I'll never buy another New Bike

[motoman]

There's about a zillion used bikes out there... BMW owners typically take a 50% hit on resale..

I'm seeing all kinds of bikes with EXTREMELY low miles for sale. IMHO the bottom is going to fall out of the used bike market--you can already see used Harley prices crumbling which never used to happen.

So why not get on the right side of this situation? It does take time to find a well-cared for second-hand machine, but they're out there and with a little work you can save thousands!

If you like New, and warranties and financing that's fine, but it's hard to overlook the gold mine of values which continues to grow in the used market.

[moosehead]

Your are right about not buying new. After having three BMW's ,Two new and one E-bay buy I will not buy new again . My K1200 gt was 18,000.00 new and after two years and 16 k miles trade in would be around 10,000.00 my E-bay 05 R1100 BCR sold new for around 15,000.00 and with 46 miles on it I paid 10,000.00 shipped to me . you can get some sweet deals if you shop around. my next buy will be a 1200 gs , low mile and thousand of $$$ cheaper.

[MoDog]

I've come to the same conclusion. I'm one of those guys who paid high list for my 2002 S just before 9/11...around $15000 without any accessories...then summer list for an '04 R1150RT. When I realized the RT wasn't for me (1 year & 12K miles later), I found a pristine recently serviced '04 R1100SA with 6K miles and every accessory known to man for $9800...that was two summers and 20K miles ago, and Anya is still running strong.

[Steve Carlton]

When's Curvy selling his black beauty?

[motoman]

I'm posting this now because I'm trying very hard to resist buying a new R1200R...

And I've seen what happened to resale prices on the other naked R bikes...



So I am trying to be patient and let someone else enjoy that 'new bike smell' for me.

[Dr. Curve]

As soon as the R12SHP comes out........and I never ask much for my used bikes, even though I keep them inside and in perfect tune and condition.

[RoLoo]

...paid 4500 Euros less for my 3 weeks 'old' 1200...
...think I made a good deal...

[on2wheels52]

I'm too far from any dealer to make paying for a warrenty feasible.
Feel free to use me as a posterboy for buying second hand. Must be ten in the basement (a couple in hock though).
Wife seems to like brand new cars however.
Jim

[ckcarr]

I thought the same thing. Especially after the beating I got on my R1100S over the years.

However what happens is the combination of new bike being available, plus decent trade in versus trying to sell the old bike on the open market, and mortality tables convinced me that I should just say "screw it" and get the deal done.

[Phil Buttolph]

Solution to "Re-Sale Dilemma...don't ever sell a bike [or for that matter a firearm]..cuz' at some point after you have...you will regret it!

[Mr. Deltoid]

I'm with you guys.If I would have waited a year or so, I could've bought some really trick goodies with the savings.Another factor is the break in period, I didn't enjoy that at all.Hey Curve, are you going to take bids on your R1200S when you acquire your next ?

[markjenn]

Buying used is typically a lot cheaper, but there are some great deals on new bikes out there occasionally and there is nothing like climbing aboard a new machine and knowing you're the only what that has screwed around with it.

The abuse that many owners heap on their machines is truly astounding. The machine will usually take it, but I don't know how many niggling problems I've solved a year or two down the road that can be direclty traced back to some stupidity on the part of the original owner, especially when there is wrenching, modfiication, or crashing involved.

The biggest factor in bike ownership costs is not new vs. used, it's stock vs. mods. You'll typically get at least 75% of any money you put into the basic bike back in a year or two, but with mods it's pennies on the dollar.

I have a friend who bought a brand new VFR for $8K a few years back and the only major modification is a slip-on he picked up off Ebay for $200. Now, 80K and eight years later, the bike is worth about $3.5K for a total depreciation of about a nickle a mile/$500 a year. This is how you drive cheap.

- Mark

[Moybin]

Originally posted by Phil Buttolph
Solution to "Re-Sale Dilemma...don't ever sell a bike [or for that matter a firearm]..cuz' at some point after you have...you will regret it!

What he said!

[Steve Carlton]

Agree with Mark on some new deals being attractive. There's a value to knowing the bike hasn't been rode hard and put away wet, or worse. Also, some used bikes are being sold for a reason. I see R1150Rs selling for almost as much as mine, and those buggers only listed for $9,990 at one time, $5,700 less than the list on mine. The new '04 R1100Ss are not selling for much more than the used ones, especially when you consider the 3 year warranty. I remember Honda found some Superhawks in their warehouse akin to the '04 BMWs and the local dealer was selling them for $6,995.

But I need a new one. Gotta keep up with the Dutch...

[dee jones]

Originally posted by Phil Buttolph
Solution to "Re-Sale Dilemma...don't ever sell a bike [or for that matter a firearm]..cuz' at some point after you have...you will regret it!

Could this be sellers remorse?

[Phil Buttolph]

Yah Dee..first a '55 AH 100-4 and then a K38 Masterpiece ..should have dumped the "X" sooner and kept them!

[dee jones]

Phil. I can completely relate. Women , There all great until you get to know them. I guess thats not always true I've got a good one now. Ah sellers remorse.

[Phil Buttolph]

Dee you have really got to mend up and drag your ownself out here to Oregon this Summer; if for no other reason than to teach me how to ride a Boxer...I believe we have a lot in common!

[MoDog]

Originally posted by Phil Buttolph
Solution to "Re-Sale Dilemma...don't ever sell a bike [or for that matter a firearm]..cuz' at some point after you have...you will regret it!

But/and if you do...DON'T put the money in the black hole checking account

[Bob Hancock]

Originally posted by Dr. Curve
As soon as the R12SHP comes out........and I never ask much for my used bikes, even though I keep them inside and in perfect tune and condition.

I think I was first to call "dibs". Right Jim? Hmmm?