One thing that you have not figured into the equation of this "soft market" is the fact that now is a VERY good time to buy a used H-D. I just got a smoking deal on a 03 SE Deuce....and if I see another bike out there that I like, and I think is way under valued, I just may pull the trigger on a third bike.
What ever happened to buying them because you like it and want it.....any fool knows the deprecation hit you take on a brand now HD is hard....and yes sometimes its worse than others.
Buy what you like and hang onto it!!!
My brother works at an RV place and just took in a 2006 Deuce for $10k. YIKES. Now that's some depreciation. Bike has 1400 miles. I can mostlikely get it for under $11k but not sure I want to mess with it for the couple of bucks I MIGHT make reselling it.
As for my '06 SEUC, I added the NAV, bluetooth, Traxxion, Progressive 440's, Tru-trak, HID, true duals, SE Pros, SERT, AC, chrome starter, BAH fork caps, custom seat, all kinds of bits and pieces, so I am sure that I would need the gallon can of anal eaze if I was to trade/sell it.
I most likely will at some point but the new bikes haven't gotten enough better in looks or equipment to motivate me to take the hit. Someday they will, but for now I can be perfectly happy with where I have this bike and just dream of the day when I get my next new one.
Hey, we could be like my customer with the Range Rover that paid $80k in 2003 and it's worth $30k now.