Please explain used harley pricing for me
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,947
Likes: 5
From: Ontario, Canada
The way I look at it, and it's just me, the 13's are out.
If you we to somehow find a 13' used for sale, it's not new, so it must be used current. It will be worth less than a new one.
It would appear as if there are four other model years of used bikes out there in this case.
My opinion and $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee.
If you we to somehow find a 13' used for sale, it's not new, so it must be used current. It will be worth less than a new one.
It would appear as if there are four other model years of used bikes out there in this case.
My opinion and $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee.
Novice
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Hawaii
Aloha Gasitman,
Heres what I did, your results may vary. I spent about 5 months (Nov 2009 - Feb 2010) looking for my bike (2008 Police Model Road King). I wanted a Road King or Electra Glide six speed with the 103 and I also liked the oil cooler and air ride seat, that why I was looking at cop bikes. I looked on e-Bay, Craigslist and checked the dealer sites through the HD Website. I talked to some dealers and made some offers before I saw one on e-bay for $13.5k or make offer with 9k on the clock. It was at a car dealer in MO and he had 5 of them for sale. I offered $11.5, offer refused, auction ended with no sale. He emails me and asked if Im still interested and I said not at $13.5. So we settled at $12.5 and I ship it ($550) to my friends house in San Francisco. I put 10k on the clock riding around the mainland (bucket list stuff!) including a trip with the wife down the Pacific Coast Hwy to get it to San Diego so I can ship it ($650) to Hawaii. So I now have $13.7k invested in a 08 FLHP.
Heres the kicker, I totaled it in May 2012, my fault I was being stupid, nothing hurt but my pride and I guess I needed it! The frame wasnt bent, but the shop said would be $17k to fix it. It was 4 years old with 28k on the clock now. The insurance company said it was valued at $14.5k, so I guess I got a good deal! I bought it back from the insurance co for $2800 and they gave me a check for $11,694 (Total value $14,494). Five months and $7k later I have a bike set up just like I wanted and the wife is happy she got some extra spending cash! I did the work myself and bought a lot of the parts (some gently used) through e-bay. NO, I would not do it again; God must still want me around for something! I probably should have died in that crash and I dont want to go through anything like that again!
I think Chunker is right about what some folks are wanting. I see some of those prices and think the guy is telling his wife, Sorry honey, nobodys buying right now. My advice is buy in the late fall early winter from an area that gets COLD. Decide on what two models and the oldest year bike you will take and do some research. Make some calls and be willing to walk away, there are a lot of bikes out there that will fit that bill. Good luck bro, hope to see ya out there on the road on the right bike soon.
Aloha,
Needle
Heres what I did, your results may vary. I spent about 5 months (Nov 2009 - Feb 2010) looking for my bike (2008 Police Model Road King). I wanted a Road King or Electra Glide six speed with the 103 and I also liked the oil cooler and air ride seat, that why I was looking at cop bikes. I looked on e-Bay, Craigslist and checked the dealer sites through the HD Website. I talked to some dealers and made some offers before I saw one on e-bay for $13.5k or make offer with 9k on the clock. It was at a car dealer in MO and he had 5 of them for sale. I offered $11.5, offer refused, auction ended with no sale. He emails me and asked if Im still interested and I said not at $13.5. So we settled at $12.5 and I ship it ($550) to my friends house in San Francisco. I put 10k on the clock riding around the mainland (bucket list stuff!) including a trip with the wife down the Pacific Coast Hwy to get it to San Diego so I can ship it ($650) to Hawaii. So I now have $13.7k invested in a 08 FLHP.
Heres the kicker, I totaled it in May 2012, my fault I was being stupid, nothing hurt but my pride and I guess I needed it! The frame wasnt bent, but the shop said would be $17k to fix it. It was 4 years old with 28k on the clock now. The insurance company said it was valued at $14.5k, so I guess I got a good deal! I bought it back from the insurance co for $2800 and they gave me a check for $11,694 (Total value $14,494). Five months and $7k later I have a bike set up just like I wanted and the wife is happy she got some extra spending cash! I did the work myself and bought a lot of the parts (some gently used) through e-bay. NO, I would not do it again; God must still want me around for something! I probably should have died in that crash and I dont want to go through anything like that again!
I think Chunker is right about what some folks are wanting. I see some of those prices and think the guy is telling his wife, Sorry honey, nobodys buying right now. My advice is buy in the late fall early winter from an area that gets COLD. Decide on what two models and the oldest year bike you will take and do some research. Make some calls and be willing to walk away, there are a lot of bikes out there that will fit that bill. Good luck bro, hope to see ya out there on the road on the right bike soon.
Aloha,
Needle
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
Used bikes seem high compared to showroom new bike sticker prices, because they usually pay much more than sticker prices for the bikes new.
Dealer adds on shipping, setup, sales taxes, and all sorts of fees which add to the out the door price. Buyers often have accessories added to the bike price because they then get covered by warranty.
Then there is an additional $300 or so for 1,000 mile first service, and perhaps some more goodies at the same time.
New owner buys a leather jacket, couple helmets, boots, gloves, and perhaps other personal items they sometimes will throw into the sale.
So, you not only need to compare sticker prices, but the all in costs to get the bike out the door and on the road.
Most everybody is frustrated when they desire to buy cheap, and sell dear. They want to buy a great bike, ride it for some time, and not have it cost them anything. Great idea, but only works out for a few.
Dealer adds on shipping, setup, sales taxes, and all sorts of fees which add to the out the door price. Buyers often have accessories added to the bike price because they then get covered by warranty.
Then there is an additional $300 or so for 1,000 mile first service, and perhaps some more goodies at the same time.
New owner buys a leather jacket, couple helmets, boots, gloves, and perhaps other personal items they sometimes will throw into the sale.
So, you not only need to compare sticker prices, but the all in costs to get the bike out the door and on the road.
Most everybody is frustrated when they desire to buy cheap, and sell dear. They want to buy a great bike, ride it for some time, and not have it cost them anything. Great idea, but only works out for a few.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 127
Likes: 2
From: VA
I've also found with purchases of practically anything - once you've found the right product at what you felt was the right price, and bought it, STOP LOOKING!! LOL Odds are, you will find another one for what seems to be a better deal, but there are so many variables that factor in. You will drive yourself crazy "making sure you got a great deal", and beat yourself up for no gain!
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Heres how I look at used bike pricing thing. Right now the KBB retail on my bike is about $21,200 and trade is around $17,200. I have about $2K into it but really dont expect to recover much of that. The mileage isnt that high and theres nothing wrong with the bike. All that said, I would ask about $19,900 to start and go from there. I realize in this market things are tight however I wouldnt go under $18,900. Anything less than the $18,900 I would feel like Im taking a beating and just wouldnt do it, I would simply keep the bike. Bottom-line, the seller should be reasonable and the buyer shouldnt expect the bike for nothing.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
Your automotive business experience is irrelevant. Your idea of what something should cost is irrelevant, especially something you know little about. Maybe you should just save a few thousand and settle for one of those nice Jap metrics. Sounds like it would save you a lot of worry and anguish.
Last edited by Lowcountry Joe; Nov 6, 2012 at 12:57 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Beverly,Ma
I agree that patience is the key. Figure out what you want, how much you feel you want to pay and then start looking. Another good avenue is Craigslist - I started looking in May this year and it took me until the middle of July but I found the bike I wanted for the best price I had seen since looking. I paid 9,200.00 for an 05 Road King, 21,000 miles, two seats, two windshields, lots of extras and a bike that runs great. I felt the price was the best I had found so offered him his asking price and we are both happy. Good luck, take your time, figure out what you want and it will work out.
Gary
Gary
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 6
From: Michigan
The bike is worth what ever someone will pay for it, dealers especially mark them up knowing you are going to come in and haggle, but hoping some asshat will just come in and pay what the tag says.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,148
Likes: 6,170
From: SE Michigan
Dealers likely wont budge more than $500 on their used bikes, my experience.
I started a thread on HDForums entitled "Craigslist Posters On Crack" for when I (and others) found outrageous CL posts. It was a great thread but the admins killed it, likely because links in older post go bad over after a relatively short period of time. Very often in conjunction with the word "Rare", LOL
Example: 02 Deuce for $14.5K http://annarbor.craigslist.org/mcy/3355286614.html
Or this - http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/mcy/3385326600.html - you can get a new one for less, with a bigger tank and a 2 year warranty.
I started a thread on HDForums entitled "Craigslist Posters On Crack" for when I (and others) found outrageous CL posts. It was a great thread but the admins killed it, likely because links in older post go bad over after a relatively short period of time. Very often in conjunction with the word "Rare", LOL
Example: 02 Deuce for $14.5K http://annarbor.craigslist.org/mcy/3355286614.html
Or this - http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/mcy/3385326600.html - you can get a new one for less, with a bigger tank and a 2 year warranty.
Last edited by Keithhu; Nov 6, 2012 at 02:44 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 4
From: Boca Raton, FL
two ways of looking at pricing for used bikes
is it bone stock or modded nicely
if bone stock then KBB is a good tool to get a fair value
if modded then you pretend you are the owner and try to pretend that the $2-3k in mods you put on the bike "really don't count for much"
if a bike already has exhaust, AC, extra chrome etc that **** ain't cheap, expecially all the HD products, so they do have value
but as for dealership prices, they want you to buy new, and the mark up on used is just as bad as new is so they do expect to negotiate, but they have the bike and you don't so some dealers think that the used bikes come with gold bricks in their tanks and that you should pay for them
go private party sale, usually a better deal, and you can speak directly with the previous owner and see how the services were done, ask anyone about their bike and they will be glad to talk to you, trust me.
is it bone stock or modded nicely
if bone stock then KBB is a good tool to get a fair value
if modded then you pretend you are the owner and try to pretend that the $2-3k in mods you put on the bike "really don't count for much"
if a bike already has exhaust, AC, extra chrome etc that **** ain't cheap, expecially all the HD products, so they do have value
but as for dealership prices, they want you to buy new, and the mark up on used is just as bad as new is so they do expect to negotiate, but they have the bike and you don't so some dealers think that the used bikes come with gold bricks in their tanks and that you should pay for them
go private party sale, usually a better deal, and you can speak directly with the previous owner and see how the services were done, ask anyone about their bike and they will be glad to talk to you, trust me.