Total Motorcycle Community Forums

jmillheiser wrote:none of these rules of depreciation of course apply to Harley Davidson.

Its routine around here to see year or two old harleys selling for more than the current year MSRP.

I paid $1550 for my wifes last Japanese bike in '93 and sold it last year for $2500. I'll learn to live with that kind of depreciation....

I know ill at least get what I paid for my bike when I sell it.

Only time depreciation seems to eat you alive on a bike is with a brand new one.

jmillheiser wrote:I know ill at least get what I paid for my bike when I sell it.

Only time depreciation seems to eat you alive on a bike is with a brand new one.

Yeah, this is right for the most part. And some can find junk metrics and turn them into jewels. And like was said, sometimes just being a Harley helps hold up the value. I've seen used ones at my local bike shop that command insane prices for 10 or more year old bikes. But this is the all the same thing really - whatever someone will pay, is what it is worth.

I paid $500 for my CX, I should easily be able to get at LEAST that selling it.

Next bike may be a bit more of a challenge.

Im really wanting an FZ6 for my next bike. They dont turn up used very often so I may end up having to go new. I have seen a grand total of 1 FZ6 hit the denver craigslist, really made me wish I had the $4500 to get it.

ZooTech wrote:

sapaul wrote:12/13K dollars, and you said my BMW went for 15k plus. There is no justice in the world. That bike looks like it should have a big price tag on it.

Yeah, but you're still enjoying a higher level of refinement and some pretty trick suspension, so don't sweat it!

Sevulturus wrote:How does a bike lose 50% of it's value in 1 year?

Trade-in is low in order to leave room for dealer markup, plus the bike has been around for ~20 years so it's relatively available.

I bought m LS650 for $5000 new, then had an ice involved accident on it after about 4000km (it had already been listed for sale) scraped up the tank a little, and the muffler some as well. It sold for $4200 with no haggling at all. I know it's been around since at least '73, and isn't really popular anymore, because it's only a single, but still it only depreciated by $800, not $2500, and I probably could have sold it for more if I'd waited. The other two (same bike) that were listed at the same time had addons and were listed at $5200 and $5300. Don't ask me.

Have to admit the Beemers hold their value here too, mainly due to the level of servicing and aftercare. When I sold my RT it was in mint condition and 30 000kms is considered just run in for that bike.

jmillheiser wrote: I have seen a grand total of 1 FZ6 hit the denver craigslist, really made me wish I had the $4500 to get it.

If I was in Denver right now I would bid on this:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... %3AIT&rd=1

I still might

Just a matter of personal opinion I guess, but this middle-aged gentleman looks to me like he's had enough experiance to be riding the bike he's sitting on.