Dave
My first Harley was in 1977. It was a used 73 Sportster.
I remember riding over to the Harley shop in 78 and looking at an Electra Glide they had on sale.
It was a 78 and they had reduced the price to $3,995.00.
I was in love but the checkbook was thin. I always pay cash for my toys so it took a while to step up to a dresser. In 88 I bought my first bagger an 88 Electra Glide Classic. It was $10,000.00 and I put 25K miles on it before I traded for a 91 Classic.
The list is long but since my first I have always had a bagger. Had a few FXR's, Dyna's, 3 Buell's, Jap bikes, a chit load of dirt bikes but always had a dresser. It has been a great adventure and with 6 bikes in the garage now I hope it will last at least another 30 years.
SBB
Thanks Chip. Sort of helps my point, the cost increase on a new Harley has not gone up as fast as the cost of a new Pick-up or car. My memory was a bit foggy on the cost in 80 as all I could afford in 81 was a 71 Iron Head Sportster. An that was a stretch.
Your darn right. I need a new truck but I bought TWO new Harley's. Just got the wife a new SGS last week. For some reason you do n to impress me as the typical man of your age and I mean that in the most complementary fashion. When it is all said and done we do what drives us and for you and I that seems to be a nice bike.
Some things are investments and other are expenditures. I really don't care about the money involved if I enjoy the purchase. Heck I smoke Cuban cigars that cost money are are reduced to pure smoke. I'm a financial genius. LOL
Funny, for years I had neighbors asking me how I could ride 30K plus bikes and drive 20K cars. My answer was, bikes bring joy, cars get us to work or the airport. Heck, we had 4 harley be fore we had a car over 40K, the wife Range Rover Evoque. We had Five harley before I had a nice car, a 14 Stingray. The Stingray does not have 7K miles on it yet, the 15 SERGU has 11,400 miles on it
I do the cigar thing too, and high end Bourbon. Have several bottles over 100, a few over 200 and two over 300. If I can afford it, and I enjoy it I am good with it.
The first thing I do every month though is Fund my retirement. Main reason is I know I will want nice things when I do not have to work...