| Author |
Message |
    
Frito
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 05:54 pm: | 
|
quote:In 2006 I purchased my Ultra Classic thinking of it sort of like an investment as well as for entertainment.
If you bought your HD in '06 and was thinking it'd hold value, you missed the boat. You must be new to HD's or hadn't been paying attention to dealer inventories and pricing. Your plan was late by about 10 years. By 2006 new HD's could be had for less than MSRP. They were plentiful and had already put the hurt on the resale price of used bikes.
(Message edited by frito on October 25, 2009) |
Mmmi_grad
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 10:31 pm: |
|
QUOTEIt seems Harley is intent on the total destruction of resale values on any motorcycles associated with it. It wasn't very many years ago the dealerships only had a few used bikes on the showroom floors and there were waiting lists for new bikes. You had to wait a year or more to get the bike you wanted but you also had to take what ever color it was even if you didn't like it or you lost out. That kept the resale value up on the bikes and they were almost an investment instead of just a purchase. In 2006 I purchased my Ultra Classic thinking of it sort of like an investment as well as for entertainment. Shortly after that Harley stepped up production and flooded the market with new bikes and opened new dealerships all over the place. The resale value of my 25K+ motorcycle instantly went down the crapper. That shows you that Harley is only interested in their bottom line, not the consumer (no surprise there). They make themselves out to be a way of life and a company who listens to and takes care of it's customers. This is the thanks we get after we purchase their expensive motorcycles and the save them billions upon billions of dollars in advertising as we wear their logo covered t-shirts, sweatshirts, leathers, jackets, etc.... Now they are going after the Buell community. It is a smaller community that than Harley community but is a fiercely loyal group. Now, with Harleys announcement of discontinuing Buell and giving all the "killer" deals on new bikes they have effectively destroyed any decent resale value of Buells as well. It's nice (for a buyer)to get a killer deal when you buy something but it's like they are turning their backs on those of us that made the company great in the first place. I would like to have another Buell someday because they such awesome machines and I have no intention of getting rid of my Ultra Classic (and not just because resale is crap), but it's sad to see a company with such loyal customers (both Harley and Buell) turn their backs on us all. We are encouraged to buy American but why should we when an American company treats Americans (and others) so poorly. Harley is no better and no more consumer loyal than any other company in the world. We've just been brain washed into believing they care. But that's just my opinion!END QUOTE
I agree with some of what you said but your a little off on how it works. See your right about hd not caring, The idea though and has been is to increase production and sales....and yeah they kinda flooded the market but really who did the REAL FLOODING. We did! People aint that loyal anymore and the the shinney chrome doesnt make 17k appear out of thin air. Nobody bought the HD sales crap and people havent had an extra 17k laying around to buy a motorcycle for YEARS. There hasnt been a waiting list for years like you remember back in the investment years. That all most made me sick to say that, investment years, what a joke. Who is buying a 30k dollar bike to be a bill board? I hope the hell they like it. Is it really all about an investment, and wearing a bunch of chinese made HD crap?
So I have an opinion too, I think your wrong to feel that your resale valvue or anybikes resale value should be hyper inflated or just remain high in the sky for any damn reason. That is old time DOT COM stock market thinking. What HD needs is more sales and more people on the bikes to be themselfs happy. What the public needs is justification for spending 17k, 17k bucks or the ability to pay back 17k dollars and a job that pays. There in lays all the problems. Yes I have rich friends who buy ultras and big screaming beagles and pay 20-30k for their bikes. They just digg them. Buy sell wreck and build, do what you want with your bikes, dont wait in line, overpay, or get ripped off by a dealer. If I couldnt make that happen while in the market for an american motorcycle. Ill build my own.
I havent been able to make any cents out of HD prices for many years now. O BTW FU HD! |
Scarecrow
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 12:54 am: |
|
It seems to me I'm just wasting my breath here and I'll leave with these last few thoughts. My referring to buying a Harley as an "investment" was not meant as an investment to make money but rather an investment in a better resale value than the other bikes during this period of time. When I bought my bike Harley was starting to flood the market but resale prices were still good. You never know what life is going to throw at you when ever it wants so being cognizant of what you have invested your money in would be a wise thing to do. Drive by any used car lot or down any street and see all the nice cars and houses people can not afford anymore. We cannot predict the future and cannot trust those that supposedly know what they are doing, so we need to protect ourselves. It would be nice to be able to just buy something, ride the piss out of it and consider the money thrown away but I haven't got that kind of money to throw away. I would much rather buy something I like, take care of it, and hopefully have a decent resale when I'm done. I know, I know, it's hard to do these days but not impossible.
And for "FRITO" I have owned 6 Harleys and have gotten decent resale out of each including a 2003 Road King Classic and an 06 Night Train I sold AFTER I bought my 06 Ultra. I think I know a little bit about Harleys and resale. I'm no expert by any means, but I do know a little bit. You may get Hella deals in Arkansas but here in Sunny California all we usually get is the shaft. I recently sold my X1 so I know how the market is right now on Buells and I hope it does bounce back. I do plan to get another Buell in the (hopefully) not to distant future because they are awesome machines but it's such a tragedy about the company
(Message edited by scarecrow on October 26, 2009)
(Message edited by scarecrow on October 26, 2009)
(Message edited by scarecrow on October 26, 2009) |
Dbird29
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 01:32 am: |
|
Scarecrow
You will just have to get over the fact that Harleys will show depreciation.
The days of sell for what you paid are long gone.
Buells have never had good resale that is why you have to keep them forever! (and they are so good you have to keep them) |
Nuerburgringer
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 02:46 am: |
|
Horrible economy, worsening weather, discontinuation of the Buell marque... It is a helluva GOOD time to go Buell shopping! In past years, bought my first, second, and third XB used, for cheap. Sure, I sold 'em cheap too, but I rarely lost much. Now, the opportunity of a lifetime to buy the best Buell possible, at pennies on the dollar. Don't cry about it; join the feeding frenzy! The best/cheapest Buells are gonna dry up in a matter of weeks. Sell your old Buell next Spring, when the world is looking brighter, and shoppers are looking a bit eager. People, silver lining! |
Djz
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 09:17 am: |
|
I bought my 06 on ebay from a dealer last May for $5500.00 it had 1200 miles and is still under warnity until 8/10 so they had no resale even last year . It not going to have much now it shake it not really good looking but a great bike so just enjoy what you have ride the dollar out of it all you can do now |
Danxb9r
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 10:28 am: |
|
Not even the Jap bikes have good re-sale value. Honestly I don't know what auto does!! If you are concered about re-sale just buy used!! I have never bought anything new until Harley gave 5k rebates on the 1125R. I use to sell cars when I was going to College and people who buy new are ussually the ones that keep them 8-10 years if you are a person who likes to trade in a every few years new is probably not for you. |
46champ
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 10:50 am: |
|
People you have to get over this thought that Harley just suddenly increased production and now there is no resale value. H-D had been increasing production for 20 years when I bought my 85 FXR new they built 38,000 bikes total. They didn't build 38,000 bikes for 2 decades then built 300,000+ in 2005 they kept increasing production every year till they built too many. |
B00stzx3
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 11:21 am: |
|
Why would anyone want to sell their Buell??? |
Froggy
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 11:38 am: |
|
quote:Why would anyone want to sell their Buell???
Short of being unemployed and unable to pay the bills, I can't think of any reason! |
Iamarchangel
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 12:20 pm: |
|
What we have hear is a basic lack of understanding of capitalist principles.
Buy low, sell high.
Minimal output, maximum returns.
Make it last, make it do, do without.
Danxb9r is giving you wisdom in his post. |
Saratoga
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 02:01 pm: |
|
I might be missing something, but haven't Buells always had lousy resale values?
That isn't the reason I bought one FTR. |
Nik
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 03:18 pm: |
|
I might be missing something, but haven't Buells always had lousy resale values?
Yes. That's actually a big part of how I got one. 2 years ago I got my 05 CityX for less than what 05 SV650s and similar were going for; I wanted one otherwise, but the greater value made it a complete no brainer.
(Message edited by nik on October 26, 2009) |
|
