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opinions on a bike for sale

4K views 26 replies 21 participants last post by  hoosierboarder 
#1 ·
Geetings!This is a great forum!I'm looking at an '09 RG that is loaded with a ton of upgrades for around 17k.It has about 34k miles on it. My questions is..does this seem like too many miles for an '09? I have my eye on another '09 with only 7k miles for about the same price.Kind of a lame question I know,but would like to hear some other opinions.Both bikes are very nice, but the higher mileage bike is really ringing my bell so to speak.Thanks for the input!
 
#4 ·
I've been lucky I guess.........I bought a bone stock '06 a few years ago & did a few things to "make it mine" and then just traded a few months ago for my new '12 and was again able to put my own touch on it.........May cost you some extra bones, but in the end , I think it's important to do it yourself....Makes you appreciate the transformation more..........


Good Luck!!
 
#5 ·
I bought my 09' RG in March 2011. It only had 426 miles on it and the original owner had installed an SE 110, chrome front end, and an ostrich skin seat. I paid $17,999 for it. I got it with a four year warranty as well.
 
#6 ·
Welcome from BC. I guess it all depends on what the extra goodies are. Decorative stuff like "Willie G" add ons are expensive but don't contribute to a strong reliable bike where other add ons like pipes and programmers etc... Are great to have included
 
#7 · (Edited)
I'm going thru the same thing, I bought a Screamin Eagle. Beautiful bike, the only one like it in my area. But it just don't feel like MINE. Everything is already chrome on it and the wheels look great, theres just not much to add to it cosmetically to make it custom. I'm changing the bars and going to lower it if someone doesn't buy it first.
I say buy the one with low miles and add your own thing to it.
But to answer your question, no, 34k is not too many miles on a 09
 
#8 ·
The price on the higher mileage bike seems high to me. My '10 isn't for sale but I have a removable tourpak with led lights, mustang seat, new bars, fuel moto exhaust etc etc etc.....probably $7,000 in upgrades. It has 13,000 miles on it. I would think it would be valued about the same as a guess. I did just purchase the 7yr warranty this week which may up the value a little.

My point is, shop around on ebay, craigslist etc and see what they're going for. I would think you could do better on price.
 
#9 ·
To me it just depends on whether or not you are going to do the same upgrades as the higher milage bike has. If so how much would those upgrades cost. If it were my money and I wanted all the upgrades that was on the higher milage one then that is probably the one I would buy.
 
#21 ·
+1--in two months the 2013's will be out--both of those bikes will be four years old. For the same ballpark bucks, I'd far prefer a stock new bike than one that's four years old with somebody else's goodies.
 
#13 ·
If I was going to pay more than 16k on a used one I'd just prefer to go new. A little more payment (down payment) and you're not buying someone else's headache. To know if it's worth it really depends on how it was maintained which is the wild card. My '09 had 40k when I traded it in, and it was maintained well and the new owner is loving it just as much as I did when I had it. If I recall he paid 16k for it and it had nothing extra on it besides slip-ons and saddlebag guards.
 
#14 ·
A little less than a year ago I purchased an 09 with 3000 miles on it. It had slip ons and the 4 point quick release docking hardware. I went back and forth between it and a new RGU. I went with the used one because it was in very good condition had the service documentation from the dealer and was considrably cheaper than the RGU would have been. I also rode it for a couple of months before I started making upgrades which allowed me to determine what I really needed to change as opposed to what I thought I wanted to change. I now have 22000 miles on it and have no regrets.
 
#15 · (Edited)
Somebody has to play the Devil's Advocate so of coarse I have to throw a wrench in the works.

I agree that the lower the mileage TYPICALLY the better HOWEVER a not so well maintained low mileage bike is not as good of a buy to me than I well maintained high mileage bike. Although HD has NOT been really shining as of late in their quality control these bikes are not the HD of old that were known for their unreliability. So mileage is less of an issue than it was in the past. Actually mileage is not even considered in the books when it comes to motorcycle values.

I agree add up all the extras but as stated earlier are these just cosmetic or real tangible upgrades to the ride comfort and reliability stand point. When I bought my present bike I added up just shy of $10,000. in upgrades. Most effected the ride of the bike, not just the looks. (and yes I have spent another $1,000 to do some more upgrades (suspension mainly) and make it mine)

Typically you should be paying 25% and no more than 50% for those upgrades. Normal wear and tear items are NOT included IE tires bearings etc... although they do help seal the deal.

It is true buying new you get to do it all yourself but what are we really doing when buying new...? The bike will depreciate 20% when you sign the papers much less when you roll it off the lot.

The we are going to strip off all that stuff you just paid big money for so it can sit in your garage and collect dust so we can go out and pay more big money to buy the parts to upgrade the bike to get it in the condition of the bike that has already had the work done and has been well maintained. And this is assuming that you like to do your own wrenching like I do.

So yes do the math What does it cost vs what it will cost in the future vs what it will be worth in 6 months after the new models come out And if the numbers are close then go out and buy the one that rings your bell.
 
#16 ·
I think Frankie is on to some logic there, Just a couple more grand to have brand spankin new and because you could finance longer, the payment would probably be about the same! 09 with 34K or 2013 with 0 miles? Think I might wait. But hey, you gotta follow your heart. Only you know your situation so we can give input but only you can decide what is best for you. By the way, welcome to the forum!
 
#17 ·
While I wouldn't say that the mileage on the bike your looking at is extraordinarily high, it certainly is much higher than average if in fact you do live in Indiana as your screen name suggests. My point here is that for most people, the bike riding season is only about 7 months long in the midwest so with that considered, it does have much higher than average miles on it. Take your time and look around. With the economy being what it is there's plenty of bikes for sale that are late models with much lower mileage.

For example, I looked for about 4 months but finally found the exact bike I was looking for, right down to the color of the bike, and it had less than 1,000 miles on it and bought it for roughly $4,500. less than a new one's "out the door cost" would have been. Then you have money to do exactly what you want to do to it to make it special in your eyes.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Like others have said, you have to weigh out what is important to you. Some guys want a clean slate, others don't mind having some of the upgrades done. If the things like headers, air cleaner, tuner, slip-ons, upgraded speakers, etc have already been done you'll save some dough in the long run.

But, don't let the mileage be a factor. Lots of guys want zero miles to start with, but as long as it was maintained 11k per year is just a scoot that was hardly ridden.
I'd much rather have a bike that was ridden and well maintained than a garage queen with no miles. Someone who bought an expensive motorcycle just to have it decorate the garage and impress visitors, but only wheeled it out once or twice a month is less likely to have done proper maintenance. And any issues with the bike that would have shown up during the factory warranty period may still be lurking.
 
#19 ·
Another good point for the con side... I personally put on at least 12,000 per year if I don't make any trips. I plan a trip later this week to add another 2,000 to that and a trip in Sept. to ad another 5,000. So I I do nothing else I will put 19,000 on this year.

Most here on the forum buy the bikes to RIDE!!! So what is wrong when the PO rode the bike. My bike had 45,000 on it when I bought it so the PO who is a member here averaged around 10,000 per year himself.

And by the way, it sings like a sewing machine. Smoothest reving HD I have ever had and strong as an Ox.
 
#22 ·
Of the 2 scoots in the OP, both are '09. One has 34k and the other has 7k. He mentioned the one with more miles had more upgrades. Both were around $17k.

So, one averaged 11k miles per year and the other just over 2k. One was actually ridden, the other wasn't. I'd be leery of a bike that had such low mileage for its age - I'd want to check that one over closely.

As to waiting and getting a '13... not for $17k.
Then factor in what upgrades you'd have to add to get it where you want it and see what the total looks like.

Bottom line is that whoever is footin' the bill has to like the scoot and the price. If the '09 spoke to me, I wouldn't even think twice about the mileage.
 
#23 ·
It doesn't take long to have the upgrades add up to $10,000. If you like the bike and the upgrades are what you plan on getting then go with the bike with the upgrades. If you get a brand new bike it will cost you around $23,000 or more after fees & taxes and just doing the exhaust, AC and a tuner will cost you another $1000 or more. $6,000 is a lot of coin so it all depends on how deep your pockets are.
 
#24 ·
I think you should get the bike that speaks to you. I posted earlier just to give you a reference point on price. I think you should negotiate as much as possible on the price cause it seems a little high.

Use the fact that the new ones will be comming out as leverage. Make a low offer and see if you get any type of counter.....
 
#25 ·
just bought my second RG and it was an 09 with approx 35,000 miles. paid $16,400 and it has chrome forks and a detachable tour pack. I have a friend with an 05 RG with 135,000 miles on it so mileage wasn't too much of a deterrent for me. Another plus was the back of the owners manual showed all the services the former had performed and that eased my fears.

John
 
#27 ·
Thanks for the replies! My choices were cut in half today,because the lower mileage bike sold. The other after talking to the owner who lives in the southeast & rides year round mainly highway ,has all documentation of upgrades & maintenance.The upgrades were stuff like exhaust,tuner,wheels,cams, not just the ordinary bling.Gonna take a closer look though before I jump!
 
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