super clean and the dealership assures me it is real solid. They claim they went thru it and all it needed was a primary tensioner which they did. They gave me a good price on a 2 year Zurich warranty plan and the negotiated sale price is 3k under retail book, but....
88k.... That makes me nervous. Havnt seen many clean bikes that fit the bill as well as this and at this good of a price...
So my question is simply this.... Would you consider buying a bike with that milage if it otherwise is THE bike. Is a guy looking at a rebuild at 100k?
Thanks for the input!
Experienced touring riders please give me your opinions...
I am new to the touring world, long time rider but no long distance stuff.
I have decided on a electra glide ultra classic, and have found one i love at the local dealer. Am ready to pull the trigger on it but am a bit nervous about one thing.... It is a 2007 and it has 88k miles on it. I guess that is not too far off for its age, super clean and the dealership assures me it is real solid. They claim they went thru it and all it needed was a primary tensioner which they did. They gave me a good price on a 2 year Zurich warranty plan and the negotiated sale price is 3k under retail book, but....
88k.... That makes me nervous. Havnt seen many clean bikes that fit the bill as well as this and at this good of a price...
So my question is simply this.... Would you consider buying a bike with that milage if it otherwise is THE bike. Is a guy looking at a rebuild at 100k?
Thanks for the input!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,341
Likes: 714
if your mechanically apt doing your own labor and troubleshooting it may work out,but at that milage a few things can start going wrong.it just depends on price it would have to be a great deal for me,lots of lower milage used bikes out there.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
I did 8000 miles on my 1995 Evo in 2010. I left home at 73,000
I spent enough time calculating the costs of repairs on the road/hotel/missed plans/ etc.
Unless I break down close enough to home for my wife to come get us with the truck...it's gonna cost.
By the time I got home I had decided a new(er) model was in order.
Piece of mind has a price.
The 88K mileage on the drivetrain is part of it, but also the chassis must be showing wear.
I am critical of 3rd party warranties. The exclusions are onerous and you need to read over the contract carefully ( most contracts are only available to read at the time of purchase and after you get home).
Neither the Dealer or HD is behind the warranty, just selling it and taking a percentage.
Mike
I spent enough time calculating the costs of repairs on the road/hotel/missed plans/ etc.
Unless I break down close enough to home for my wife to come get us with the truck...it's gonna cost.
By the time I got home I had decided a new(er) model was in order.
Piece of mind has a price.
The 88K mileage on the drivetrain is part of it, but also the chassis must be showing wear.
I am critical of 3rd party warranties. The exclusions are onerous and you need to read over the contract carefully ( most contracts are only available to read at the time of purchase and after you get home).
Neither the Dealer or HD is behind the warranty, just selling it and taking a percentage.
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Jun 7, 2012 at 07:59 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 172
From: Simi Valley, CA
If you can do, and want to do, any and all of the mechanical repairs should they arise, go for it.
If you have to pay for mechanical repairs, I'd pass.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,232
Likes: 16
From: Socialist Republic of the USA
Sounds to me like previous owner spent almost of the time on the highway. Have seen bikes with over 200k on them without any motor work. Course those are older bikes but if the price is right go for it. Buncha miles fo sho but look around more if you are not 100% on this bike.
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If I knew the previous owner, and the bike is priced well below retail, yes I'd go for it. Buying from a dealer, I'd like to see what they gave for the trade. Personally I think I'd shop around for one with about 50k less miles, there are plenty out there.
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