Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[ftlee20723]

Does a SE version of a motorcycle hold it's resale value any better than the non-SE version?  My dealer indicates that it does.  KBB indicates that it doesn't.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Frank

[naitram]

kbb cant account for someones desire to own a limtied edition motorcycle....

[Fired00d]

The difference is you start off paying more for the bike w/all the accessories so you retain more of that value then you would if you purchased a stock bike and added all the accessories. Percentage wise there might not be a difference in resale between the two, but you get more back from the accessories added from the factory versus what you would/will add.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[skreminegul07]

If you took a stock bike @ 20K and added the accessories ($10-15k)  to get it to CVO level (means you actually bough parts twice and labor to install twice) The stock bike will be still based on MSRP.  The CVO value will always be higher based on the MSRP while costing you less....theoretically.

Here in Mass. they assess excise tax based on the MSRP which was 28,500.  Fun stuff!

[grc]

Does a SE version of a motorcycle hold it's resale value any better than the non-SE version?  My dealer indicates that it does.  KBB indicates that it doesn't.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Frank

OK, you asked for thoughts.  Didn't specify that they needed to be backed up with facts, so here's my off-the-cuff thoughts on this topic:

- The average owner of an SE bike, especially the Touring models, paid more than MSRP for the bike, and some significantly more.
- The resale values stated in the various guides (KBB, NADA, etc.) do in fact indicate that the resale values as a percentage of MSRP are no better than the stock equivalent models.  When compared to what folks actually paid rather than MSRP, the comparison gets worse.
- Several folks who tried to sell their bikes in the past 6 months indicated on this site that they were unable to get book value, or to even get a buyer period, and had to take a dealer's trade-in allowance to quickly move their iron.

In my opinion, we have entered an era where depreciation rates for Harley's will be similar to other brands.  No longer is there a "shortage" of new bikes which in the past kept the resale values up.  Dealers are actually offering discounts on new '07 and '08 bikes, which automatically affects resale values negatively.  If things keep going this way, soon the Harley market will start to resemble the automotive market.  So, my advice to anyone contemplating a motorcycle purchase is to forget all the "investment" BS.  You are buying a depreciating asset, just like an automobile.  Buy what suits your needs or desires, and take the time to research your purchase so you can hold on to it for a few years.  Finding you bought something that doesn't suit you after 6 months of ownership is going to become a much more expensive proposition, SE or not.

Jerry

[electra88]

I agree!!

[VAZHOG]

You bought it---So you own it --- Just like your house , Now you gotta convince someone that it's special and they need to own it! --Good Luck, there are lot of used car dealer hoping you'll stop bye as well.

Only thing that holds Value is stock if you are lucky enough to bet on the right horse.

[RJ749]

You bought it---So you own it --- Just like your house , Now you gotta convince someone that it's special and they need to own it! --Good Luck, there are lot of used car dealer hoping you'll stop bye as well.

Only thing that holds Value is stock if you are lucky enough to bet on the right horse.

Well, a house is better investment than rolling stock that's for sure, but as others have said here, the bikes in the volumes they are built today certainly aren't going to be like my first Harley in 1976 that I rode for 10 years and sold for more than I paid for it.

On the other hand I hope I never see inflation like we had then either.  In adjusted dollars that AMF POS dropped like a rock too, it just feels good to say it didn't.

[Keats]

drops like a satilite shot out of the sky with a missle

most cars drop 50% of their value in 4 years with 50,000 miles on them......

my 2003 CVO Duece with only 3500 miles that cost $26,000 IS NOW WORTH MAYBE $17,000   after dumping $4000.00 into it

 NOT MUCH better than cars  ( if any)  if you consider mileage put on them

4 year old cars with only 3500 miles would bring better than 50% and I will bet most car owners

do not add 30% to 200% to the cost getting them suitable

buying swamp land is a better investment

[sadunbar]

Well, a house is better investment than rolling stock that's for sure, but as others have said here, the bikes in the volumes they are built today certainly aren't going to be like my first Harley in 1976 that I rode for 10 years and sold for more than I paid for it.
On the other hand I hope I never see inflation like we had then either.  In adjusted dollars that AMF POS dropped like a rock too, it just feels good to say it didn't.

I bought a new Corvette in 1979 that I sold in 1985 for 25% more then I paid for it, but that was the last time that happened...The next three depreciated like a Tahoe...Harleys are now the same...if your buying for an investment you'll be disappointed.... 

[SBB]

I bought a new Corvette in 1979 that I sold in 1985 for 25% more then I paid for it, but that was the last time that happened...The next three depreciated like a Tahoe...Harleys are now the same...if your buying for an investment you'll be disappointed.... 

Scott

Your looking at it all wrong.
All my bikes have been investments.
Investments in the oppurtunity to have fun.
And they have been the perfect vehicle to get me there!
They have given me a hell of a return based on dollars invested.

 

[sadunbar]

Scott

Your looking at it all wrong.
All my bikes have been investments.
Investments in the oppurtunity to have fun.
And they have been the perfect vehicle to get me there!
They have given me a hell of a return based on dollars invested.

 

That's right.  Financial investment - no way...  Investment in life - absolutely 100%....

[Twolanerider]

That's right.  Financial investment - no way...  Investment in life - absolutely 100%....

That's it precisely.  Chip, Scott, you nailed it.

I could care absolutely less about resale on the bike.  If I did I wouldn't have hung all the shi... all the stuff on it.  Because anything you hang on is a dead loss later anyway.

The bike is medium of transportation/enjoyment/clear mindedness.  Those things are their own reward.  Whatever model happens to float my boat best is the "best."  CVO or not. 

That the red bike hit me so hard when I saw one that day a few years ago was fortunate though.  First time I've ever had a bike that had a value added incentive after purchase.  It brought about meeting this crowd.  Who needs resale when you gain that.

[Biguglydude]

Well, I would bet the dealer wants your money!  Of course he will tell you it will hold (if not increase) its value.  GRC hit the nail on the head.  It’s a depreciating asset and you really need to keep it at that.  Buy it, ride it, have fun!  The SE model is to Harley as the Hemi is to Dodge or the Shelby is to Ford.  You just need to decide if that’s what you want?  If you like it, want it, and can “afford it”, why not!  Life is short.

[FLYNDYNA]

I for one did not buy to resell it- I am stingy and am keeping it. I will add another one or two (or three or four or...) in the years to come. In my little mind, motorcycles are great, owning a CVO-PRICELESS!

Regards,
The Flyndyna