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Holy crow these things got expensive!

10K views 75 replies 35 participants last post by  PBSTN 
#1 ·
I love my bike, and have no intention of getting rid of it. It's paid for, it's comfortable, and it'd done everything I've ever asked of it.

I stumbled across the below beastie on the Mothership's website. Hmmmm.....I like the color. Love that everything's blacked out. And it's got a 114. Nicer stereo. TPMS and a bunch of other electronic goo-gaws. My seat, windshield, shocks, and True-Track would swap right over in no time at all. I'd need new bars, but I can do them in 2 hours. Well, let's just take a look at the pricing and.....



.....HOLY $HIZNIT!?!?



That's a $34,000 motorcycle with the freight charge.

Thirty.

Four.

Thousand.

American.

Dollars.

I mean......Damn. My 2016 Ultra was a bit over $26,000 with freight. Now this is a Limited rather than an Ultra, so I get that it should be a bit more. And it's 4 model years newer, so yeah, it's going to be more expensive. But 8 grand more?

I'm suddenly really content with my bike.
 

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#3 ·
Some times I wonder if that's how we're supposed to live. Spend until your strapped out.
Then again ,it's nice to know you can tell the boss to kiss your ass and not worry about a thing. :grin:
 
#6 ·
Look around everything got expensive. I ride, I am going to keep riding. It is a cost of living and is budgeted into our life. As we planned retirement over the years riding until 85 years old was part of the plan. Yes riding can be an expensive life style choice but so are many other things. I have know people that put as much cash into drinking and pot as I do our bikes. I have nothing to do with either of those two past times. I see people dump huge amounts of money at casino's and on lottery tickets . I have a friend with an $80,000 bass boat. You show me were there is 80K in that darn thing. His world I wish the best with that boat. All choices, people make.
For us it is simple. Take a $6,000 cruise on some crowed boat to a boring island of get on the bike and Ride to TN. The ride wins every time. Sit in-front of a slot machine or behind a windshield. Not a
hard choice to make. And when I die my children and grandchildren won't have to look for a barn find, they will know right were the bikes are and they will be ready to ride.
 
#8 ·
I couldn't agree more on the subject of sticker shock, as I went through that same thing before I bought mine. I also agree with the concept that depending on our wants (and not so much needs!) we either take that fork in the road or we don't. I was happy with my '18 RGS, and then saw that 2020 Limited in scorched orange and it really had me thinking. Missed having the extra bag, the motor is a monster, and a few other items that sent me home that night thinking. Made a ridiculously low offer and waited for two weeks and multiple text messages with offers until they got into my ball park. I wasn't being an ass, but the fact that I had no problem hanging onto my '18 kept me patient. At that time they were offering bigger incentives to clear out the remaining '18s and '19s, so they didn't seem to be moving many '20s. Right time at the right place, I guess. Plus the offer of incentives (heal shifter, Custom Dynamics lights, new seat...) made it that much sweeter.
 
#9 ·
Prices are jacked up on everything. I was at the car dealership last week getting oil change in truck and was wandering around the lot while I waited and found the 2020 version of my truck (3/4 ton duramax) and the sticker price was $76,000 before tax, title and license. That's about a 50% increase over the sticker price of my current truck when new 10 years ago and almost triple what I paid for it used.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Not for everyone and some of the older people maybe a bit late.
We make payments every month to a fund invest moderately by fast accesses. That fund pays our next car , bike ect. If the fund is returning well and finance with out some numbers trick is well below the return we finance. Keeps credit rating up. It not we with draw what is needed pay cash. It takes time to get this to work. It means keeping that car or bike longer at first. But after 1 or 2 purchase you win. You have to have make sure you leave that money along . Buying stock for grand children with it means no new bike. Ask me how I know/ 2006.
Also a wife that manages money well comes into play.
Also when it comes to drawing 5-15,000 out to put with a trade you think long and hard about it. It is your money in hand. Signing a loan is often to easy.. I use to hand it over cash so I knew what the heck we were letting go of. But that got a bit sill as prices went up.
 
#12 ·
I think what helps the trade equation that I now have a strategy that nothing goes on the bike that can't be easily removed, and trade every 2 years. If you stay in warranty, you also dont have unexpected repair bills.

So no engine builds, tall bars, fancy wheels, etc.

With the 114 especially, there's plenty of power. No need for a stage 1 ($2K+ just saved!), just slip ons to make it sound better. I would prefer taller bars, but I've found that the bars on the FLTRU and now the FLTRK are fine. I did roll the bars forward (free mod!) on the FLTRK, and now they're really great. This way you haven't dumped a ton of money into a bike that would essentially be wasted if you wanted to trade it in.
 
#20 ·
I enjoy taking a cheaper stock bike and making it my own. I do the work myself so I save all those labor charges. I document everything and then I sell privately and NEVER trade anything in. That convenience tax for trading in is ridiculous. In 2017 I sold my 2011 Street Glide for 18K. Dealer would have given me about 10K. Then paid cash for my 17 RG. With no payment I just start upgrading it how I want it. CVOs are nice but I never saw one that I thought was perfect for me and I like pulling in a lot and no other bike is exactly the same as mine. I just went stage 2 with this 17 RG for now. However, when a few years go by and the warranty is gone I'll do a stage 4 kit and have a nice fresh motor. Last year I sold my 04 Stage 4 Phatail Deuce for 12.5K to a Texas State Trooper sight unseen. Because I had all the docs and perfect ebay feedback. You don't always have to take a bath on upgrades if you sell private. Today it's so easy to do.
 
#13 ·
sticker price ain't the final word, just stepped up to a 2020 special 114ci, from a 2011 ultra, msrp of $27,700 got 10 large for the 11, no freight or prep charges. no charge on chiseled low bars, no sales tax, 5yr extended with tires and wheels, out the door for $19,400.
 

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#14 ·
I get what you're saying. My 2018 RGU sticker was about $28,000, I didn't pay anywhere near that because it was basically a left over but damn....like you said the new ones are over $32,000. And for more money you lose the heal shifter, you cant close the fairing vents and you only get 1 key fob. Its crazy. Granted, you do get heated grips and i guess that new "traction control" system but neither one of those mean that much to me.
 
#48 ·
Taz, you wrote, "cant close the fairing vents and you only get 1 key fob". I have a '17 RGU. It came with two fobs and adjustable fairing vents. Are you saying that '18 M8s and later only come with 1-fob and non-adjustable fairing vents? If yes, WOW. I close my vents all the time on cold and sometimes wet rides.
 
#15 · (Edited)
Sometimes you just gotta say fuck it and take a chance. If it's outside your means then it is beyond understandable but if you can swing it then the only person getting short changed is yourself by not going after it. Just my $.02.
Oh ya, and these bikes are getting way too pricy so get the one you want now before you never get the chance again.
 
#22 ·
I understand.

I waited nine long years before I finally made the decision to trade my 2011 Road King Classic for my 2019 RG special. In the end the math just made too much sense. My dealer gave me full value for the price I had my King listed for on craigslist, knocked 1500 off of the RG, and the interest rate on the remainder was 2.99%. With the MY HDFS app, you can now make payments, anytime, online, as often as you like, as much as you like, with no prepayment penalties.

The benefit of this app alone has been huge as I am already two months ahead.

What I will say in Harley's favor is that you do get what you pay for. Other than the handle bars, and windshield, for the life of me I cannot understand why someone would want to modify this thing. There is so much juice to be squeezed out of the lemon in bone stone form, the 114 is so freaking strong, out of the box, that I have yet to find myself in a position of wishing I had more motorcycle than I already have. I felt that way with my King.

Not even remotely with my Glide.
 
#23 · (Edited)
I’ve always said “never say never”, BUT, I cannot see a “new HD” in my future. Will find a nice, well maintained used RG if the Lord ever blesses me to that degree again! Good day gents! BTW: very happy for all y’all that are in a position in life to be able to drop that kind of $$$ on a bike, sincerely!
 
#24 ·
I remember standing in Uniform looking at a brand new 401 Javelin. Single and even with low pay at the time I could have had it. It was just over $3,000 . Commence took over at the last minute I walked away. 2 days latter orders changed and left the country. When I purchased this farm , the omg you will never pay for it ect. Been paid for a while and what it was purchased for would not buy 8 acres of the land now. World changes, look back think ahead. I am sure at some time the socialist revolt will destroy it all and things will start over.
 
#25 ·
My 11 was 22495 I think , they gave me 12000 for the 08 RG in March 2011 , got about 1200 back from the 08 esp , made last payment on the 11 in February of 2012 . I have come close twice , the latest was September 2018 , Boswell's had a 19 ultra on the floor , 8 model years newer and 6000 more than I paid for the 11 . Figured that I might get 10 for mine trade , it's a rider , not a show bike . But I talked myself out of it . Funny , to me anyways , is March will be 49 years since I got my first Harley , a one lung 350 Sprint . And it took 40 years ( 2011) to get a Harley that I can look you straight in the face and say that aside from changing the bars , I am happy with it . I will keep it and just do what needs to keep it running..

JtB
 
#27 ·
Yeah they are. I was fortunate enough to have made some decent trades at the right time that let me put $17,500 down towards the purchase of a new 2019 RGS back in November of 2018. I don't think if I had that I would have done it but the deal was too good to pass up. I like a small monthly payment.
 
#28 ·
I thought about the same scenario, my 2011 FLTRX has 41k so I imagine I would be lucky to get 10 to 11k and the. Buy the special, add lowers , your pak slip ons , bars and I bet I woul be owing close to 20k , that really woke me up, and I said screw that, ride mine as long as I can, pick up another used down the line. It was hard laying down the scratch in 2011 and trading in my other scoot and still having a payment, would love a new one, but not now, alot of wood to cough up, maybe I will wait for a serious upgrade like a new frame or something.
 
#31 · (Edited)
5 years ago I dropped $40k on my '15 CVO. That was MSRP. My cvo may not have the new engine and radio but it has more than that limited. Now that limited is a mere $6k less than what I paid. I've been looking hard at the 19/20 models and still get pissed that they keep taking shit off the bikes while raising prices. I have a hard time paying just $6k less than I did for mine and not getting half the stuff mine came with. I'm to the point of just keeping the '15 SERGU and adding a second bike for day trips. That Challenger is near the top of that list for a 2nd bike even as ugly as it is.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk
 
#32 · (Edited)
5 years ago I dropped $40k on my '15 CVO. That was MSRP. My cvo may not have the new engine and radio but it has more than that limited. Now that limited is a mere $6k less than what I paid. I've been looking hard at the 19/20 models and still get pissed that they keep taking shit off the bikes while raising prices. I have a hard time paying just $6k less than I did for mine and not getting half the stuff mine came with. I'm to the point of just keeping the '15 SERGU and adding a second bike for day trips. That Challenger is near the top of that list for a 2nd bike even as ugly as it is.
Its funny how perspectives can differ. I kinda feel like I got a CVO for $7K less (MSRP is closer to $33K)! I don't mean to start a childish comparison, just relating my perspective....

Here's what I think mine doesn't have, am I missing something?
- Lighted switches (can be added for $250)
- Proximity ignition (no BFD)
- Power bag locks? (no BFD)
- More powerful stereo. This is big, in my opinion. I dont understand why any touring bike should have to suffer with a 25 watt stereo. Can be remedied for $2K.
- WHIM with Bluetooth (not interested. Never have a passenger, or fellow riders that are interested in talking to each other while riding)

So for lets say $5K less than a 15 CVO, I've got a larger engine, better screen and interface, traction control. And I have most of the best stuff from a CVO - heated grips, traction control, TPMS, premium finishes. And the comparison gets even better if you compare it to a 2020 CVO, which is of course $44K.

With the black option, the powder coating is excellent, I especially dig the wheels on mine.

Just a different way to look at it.
 
#40 ·
We would have traded the 2017 RGU off by now. However with riding the other bikes a bit and other things it has not racked up as many miles as normal. Also all the work that went into doing the Twin classic sidecar, used up money set aside for a new bike. The sidecar was planned to be taken on and off as needed for Payton. Payton fell in love with it from the start . It changed how we view riding as we age a lot and stays on the RGU all the time now. I am not saying a sidecar rig is right for others. Just acknowledging how it has effected our view of the years to come.
My next bike may not be a touring bike. Might be another softtail or even a one up BMW.
 
#41 ·
It’s definitely difficult to justify the cost of things now days. Life is short though and you can’t take your money with you when it’s over. So, if you want a new bike, or anything else for that matter, even though it’s hard to justify since your happy with what you already have, then simply consider whether or not this purchase will negatively effect your present lifestyle, or push back your intended retirement date and if the answer is no then negotiate the best price you can and buy it. Like I said, life is short and some of these purchases seem frivolous but, are not if they help in getting the most out of your time here. Just my 2cents.
 
#42 · (Edited)
I'm suddenly really content with my bike.
Better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission >:)

Completely agree though. My bike just got dropped off a Smart Daves place.
Id rather spend a few grand for one of his motors than buy a new bike.
Let see what comes of it:grin::grin:
 
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