Bought my first Sportster new, way back in HS 1975. It spent more time at the dealer than my house. Gave up on it after 2 months and 2 engines. I didn't think i would get to ride it anyway, Joined the Marines. (where i went through 3 used bikes. (metrics) Then a 1980 FXE (project bike) it was a real rat. I put more $ in the bike than what i paid for it. FAST SOB though! Kept breaking the speedo cable on that one! How dare AMF to put a 100 mph speedo on a FX!
I was Thirty-someting before i bought another "new" bike. (I have had many bikes over my lifetime so far)

Both of my current Harleys were purchased used. Ultra (p/p) and the Sporty (dealer used). I am a firm believer that people don't / can't pick the bike. The bike picks us! Either new or used!

 

No different than buying a car. New cars and new bikes are too expensive. The dealerships have to make their money. When you buy used, it's another can of worms. You are buying someone else's neglected maintenance, and repairs.

Then there are people who just can't afford to buy new. Not everybody has that kind of money.

For older Harleys, with a carburetor, I understand how it works, and I can do a reasonable amount of work. If the engine and transmission are working, I can bolt on new parts as needed. I understand that with a fuel injected bike, it's a little different. Maybe not harder. Just different, and I haven't learned.

For cars, I can do a lot of the basic service work by turning a wrench. Again, with older cars, I have a better understanding. New cars have a lot of computers, which I don't understand. Not that it's any harder. I just don't know my way around the diagnostic computers, the trouble codes, and sensors.

It's always money. If I had enough money, I would just buy new, get a warranty, and let the dealership keep it running.

 

No different than buying a car. New cars and new bikes are too expensive. The dealerships have to make their money. When you buy used, it's another can of worms. You are buying someone else's neglected maintenance, and repairs.

Then there are people who just can't afford to buy new. Not everybody has that kind of money.

For older Harleys, with a carburetor, I understand how it works, and I can do a reasonable amount of work. If the engine and transmission are working, I can bolt on new parts as needed. I understand that with a fuel injected bike, it's a little different. Maybe not harder. Just different, and I haven't learned.

For cars, I can do a lot of the basic service work by turning a wrench. Again, with older cars, I have a better understanding. New cars have a lot of computers, which I don't understand. Not that it's any harder. I just don't know my way around the diagnostic computers, the trouble codes, and sensors.

It's always money. If I had enough money, I would just buy new, get a warranty, and let the dealership keep it running.

All very good points. Its about the money and how much work you can do yourself. Having been a euro car service manager many years ago, thank god! if I ever deal with another bad computer chafed wire bad sensor.... I be looking for a cliff 😆 Now I lease my cars, always under warranty, turn the heck in! I am only passionate about my bike.

 

Your right, the bike does pick you, I just fell in love with my 98 FXDL lowrider, it was clean, but ran horrible, bad engine vibration, etc. Didn't care, it was coming home with me! Knew going in going to a bit of work and dollars. I like the dyna platform, fairly nimble, and evo for simpler known reliability engine. My 4th harley in 36 years all project bikes, 2 were baskets to full frame up rebuilds. My 1932 vl 74cu flathead sidevalve was one favorite, 13 year project, rare parts even in 1974, started with engine only bought for $200.

 

Spot on, everything is " parts replacement" on most cars, and you can't check trans fluid level, sealed until they toast out, a scary and incredibly expensive $100+ an hour plus a new trans ordeal on euros or asian cages. I bought the 98 FXDL, for most of the reasons you mentioned. With care should be able to keep it running for many years! 2 Harley shops wouldn't even work on my primary,
because no one knows the older bikes anymore, even though it was super clean. The only job I was hesitant to do was primary. I was slightly teed off. I spent alot of parts money there! A REAL mechanic is hard to find! They make money on tires and fluid chan. Very thankful to all the members who go out of their way to help. It is refreshing!

 

https://imp.i104546.net/c/404739/78...mmon-tread/harley-davidson-launches-new-online-marketplace-for-used-motorcycles

 

Suggest always doing a Vin Number search. If my name is on the bike as an owner at anytime, walk the phuck away. It was tested to its engineering limits often and possible above the engineering limits by 15 to 20 percent. Just don't even take the chance, you may also want to run the names by me of the previous owners in case they are my running buddies, you would not want any phucking shit they ever owned either.

 

I bought mine used from the dealer.
They are very reputable.
On their used bikes, they do a complete checklist for safety.
They check for strange sounds and if they notice anything, they pull primary case covers and cam chests if needed.
My bike does not leak a drop and runs like a raped ape. It has 33k miles on it.
I would not hesitate to buy another used bike from my dealership.

 

If you "think" rebuilding an old Harley is a cheap way out, you're wrong.

If you have to ask, you're wrong. If it was "right" you'd already be doing it, not asking about it.
If it was "right" you'd already have the, I mean THE bike. It wouldn't be the abstract idea of "fixing up an old Harley".
It would be about finding a particular model, year, engine and restoring "THAT BIKE".

 

Already did that

 

And NO rebuilding an old Harley is by no means cheap way out. I wanted that bike, that model. Knowing it is a project is the difference between major disappointment and being happy with purchase. It would be rare for a used HD private sale to not have alot of hidden problems.

 

I was looking for a second bike for a second (vacation) house so I wouldn't have to trailer back and forth. It didn't have to be a Harley even till I found " the bike". No way could I afford "new" or even "good used" but I could afford salvage.
So I bought the salvage bike and over the course of a few months, a few swap meets, slot of eBay dealings, etc.
Long story short, the bike picked me, it was "the one".

Sent from the secret underground bunker

 

Buying a used bike is like buying a used car. If it runs, you ride it, doe whatever you need to keep it running. Don't try to fix it up to be like new. Don't try to make it pretty.

A lot of people drive used cars like that. Buy it used, rusted, dented....but it runs.

A lot of people ride used bikes like that. Buy it used, rusted, dented....... if you don't care what it looks like, you can ride a bike that someone else dropped - repeatedly. I know a girl who rides used Kawasaki Ninjas and Honda CBRs that she gets really cheap with cracked fairings, dented tanks, missing mirrors and signal lights. Obviously, these bikes were dropped, or knocked over. They are ugly. But they do start, run, and stop. Simple economics there. Get the bike for about half of what it might sell for if it wasn't messed up. Then ride it. Don't go spending $$$XXXX to replace cosmetic items.

 

Every dollar I put in my 98 FXDL went for driveabilty, and service, necessary parts replacement. So I couldvride it. The chrome was on bike. It was clean, good paint. Put on a set of 4" rise lowbrow custom handlebars threw out the drag bars. Rode the hell out of it. Now its new tires time. I have not put one cosmetic item on it, was plenty expensive enough even with me doing most of the work. I knew that when purchased so just labor, parts, and Benjamin's X too many 😆 Still love that bike not loving the price of tires. Unfreaking overpriced. Quoted about $600 for 2 dunlop 401 plus service wheel bearngs, seem a bit high. Like feedback on tires, as feel its a bit crazy, said 3 hours labor? Any opinion on that price for that job be appreciated.

 

Norm:
My 1st Harley cost 4K.
A 1980 Low Rider.
Bought it in 1983 and ride the piss out of it.
Wife HATED that bike.
She was used to the Goldwing I bought in 1981.

Our st trip to Daytona Bike week with the HD turned out fantastic.

My best friend suggested that we take a demo ride on a New one .
So wife an I did that and I waited till a nice Red Bagger came up.

We’ll we got on it an I swear we moved 20 yards and my wife leaned over my shoulder and said
“ we should get one of these”

Dude I was on the phone at our Motel an called a dealer Tgat Dennis recommended.
I talked to John and he knew me because of Dennis.

As soon as I told him what I was looking he said I have right in front of me.

I asked can you save it an I’ll send you a deposit tomorrow.
He told me no problem just see me when you guys get back home.

They were nice enough to let take a brand New Red bagger out of the shipping crate and box [emoji23][emoji1360].

I paid $ 10:300 out the door.
Of course I couldn’t take it home till the following Monday this was on a Saturday
Me and that bike were all over the USA .
Had 9 HD’s an loved them all.
But I never ever expected to pay 32 K for my last one.

Rick


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I am sure its a nice bike 32k is way out of my price range for a bike. If you got it spend it and enjoy it, can't take it with you.

 

The only way I could get a Harley was to buy used. I've had her for a year and a day with the only problems being a broken throttle cable and a loose wire at the ignition switch. Maybe I just got lucky, but I love the bike that picked me and she seems to love me back.

 

Nice bike! Glad to hear minor things. For sure they pick you, as did mine. Tc

 

I just traded in my Softail for a touring bike. Used for used from the dealership because I know and trust their mechanics.

 

Mr. G,

My '07 Ultra broke a throttle cable shortly after I purchased it too. Mine broke at the twist grip and it was obvious that the cable end was twisted in the grip. I think someone was in there once upon a time and didn't get the cable end in the grip properly - dunno.

 

The small brass ferels that hold the cable inside the grip are a pain. Mine were incorrectly installed did both cables, new ferels, one cable was frayed and toast. Had to find a dealer 2 states away just to get them this summer.

 

My first Harley, and second bike, was a 14 Ultra Limited. The previous owner rode all his life. When he bought it he said if he didn’t put 500 miles on it in a year he would sell it. He had for 4 years and never rode it. I got a hell of deal, better than going to the dealership. Second is never a bad thing with HD’s unless it sat in a field and rotted. Usually H-D owners take care of their stuff.


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Most Harley owners do, alot don't especially a private sale, tailigght warranty lol. My 98 FXDL cosmetically was nice, 41k miles, needed alot of work otherwise. I expected it as its 20+ years old. Bought it knowing that, however it still has cost a pile of Benjamin's to revive to be reliable and safe. Only had it since last year, bought last fall when prices are low. Love the bike, but a used bike is always a crap shoot. If your prepared and can wrench on most of it, you can be ok. Otherwise a used Harley is an expensive bike to revive. I have owned 4 used Harleys over the years and many other brands some new. Hidden problems are one major reason owners sell. Usually because the repairs are expensive. What looks like a deal can sometimes be a money pit! Or you get lucky.

 

a used bike is always a crap shoot.

I will say this. The previous owner took it to a H-D dealership in Virginia for its very first service, 1k right? Anyway, they did the job. Now I have the bike and I’m all excited to change my own oil. I drain it and then go to put the plug back in. I noticed tape on its threads. I thought maybe the factory did that. The plug kept turning and turning without tightening up too much. I knew it was fooobed up. But why? I didn’t over tighten it, then after feeling like a bug depressed dummy it dawned on me what the tech probably did; stripped it himself and then put tape on the threads so it wouldn’t leak.

I had to have the oil pain replaced. My nearest H-D picked up the bike and got me straight.


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Check and make sure Bbally is not listed as a previous owner. If my name is there, it has been tested to its engineering limit a lot. Might want to move on to the next used bike in line.

 

Lol will definitely keep that in mind for next one.