Best Time Of Year To Buy?

[CycleNewb]

It all depends what type of bike you want, bikes in high demand will sell at a high price any time of year, the best time is in the early spring when the dealer just got a tractor trailer load of new bikes, the dealer owner is worried cause he owes somebody some big money real soon if he don't sell these new bikes so thats when hes really desperate to sell...

That isn't really true, he doesn't need to sell those bikes until the end of the riding season (that's when the money comes due) and in some cases the bikes are simply shipped back to factory. Having been merely leased by the dealer. Though this is a very rare happenstance.

As for being a pain in his "O Ring", that might get you a slightly better deal, though if I was the salesman I'd have you escorted from the building.

Moto is right about one thing, though. A bike in high demend will sell at full price any time of year. Generally speaking, winter is the best time as the dealer is hurting for sales. Spring is probably the worst time, as that's when the dealer's showroom sees the most consumer traffic.

[qwerty]

Define "full price". In DFW, most everything is selling for 10-30%over MSRP as listed on the manufacturers' websites, plus shipping, plus dealer prep, plus TT&L. Don't even ask what the price of the bike is. What really matters is price out-the-door.

F'rinstance, the Ninja 650 has an MSRP of $6399 on the Kawasaki website. The dealer in DFW has it tagged at $6999, plus 6.25% sales tax, plus $299 freight, plus $199 dealer prep, plus $12.50 inspection, plus $42.50 title, plus $30 registration. OTD cash price on a Ninja 650 is $8019.44.

If I drive 8 miles further in the opposite direction (out of DFW) the price of a Ninja 650 is $6399, plus 6.25% tax, plus $12.50 inspection, plus $42.50 title, plus $30 registration, for a total OTD of $6883.94.

That is a $1135.50 price difference on identical 2007 Ninja 650s between two dealers 44 miles apart. That is like a whole 'nother year of payments!

Same goes for financing. Reps will baffle you about interest rates, accruels, fees, amortizations, and a host of other bull until your eyes glaze over. Only three things really matter:

1) How much down?
2) How much per month?
3) How many months?

That's all you need to know to make a good decision.

[CycleNewb]

What I mean by full price is that just because it's after xmas and the riding season is dead for most of the country, don't expect a good discount.

In NJ I got an 06 leftover at xmas for 6700. MSRP is 7350. If it were springtime and everyone was lookin for a new scoot, I probably would not have seen as good a discount.

Like anything else, alot of this is regional. DFW must be like the NY Metro area I live in where as you said, you drive 30 miles and save a year of payments.

[Apollofrost]

What about in California, specifically the Bay Area like San Francisco, is there a definite slow time? Because it doesn't even snow and besides some rain the area should be rideable pretty much year round. I mean pretty much the only seasonal hazard is when kids get their first cars for a graduation gift.

[MotoF150]

Allow me to make it simple: A bike in high demand, the best time to buy is in the early spring, late winter, a bike nobody wants, late summer, early fall. Dealers buy bikes from the factory on a consignment, that means the dealer pays the factory for the bike after he sells it, BUT: the longer the dealer holds on to that bike the price he has to pay the factory goes up, sooo the quicker he sells it the more profit he makes. The Giant Mega Dealer that has a high rent, lease, good traffic location has a high overhead, he could be paying $20 to $50K a month to lease that building and location and that dealer will ask for top dollar on a bike, but the dealer that has an outta the way location with a dump building that the roof is falling in with rat droppings on the floor will give you a better price cause he has less overhead. Another trick to get the price down is keep changing ur mind what bike you want, the salesman will go nuts and will lower the price just to get rid of you. Be a pain, agitate him, stall, ask stupid questions, and follow him when he walks away, trust me , it works! Last year when I purchaced a new ATV I got the price down from $5195, plus he wanted $195 prep charge, I got the price reduced to $4200 OTD Honest! the salesman did ask me, if he gave it to me for that price would I leave and let him alone? I agreed

[Apollofrost]

so guys, is anything he says right?

Except hassling the help, of course.

[flynrider]

That wasn't a serious question, was it?

[intotherain]

so guys, is anything he says right?

Except hassling the help, of course.

apollofrost, I have the same question. I am also wondering when bike dealers have big sales. I'm a couple miles under San Fran. All the bikes are way overpriced at my dealer (probably because its spring)

For example, the price on a new ninja 500 was 5,400$. the MSRP on the web is $5049.

[MotoF150]

when people visit a dealer to purchace a new bike they make the mistake thinking the dealer or the salesman is their friend, the way you have to think is the dealer and salesman are crooks, robbers, their objective is to take as much money away from you as they can get away with, ur objective is to get the bike you want at the best price. They are faking being nice and friendly to you, really they hate you, after a customer makes a deal and buys the bike they run like rats into a backroom and laugh and brag to each other how they took you for more money and how they ripped you off. The basic rule is you can get most bikes for $1000 off the MSRP price, the dealers profit margin is 40%, the salesman makes between $400 to $1200 comission on a new bike. I believe a $200 commision is fair and 15% profit for the dealer. Im just trying to help you guys, im on ur side

[intotherain]

when people visit a dealer to purchace a new bike they make the mistake thinking the dealer or the salesman is their friend, the way you have to think is the dealer and salesman are crooks, robbers, their objective is to take as much money away from you as they can get away with, ur objective is to get the bike you want at the best price. They are faking being nice and friendly to you, really they hate you, after a customer makes a deal and buys the bike they run like rats into a backroom and laugh and brag to each other how they took you for more money and how they ripped you off. The basic rule is you can get most bikes for $1000 off the MSRP price, the dealers profit margin is 40%, the salesman makes between $400 to $1200 comission on a new bike. I believe a $200 commision is fair and 15% profit for the dealer. Im just trying to help you guys, im on ur side

well vehicle salesmen are the #1 liars of all jobs. I dont know about the other stats.