Calling all Harley experts..Advice on used Harley

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You just had to go to Montgomery Ward! They had all the Bridgestones, Gileras, Motobecanes, and Benellis.

Amazing time. You could get an affordable European motorcycle at a department store. (I think the Japanese Bridgestones were the most expensive) Getting parts and repairs? Not so much...but any teen who had collected all the bottles he could find, had a paper route, and did odd-jobs for a summer could ride out on a European motorcycle or scooter from Monkey Wards or Sears. Woolworth's probably could have sold Fuji Rabbits if they had given them an American name and made a fortune.

If a young man was a little more industrious, he could get a Harley Hummer or Sprint. Or a really nice Honda Dream 305. (of course on any Honda Dream you are completely invisible to the "bad girl" that wore her skirts too tight and smoked cigarettes. Only Bonnies and Sporties need apply there)
 
You won't go wrong with either choice. I did demos on nearly every Harley model in Daytona trying to find the right bike. The 2 favorites were the Dyna SuperGlide and the Heritage Softail for different reasons. I have now been riding the SuperGlide for about 9 years and have 42,000 miles on it with very little trouble. The Softail also handled very well, but different and was smoother at idle. I've been riding for 34 years and have had MANY different bikes, but I have a soft spot for the Harley. Ease of maintenance (you can actually see the sparkplugs, oil and air filter), relatively inexpensive tires (not as big as some of the competition), huge parts and accessory availability.

Hope this helps and good luck
 
Originally Posted By: Clevy

If you think we get into oil talks here you should see the Harley guys. At least the info here comes from posters who are very knowledgeable about it. The Harley guys are not quite as smart


Hey! not all of us are dumb!!
shocked.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Loobed
Originally Posted By: daddi
Originally Posted By: Loobed


resale? It is about supply and demand. Harley sold a lot of motorcycles in the last 15 years. People will eventually start to sell those bikes and there wont be many buyers. Don't expect a Harley to go up in value anytime soon.

If you want a nice American looking bike, look at a victory, or at least test ride one.


Interesting comment. Why won't there be many buyers for used Harleys?? It seems like something that sold fairly well when new, and has a almost cult following world wide, would have little trouble selling used, providing it was taken care of (which most Harleys are) and priced right.


Most of the people who bought Harleys in the last 20 years were baby boomers with money. They already had house that was paid for and had a lot of extra income. The economy is tough now, and it won't be getting better anytime soon. Very few of the younger people will have extra money laying around to buy a $20,000 bike. Anyone who does will most likely buy a new one with a warranty.


Harleys are a fad like cabbage patch dolls and beanie babies. There were a lot of cults in the past and there will be many cults in the future. Most of the time cultists commit suicide, get send to jail, or lose all their money.


Have you test rode a BMW?





This is all 110% total horse hockey. I have had 2 Harleys and both retained their market value and actually had the lowest cost per mile of ownership. BTW, Harleys are a 100 year old fad...sheesh.
 
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The only harleys I see that do not have higher resale value versus metrics are 883 Sporsters and V Rods. Both those can be had dirt cheap it seems, but the big twins and even the 1200 Sportys seem to hold value well.
 
If your comparing models and motor size, the '09 would get my vote. Bigger motor, newer frame design, 6 speed trans, plus it's 4 years newer. As far as resale goes, times are tough for selling just about any non-essential item. Boats, bikes ,Rv's, you almost got to give them away. But if you want to see how bikes hold up, go to the NADA site and pick a model from say'02, with no options. Look at what the sug retail price was, and what the average retail price it might sell for today.You'll see what 10 year old bikes are fetching in today's market. Most Harley's are doing OK by retaining at least 50% of their msrp after 10 years, and Victory's are the biggest losers out there.As far a which bike you'll like, I go with renting one for a day and finding out for yourself which one lights your fire.,,
 
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Thanks for all the info and suggestions. Pulled the trigger on Saturday on a 2009 Dyna fat bob. Paid for it but won't pick it up until this next weekend. Has all the goodies already installed, exhaust, chrome, etc. Less than 2k miles on it!!
 
Originally Posted By: Loobed

http://www.kraftbrands.com/koolaid/

It is amazing how the most insecure people always gravitate towards the Harley image. Maybe if you had some self esteem, you wouldn't need a Harley.



I really like my Harley. I think my self esteem has pretty much been on an even keel no matter what brand of MC I owned. There will always be Meat Gazers worried about what the other guy is up to. Just enjoy what you got, you won't have it forever.
 
Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
As far a which bike you'll like, I go with renting one for a day and finding out for yourself which one lights your fire.,,


This is great advice for cars, too! We always do this as I need more than a 10 minute test ride to tell if I want it.
 
Surprised to see all the negativity.

I love the whole idea of a cruiser bike like a Harley, but in reality, I am dangerous enough on a bicycle. Just ask my doctor. Think I've crashed every bicycle I've ever had, and done enough damage without having a motor.

So if I want to go cruise the country, I do it on my Rivendell. http://www.rivbike.com/
 
Originally Posted By: Brons2
Surprised to see all the negativity.

I love the whole idea of a cruiser bike like a Harley, but in reality, I am dangerous enough on a bicycle. Just ask my doctor. Think I've crashed every bicycle I've ever had, and done enough damage without having a motor.

So if I want to go cruise the country, I do it on my Rivendell. http://www.rivbike.com/



It is no different than the old Ford guys talking [censored] about GM and Mopar and vise versa or trashing others sport teams. When it is a brand of any sort you will have that. It is sad really.
 
Originally Posted By: daddi
Thanks for all the info and suggestions. Pulled the trigger on Saturday on a 2009 Dyna fat bob. Paid for it but won't pick it up until this next weekend. Has all the goodies already installed, exhaust, chrome, etc. Less than 2k miles on it!!

Nice choice. I have an 08 street bob. I put an S&S 106 and a pair of woods cams because it was a slug stock.
I suggest an oil cooler as the first mod. Jagg makes a great one. I know a guy who makes a head cooling set of fans on a switch. They bolt up where your horn is. Keeps head temps cool while in traffic. Wardspartswerks google him,his name is Jason.
Now the top end is loud on these bikes,really loud. I've managed to quiet the top end significantly using royal purple 20w-50 automotive oil or motul 10w-60.
Your primary doesn't need an expensive syn,I use conventional rotella. It meets the JASO spec for wet clutches and it's cheap.
Your tranny is going to clunk. You want to use red-line shockproof heavy gear oil in the tranny. Trust me on these recommendations,I've tried every possible fluid in my bike and the ones I mentioned have been the best thus far.
Keep it in the wind
 
Clevy, Thanks for the tips!! Just got the bike titled yesterday so haven't ridden it much yet. It was serviced by Harley less than 300 miles ago with fresh Harley syn in the engine. Will change oil in all three holes in the spring so looking for all recommendations on oil. Have you used the mobil v twin 20w50?? I ask because its easy to find here and priced reasonably. Tom
 
Whats the resale on a bike with a locked up engine from the crankshaft scissoring??

99% of the HD faithful don't have a clue that their cast crank is a 5 piece contraption timed and then pressed together.

Google "Harley Chinese crankshafts" or "Harley crank scissoring." Good luck.
 
Originally Posted By: daddi
Clevy, Thanks for the tips!! Just got the bike titled yesterday so haven't ridden it much yet. It was serviced by Harley less than 300 miles ago with fresh Harley syn in the engine. Will change oil in all three holes in the spring so looking for all recommendations on oil. Have you used the mobil v twin 20w50?? I ask because its easy to find here and priced reasonably. Tom

Yes I've used both the mobil 1 15w-50 and the 20w-50 v-twin oil. My top end was so incredibly loud with both oils that I drained them within 1000 miles. Not saying they don't protect the engine,I'm just saying it was super loud.
Royal purple really lessened the top end noise,as did motul.
The dealer likely put syn 3 in your tranny. I use gear oil. Red line shockproof. The difference in feel was substantial,much smoother with the red line in there.

Originally Posted By: TopFuel
Whats the resale on a bike with a locked up engine from the crankshaft scissoring??

99% of the HD faithful don't have a clue that their cast crank is a 5 piece contraption timed and then pressed together.

Google "Harley Chinese crankshafts" or "Harley crank scissoring." Good luck.


Well then,these motors must just self destruct all the time. I'll mention that to my riding brethren that have better than 100000 mikes on their engines. They will want to know that the bike should blow anytime now.
Thanks for the heads up
 
Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
And no resale.,,,


I ride something till it dies or is worn out. Never really understood why people sell bikes they love to get something newer. But my old man rode the same bike for 30 years. LOL.

Of course in my family we all still have the first car we ever bought too.
 
Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
And no resale.,,,


Sad when the best thing can be said is No Resale .. I love my FXR4 Last of the EVO's and FXR Frames and my FXR4 Holds it value quite Nicely, but am done with Twin Cams and their piecework engineering . Victory is a far better choice for a New Motorcycles these days, Hopefully HD will get the message ..
 
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