The great "Harleys aren't worth that much anymore" observation

[geno]

By now or at least by tomorrow I thought I would have been riding my new Touring...sadly it isn't to be at this time.

Before the 1st of October a "wholesaler" in south Florida was offering me $16,000 for my trade in. The $11,000 in accessories weren't worth anything (figured I might get a penny on the dollar....nope....not even that) so my $34,000 plus Harley was found to be not quite the "holds its value" type of bike they have been sold as all these years...unfortunately...I learned it the hard way.

At the $16,000 trade in price I was ready to go (wasn't too happy about it but I wanted to get back on a Triumph so I made "allowances" and swallowed a lot of pride).

Apparently after October 1st the 2014 Harleys were "rolling" so the price dropped to $15,000...this started to put me in a bind as I had enough money the way the "deal" was originally structured...now I was $1,000 short. We tried to get the local HD dealer in Pensacola but they were only grudgingly putting up only $14,500....same excuse....the 2014's were rolling.

So now just about every HD dealership is preparing for a huge saturation of used HD's so that the "faithful" can trade in their overpriced bikes (and find out what they are really worth...I would almost hang out at the local dealership to see the look on their faces when they find out what their rides are really worth).

Harley is putting a lot of faith in this new Rushmore project (three models...one of which is a trike...that have water cooled heads) which basically is a new radio and new controls to run the radio and a new look for the old football shaped air filter cover...but this will be at the expense of a big "beat down" in trade in values as they are banking on a good number of the old riders trading in their bikes....thereby flooding the market. Which is where I find myself now caught up in a bike nowhere worth what it was a month ago because of the new bike roll out.

I am still going to get the new Touring but it may be a little longer to get more money together to do it and at least I have had it dramatically driven into my aging skull...don't ever buy a "black hole" of a motorcycle and expect to get much of a trade in value for it...to think I wasted $11,000 cash down on this pig with nothing to show for it.

I have learned my lesson....never again.

Dennis

"Enjoy your ride, good luck and be safe!

 

[cusso ken]

"Enjoy your ride, good luck and be safe!

Another blast from the past, a old thead that is even more relevant nearly 4 years later ,Rockets are in the same boat as are most other motor cycles and new cars are even worse investments, pre 60s American cars are money well invested better than any bank returns

 

[mexican]

Another blast from the past, a old thead that is even more relevant nearly 4 years later ,Rockets are in the same boat as are most other motor cycles and new cars are even worse investments, pre 60s American cars are money well invested better than any bank returns

I remember that thread

 

[1K9]

Don't get me wrong, I have a 78 CB750 that I rode to the Upper Peninsula and back, did 500 mile days on it, and I did a 4000 mile round trip to Key West last year on the R3T, I like all bikes, and need a good excuse to get another, Like you, I'd like a few luxuries for long distance trips, I have no intention of getting rid of the Rocket.

PS- I always travel light.

You need a trailer. Got the hitch already.

 

[Tripps]

I have a trailer, but I get by, only use it when the wife is along.

 

[Lemieuxfan]

my .02 cents prob. the biggest advantage HD has versus others is the sea of dealerships/support one can freely drive all over the country and get support when/if issues arise. We can't really say that with Triumph- disappearing dealerships and some are better than others. Better bike no question is the Triumph but the support and 'family' goes to Harley and certainly have better marketing

 

[steve59]

I was gassing up yesterday when a guy walking by stops to ask what kind of bike i'm riding, the second question was where was it built! HD and Indian get a free lunch.

 

[Death Arrow 007]

One of my boys was telling me that my '15 R3T wasn't built in Great Britain and that it was built in Japan.

Is this true?

 

[LOFTYBOB]

One of my boys was telling me that my '15 R3T wasn't built in Great Britain and that it was built in Japan.

Is this true?

No

 

[Steel]

Somebody (a non-rider) asked why I didn't buy a bike that held its resale value. I said, I didn't buy the bike to sell it, I got it to ride. If I was looking for a bike to make money, I'd be digging through barns looking for one that's older than me.