Harley is an investment?? (it is?)

Our good friend LB, bought an 03 100 Year Special Edition Harley
Davidson.
Paid something around 22,000 (cash)
(Taxes, chrome, and H.D. 'xtries like Bells and whistles, we know them
HD bells and stuff are quite expensive) <g>

The first time I saw it, and we rode out of Bowie county, and doing a
lotta braggin on it, and all:
LB said ‘‘Yeah Willie, ya know them' Harleys are actually an
investment.’’
Next time, Willie, buy you a Harley, instead of them money loosing
Metric, sickles.

Now, after back surgery and dropping it the other day, with his good
zize wife aboard., he is gonna sale it on consignment at Dewights Dream
Cycles in New Boston.
He said it is too big for him now, that he will get 'em a smaller bike,
but also wants and needs, a Cabota tractor (chuckle).

Skunk said he was hoping to get around 18-19grand for the 03
model.Silver Harley Heritage type Bike.

That is hardly what I'd call having an investment in something?

Any and all types of recreational vehicles are anything but, an
investment.

Hail’, I just spend another $192 on a back tar' on the Magna. Ya dont
get that type money back when you sell em. That only helps, to sale 'em.
<g>

B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
03Valk-&-98 Magna
Have a Dandy Day--

 

A Harley is no more of an "investment" than any other vehicle that you
use and that depreciates. If the most important thing to you about a
vehicle is cost, then buy a 2-3 year-old vehicle that has taken the
brunt of its initial depreciation, and then run it into the ground.

You can "invest" in vehicles, particularly classic vehicles, but 1)
you can't ride or drive them too much, or you'll drive down their
value, and 2) you have to have room to store them, the knowledge and
time to keep them in good running order, and you need insurance on
them. It's very hard to find a collectable vehicle that will cover
all its own maintenence costs AND provide a decent return on the
investment. And your best chance of doing so is with the truly rare
vehicles that reside in the nosebleed financial section.

Otoh, if you can keep yourself from "investing" too much in "Genuine
Harley-Davidson Accessories and Motor Clothes," and you *must* have a
brand new motorcycle, you are likely to lose LESS of your initial
purchase price in depreciation on the Harley - at least as a
PERCENTAGE of that price - than you are with almost any other brand of
motorcycle. The kicker is that the initial purchase price is likely
to be higher, thus any loan interest is likely to be higher; plus it's
very possible that insurance will be higher, and in many (though not
all) cases, maintenence and service costs will be higher.

In general, I don't think saving money is a good reason for buying a
Harley.

 

I will start by saying that I love a Harley Davidson motorcycle ..
Investment ? Nah.. can't see it.. Anyone who likes motorcycles will have to
appreciate Harley's, but if he's looking for an investment, he better stick
to stocks, bonds and/or real estate, or something..

I ride and own a motorcycle for my own pleasure and enjoyment.. period.. The
motorcycle sitting on the Mexican's patio is a Kawasaki Vulcan 800.. I've
been riding that little cruiser for more than ten years.. runs good, looks
good and performs well.. The bike has been detailed with performance
enhancement in mind .. to suit my needs and also to make it look somewhat
better.. (I think)

When I bought that motorcycle, I was in the market to buy a Heritage
Classic.. again.. I think they are the best looking motorcycle on the
highway.. I backed away from Harley Davidson for personal reasons and bought
the little Vulcan.. We've made a number of impressive runs and with damned
near every make and model on the road.. ran with all of them.. My investment
in that little bike is about one third of what I was expecting to pay for
the Heritage.. If I had to give it away this weekend, I've more than
recovered the original investment, in the pleasure and enjoyment I've gotten
out of that Green Vulcan.. (hey Jerry.. it's still GREEN) lol.. Not to
mention all the miles and scenery we've experienced..

Bottom line is.. all the investors that swear by the money making
investments in a Harley, I think.. are just kidding themselves or conning
the wife to justify the costs of riding a nice motorcycle.. Hey guys.. I
ride a motorcycle because I enjoy the fellowship amongst most of the other
motorcyclist enthusiasts that I associate with.. That's it.. no investment
opportunity or anything like that.. Hell, I'm not in the motorcycle business
or I'd own a dealership..

That don't mean I would pass up a good deal on any kind of motorcycle, if
there was a profit, there.. Keep on ridin' as long as the sheer pleasure is
there.. Wanna make some money on investments, then get a job or something..
<chuckle>

Bill Walker
Irving

 

Good response by
Bjay-----A Harley is no more of an "investment" than any other vehicle
that you use and that depreciates.   If the most important thing to
you about a vehicle is cost, then buy a 2-3 year-old vehicle that has
taken the brunt of its initial depreciation, and then run it into the
ground.


You can "invest" in vehicles, particularly classic vehicles, but 1) you
can't ride or drive them too much, or you'll drive down their value, and
2) you have to have room to store them, the knowledge and time to keep
them in good running order, and you need insurance on them.

It's very hard to find a collectable vehicle that will cover all its own
maintenence costs AND provide a decent return on the investment. And
your best chance of doing so is with the truly rare vehicles that reside
in the nosebleed financial section.


Otoh, if you can keep yourself from "investing" too much in "Genuine
Harley-Davidson Accessories and Motor Clothes," and you *must* have a
brand new motorcycle, you are likely to lose

LESS of your initial purchase price in depreciation on the Harley - at
least as a PERCENTAGE of that price - than you are with almost any other
brand of motorcycle.

The kicker is that the initial purchase price is likely to be higher,
thus any loan interest is likely to be higher; plus it's very possible
that insurance will be higher, and in many (though not all) cases,
maintenence and service costs will be higher.
In general, I don't think saving money is a good reason for buying a
Harley.




-I knew all that, but LB believed them at the H.D. Store, apparantly.

I've only purchase one new MotorBike, a 75 GL1000 stripped down version.

MotorCycles are a recreational vehicle, like MotorHomes, TravelTrailers,
ATVs,
and others. The only way it is a good investment is to buy somebody
else's mis jundgements.

But I am a ''cash guy'', and with cash one can find some good deals.
Most others are in the perdictament of having to finance 'em.
Nothing wrong with that. I just never have financed a recreational
vehicle.

If I cannot buy it out right, then I aint gonna buy it ! I'll save up,
and then shop for those good deals. <g>

I've been lucky in life. Or was it smarts?
Naw, not smarts. (RNGrin)

I usually get 80% or more of my money back on those types of
recreational toys.

I've made a profit, before, and rode the thang' a few thousand miles,
not many times, mind you, but have done it.


B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
03Valk-&-98 Magna
Have a Dandy Day--

 

said this: ''Bottom line is.. all the investors that swear by the money
making investments in a Harley, I think.. are just kidding themselves or
conning the wife to justify the costs of riding a nice motorcycle.. Hey
guys.. I ride a motorcycle because I enjoy the fellowship amongst most
of the other motorcyclist enthusiasts that I associate with.. That's
it.. no investment opportunity or anything like that.. Hell, I'm not in
the motorcycle business or I'd own a dealership..


That is so true.
I bet LB said all that to his lovely wife, to justify spending that
much.

But, LB said the Harley folks at the store, told him it was an
investment. They ought now make those types of claims.

I like a Harley as well, and dearly love the
''potatoe''-potatoe'' sound.

Our Son-Nlaw, put the 2-in-one pipes on his Harley. He learned that it
should increase the HP by 9 more..
The one that he had the stage 4 installed.

B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
03Valk-&-98 Magna
Have a Dandy Day--

 

True but.... For years, Harley promoted this "investment"
myth, just like Mercedes, and other high dollar makers.

Over the years, that's made for some very unhappy used
vehicle owners.

Gary

 

(Gary Walker)

''For years, Harley promoted this "investment" myth, just like Mercedes,
and other high dollar makers.
Over the years, that's made for some very unhappy used vehicle owners.
Gary)


Yep, that's what I said.
What a shame.

B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
03Valk-&-98 Magna
Have a Dandy Day--

 

Here's the investment:
HD = $20k new / $15k sold after 5 years = net loss $5k
Honda = $8k new / $6k sold after 5 years = net loss $2k

Thank you!

I can almost buy a new Honda for what a HD will lose in just net loss.

 

Sorry, I had to correct your post.

Bryan

 

Thank you! You just identified the mentality of the "Harley
investment" idea!

People who truly invest don't look at %s of return, but what they have
in the bank at the end of the day. When you lose less money, it hurts
less...unless of course you're too numb from all the shaking that
Harley does to you.

<Look @ me! Never be able to tell I ride a sportbike, huh?>

Now, I don't recall Honda owners EVER coming up with the stupid assed
idea of a motorcycle being an "investment". We're simply pointing out
how we lose less money in the end. The "investment" bullshit came when
HD started marketing to the yuppies who everyone knows is too stupid
to know anything anyway.

I don't invest in motorcycles. Motorcycles are recreational vehicles
which are at times used as commuters. I invest in more reliable things
like companies (through stocks), and yes...even an occasional XBox 360
to sell to some deprived kid at Christmas...

 

Here's the investment:
HD = $20k new / $15k sold after 5 years = net loss $5k Honda = $8k new /
$6k sold after 5 years = net loss $2k
Thank you!
I can almost buy a new Honda for what a HD will lose in just net loss.




I couldnt have said it any better me'self.

B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
03Valk-&-98 Magna
Have a Dandy Day--

 

You can't buy a comparable Honda for $8k.
The fool just bought the wrong bike for himself. Can't hardly blame the
dealer for that.

 

Here's the investment:
HD = $20k new / $15k sold after 5 years = net loss $5k Honda = $8k new /
$6k sold after 5 years = net loss $2k
I can almost buy a new Honda for what a HD will lose in just net loss.



You can't buy a comparable Honda for $8k. The fool just bought the wrong
bike for himself. Can't hardly blame the dealer for that.

"Wakko" NTXNS TOMKAT SENS PHS BS#257
'06 FLHTCUSE "Ultra Chicken" '03 FLSTSI - "BlingBling"





My 02 Valk cost me $8,200, with 16 grand miles. I thought that was a
hail' of a deal.
It took us 6 months to ===even=== find one.

 

You didn't buy the Honda new, BJay.

 

Appears BJ took advantage of others and their buying decisions.Isn't that
what investing is all about?Stocks,bonds,vintage playboy magazines.

 

Responds to the topic)''My 02 Valk cost me $8,200, with 16 grand miles.
I thought that was a hail' of a deal.
It took us 6 months to ===even=== find one.



You didn't buy the Honda new, BJay.




That's my style. Keeps me from loosing my hard earned money, on
motorsickles!

Falls under the heading of ==actually== having a genuine vested
investment

I believe I was enforcing the theory of not buying any recreational
vehicle ====NEW===.

B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
03Valk-&-98 Magna
Have a Dandy Day--

 

Well, you responded to a post wherein it was claimed that a Harley
cost $20,000 new and a Honda cost $8,000 new, and Wakko simply pointed
out that you couldn't buy a comparable Honda for $8,000.

Then you told us about buying your Valkyrie (used) for $8,200.

It sure looked as though you were attempting to refute Wakko's point.

Shirley, you saved a bunch of money buying the Valkyrie used, and
there's nothing at all wrong with that - almost all the motorcycles
I've ever bought have been pre-owned - but in the context that you
told us about it, it sure sounded as though you were attempting to
support the original contention, that's all.

 

''I believe I was enforcing the theory of not buying any recreational
vehicle ====NEW===.




Well Bjay, you responded to a post wherein it was claimed that a Harley
cost $20,000 new and a Honda cost $8,000 new, and Wakko simply pointed
out that you couldn't buy a comparable Honda for $8,000.

Then you told us about buying your Valkyrie (used) for $8,200.

It sure looked as though you were attempting to refute Wakko's point.

Shirley, you saved a bunch of money buying the Valkyrie used, and
there's nothing at all wrong with that - almost all the motorcycles I've
ever bought have been pre-owned - but in the context that you told us
about it, it sure sounded as though you were attempting to support the
original contention, that's all.




I hate you missed my point of view.
I wasn’t trying refute anyones opinion.
The original contention of this ongoing thread was; Harleys are not
necessarily an investment as far as keeping their value through out the
ownership.
Even though the local Harley store, convinced my friend that Harleys are
an investment, in comparison to all other Makes, the day he forked over
22 grand.
I talked to him yesterday he hopes to get 20 grand. I hope he does too!


B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
03Valk-&-98 Magna
Have a Dandy Day--

 

Me, too. With the massive improvements in Harleys over the last
couple of years, I'm kind of surprised that the newer used models are
holding their value as well as they do. Otoh, it doesn't matter to
me. No matter how long (or short) a time I keep my bikes, I pile up
so many miles on them that resale value is the furthest thing from my
mind.