As some of you all are aware I am looking to buy a vulcan 500 ltd and one dealership in my area has 3 2005 models leftover. The manager at that dealership is firm on $4350 as his price for a bike that has an MSRP of $4899. The bike is new and recently assembled, but yet its a 2005 so it should be worth somewhat less than a new 2006 model. I haven't budged and given in to his price, but at the same time I am wondering if I even have the slightest clue as to if its a great deal or somewhat poor deal or what. If I don't buy at that price I might be making a good choice or perhaps a bad one, I'm not too sure! This isn't so simple as buying a car since motorcycles seem to be a whole different ball game with differing levels of depreciation. Any thoughts?
EDIT: The manager claims the price is below his invoice, which I'm inclined to believe, but still, its a 2005, so that's the factor I don't know how to weigh. My wishful thinking is that he stuck with these 3 bikes and he'd be willing to let them loose even if he took no profit or a slight loss at this point in time. But I dunno...
Last edited by TheImp on Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
I haven't bought a bike new but I go to a dealer once every two weeks on average to haggle
$500 off isn't that bad a deal on a kawasaki vulcan 500. The real question is if it's worth it to you. Maybe you can haggle in a helmet or something...
I just bought a leftover 05 model of a Suzuki SV650 and I paid 200 bucks over sticker, out the door. I felt that I got a good deal at that price, so if he's willing to do it for under sticker, even if thats not an OTD price (once you pay taxes and registration and all that you'd be back up to around sticker) I'd go for it if you really want that bike. My SV is the bike that I wanted even if I had 10 grand to spend on a bike (which I don't!)....I guess my point is, if its the bike you're really into, I say go for it, but if you're on the fence about the model, no matter what the price is, wait.
2005 Suzuki SV650
Get a yellow one....they're faster
I think I might bite. I asked for a discount on accessories and he'd give 30% off on a helmet, so I'll give it a shot. I made this decision after ordering a report from cyclebuy.com to get the invoice price for a 2005 500 ltd. If anyone was interested to know, the invoice price which includes freight is $4314 for this bike. So at $4350 (before tax and tag) its probably as fair a deal as I could get. The dealer won't be turning much of a profit on this bike. I suppose it'd be ludicrous to try and get it for lower where he loses money.
Strange thing is that I see private sellers selling their 05 vulcan 500's for more than this dealers price for a used bike with 1k-2k miles.
Last edited by TheImp on Sat Mar 25, 2006 2:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Plenty of chumps out there who just assume that used is cheaper.
There's a car dealer opening up in charlottesville that's offering 10 grand off all cars stick prices, tires for life and 0% financing for 60 months. So sometimes it's just a deal.
Plenty of chumps out there who just assume that used is cheaper
I agree. Also, there is definitely something to be said about the reliability/warranty of a new motorcycle. I for one like to get autos/motorcycles new because you know nothing bad has happened to them, and if something bad does happen to them, you know its no one's fault but your own!
2005 Suzuki SV650
Get a yellow one....they're faster
That is very true, junky, and that is the same reason I like newe vehicles. Unfortunately, I don't have enough to buy a new bike, and I would lose too much money buying a new ninja 250 when I decide to re-sell it. The next bike I get will be new though or buy a used from a dealer.
I would have considered buying used down here, but I see more sport bikes for sale than I do cruisers in these parts. I certainly would scoff at the idea of buying say...a brand new honda rebel or some other 250 type bike. But I have a feeling the vulcan ltd will keep me happy for a couple years at least, with room to "grow" into. I've done my homework, and although the 500 ltd. is not as pretty as a classic cruiser, it gives a lot of bang for the buck and has better acceleration than bikes with larger displacements, like the shadow vlx 600.
I'd say the dealer is giving a decent deal. The kawasaki dealer by me is selling a 05 vulcan ltd for fourty seven hundred and change. I didn't catch were you are located but the couple of dealers I have been to that had leftover vulcan 500 ltd from 05 were asking between 4700.00 and 4800.00. Its just a question of do you think the bike is right for you. Also what kind of warranty are they offering. If its full coverage sounds like quite a deal. But your call after all.
The Vulcan 500 was my primary choice for a bike. However, I settled on a used 250 as my first bike. I plan to ride it for a year and then upgrade, perhaps to a new Vulcan 500.
If you do get the Vulcan, please let me know what you think of it. My main concern was the six gears. I am senile at times and forget what gear I am in. With a car, it is easy to tell, I could feel the stick's position. However, there is no indicator on a bike other than your speed and the bike's comfort with that speed.
