Don't you hate to give a bike away?

[Cal3]

On mileage.....yeah, I have to agree. There are so many low miles used bikes for sale that most people wont bother with a high mile bike, even though some may give many more miles of service. When I am trolling for a late model used bike, I dont even look at anything with 20K or over

[NC Steve]

Some bikes see appreciation eventually, some don’t.  Most Guzzis have done so, but I think the Breva derivatives have very little appeal to classic bike buyers and won’t in the future, no more so than an R1150R BMW.  I think most of them will eventually see their engine and engine parts used in custom bikes, with the bike being worth about as much as its engine.

You're absolutely correct on the Breva series and the oilhead BMWs. I have a very nice R1100R that was worth around $3500 2 years ago, about $2500 last summer, and can't seem to generate any interest in it this summer at even $1500. And it's not just me or this bike, I watch nice rides being reposted on Ebay weekly with price drops, to ridiculous levels, and either not selling at all or being bought at prices I'd be ashamed to even offer a seller 2 years ago.

With the older riders aging out and not buying bikes, even selling the ones they have, and few younger folks being interested in riding, with a very few model exceptions, the used motorcycle business is circling the drain, and probably will never improve. I'm thinking of giving my top shape R1100R to a good friend who got into a bind recently and had to sell his own BMW. I'd much rather give it to him than to a stranger.

[oldbike54]

I'm on my third price reduction with this trusty ride. I just don't get it....runs like new!

https://southjersey.craigslist.org/mcy/d/mays-landing-harley-davidson-road-glide/6910250879.html

 Not trying to sound snarky , but average trade in for that bike is only about $6K with average mileage , which is probably what , 30K miles . Older HD's don't hold their value now like they did 10 years ago , too many for sale , very few buyers .

 Dusty

[Ncdan]

I can understand why there are little to no interest in the Harley with that mileage. As Dusty said, not being snarky, whatever that means anyway, but when one knows the cost of almost any repairs at the HD dealership it a roll of the dice when something IS going to fail and there a hundreds of very low mileage Harley’s out there in that year range at very reasonable prices. Last word if it were mine I’d be just like the seller here, I’d get what I thought it was worth or let her sit and hang my jackets on the handle bars:)

[Lannis]

I can understand why there are little to no interest in the Harley with that mileage. As Dusty said, not being snarky, whatever that means anyway, but when one knows the cost of almost any repairs at the HD dealership it a roll of the dice when something IS going to fail and there a hundreds of very low mileage Harley’s out there in that year range at very reasonable prices. Last word if it were mine I’d be just like the seller here, I’d get what I thought it was worth or let her sit and hand my jackets on the handle bars:)

Now this is just me, and I know this doesn't suit everyone, but I don't sell anything until I WANT TO SELL IT.   And by Sell It I mean take what the market will give for it, and not worry about what it "should be" worth, or what the "book value" is, or how much I paid for it, or anything.   It's only worth one number, and that's what someone will give for it.

We've been decluttering lately, and we've sent a lot of furniture and old equipment  and tractors to consignment auctions.   I sold a Ferguson 50 tractor, and I was perfectly happy to take the $1800 that was the sum of the judgments of 50 farmers who needed a tractor to pull a cart or a hay rake ...

I really have no room to make good on my bluff of "If I can't get what I know it's worth, I'll just keep it".    I've been keeping some of this stuff for 40 years, and it's time to go, regardless.

Lannis

[Ncdan]

Now this is just me, and I know this doesn't suit everyone, but I don't sell anything until I WANT TO SELL IT.   And by Sell It I mean take what the market will give for it, and not worry about what it "should be" worth, or what the "book value" is, or how much I paid for it, or anything.   It's only worth one number, and that's what someone will give for it.

We've been decluttering lately, and we've sent a lot of furniture and old equipment  and tractors to consignment auctions.   I sold a Ferguson 50 tractor, and I was perfectly happy to take the $1800 that was the sum of the judgments of 50 farmers who needed a tractor to pull a cart or a hay rake ...

I really have no room to make good on my bluff of "If I can't get what I know it's worth, I'll just keep it".    I've been keeping some of this stuff for 40 years, and it's time to go, regardless.

Lannis

Your one statement says it all Lannis, “it worth what someone will give for it”👍👍

[Cam3512]

I'm on my third price reduction with this trusty ride. I just don't get it....runs like new!

https://southjersey.craigslist.org/mcy/d/mays-landing-harley-davidson-road-glide/6910250879.html

I know this bike.  Yes, it's a big Harley pig but very well maintained.  I would think some sleeveless guy wearing fingerless gloves would buy it just to point at the odometer while parked at the local WaWa convienence store?  Look at THESE miles!

[oldbike54]

I know this bike.  Yes, it's a big Harley pig but very well maintained.  I would think some sleeveless guy wearing fingerless gloves would buy it just to point at the odometer while parked at the local WaWa convienence store?  Look ar THESE miles!

 Don't HD dashboards go blank when they aren't running ? Makes it hard to brag 

 Dusty

[Cam3512]

Don't HD dashboards go blank when they aren't running ? Makes it hard to brag 

 Dusty

They'd have to start it up and blip the throttle a few times.

[Ncdan]

Don't HD dashboards go blank when they aren't running ? Makes it hard to brag 

 Dusty

Well, maybe he left it running because the battery was going bad, just so he could point to the miles on his Harley while sitting at the WaWa store. By the way, what’s a WaWa store do?

[oldbike54]

Well, maybe he left it running because the battery was going bad, just so he could point to the miles on his Harley while sitting at the WaWa store. By the way, what’s a WaWa store do?

 They sell Wa Was , obviously you haven't ever watched *clerks* 

 On second thought ,  :angry:don't watch that movie , it doesn't make any sense 

 Dusty

[Ncdan]

They sell Wa Was , obviously you haven't ever watched *clerks* 

 On second thought ,  :angry:don't watch that movie , it doesn't make any sense 

 Dusty

Ok, I got it Dusty. My wife informed me it was a northern thing and that being from the south I wouldn’t understand:(.  She’s from southern Jersey, I see how it is now😂

[Jim Rich]

The key to this whole thing is - if you can't text on your phone while driving/riding it, it is not worth having.  They are all on the friggin phone.

[LowRyter]

Yeah, the phone. I just got tickets for the Dead & Co for Tuesday and they sent them to me on the phone. 

The bigger deal is that you can't purchase tickets from the venue, only from resellers.  I am not sure why $50 tickets sell for $150 when you tack on service fees and get "resold" from the original seller?   And you never know the final cost with the tack-ons until you buy them.  And the reseller sites vary by about 50% for tickets in the same section.   And I have the option of selling my tickets after I bought them.  Really?

Shit, my 1200 Bandit ain't worth the price of two tickets.

[ohiorider]

I enjoyed reading the many opinions about putting the 1200 Sport on the market.  And agree with most of them.
- Pete saying that the CARC bikes were probably the best bikes to come out of Mandello.
- all those who said 'its only worth what someone will pay for it.
- those who suggested parking it in the garage since selling it won't do anything but free up a small amount of space.

68,000 miles isn't much if I personally intend to keep the bike and use it when called for, like for example. a ride calling for a full on mile muncher with bags and enough wind protection.  Thinking about my son, his wife, and daughter moving to Shelby, NC soon.  The 12S would probably be the best of my 3 bikes for riding from NE Ohio to there and back.

I was initially thinking about having a little bit of cash in the 'next bike' account.  But it's hardly worth doing.

Thanks, all, for your thoughts.

Bob

[LongRanger]

After looking in the mirror, I swallowed hard and decided to sell my all-time favorite '98 K1200RS with 134,000 miles. Aside from tires, brake pads, batteries, fluids, and filters, the bike was in excellent condition and cost me nothing to own over the 21 years I owned it. I paid $18k for the bike new and was pleased to get $1600 for it. A few hundred dollars either way would have made no difference to me.

[Kiwi Dave]

I enjoyed reading the many opinions about putting the 1200 Sport on the market.  And agree with most of them.
- Pete saying that the CARC bikes were probably the best bikes to come out of Mandello.
- all those who said 'its only worth what someone will pay for it.
- those who suggested parking it in the garage since selling it won't do anything but free up a small amount of space.

68,000 miles isn't much if I personally intend to keep the bike and use it when called for, like for example. a ride calling for a full on mile muncher with bags and enough wind protection.  Thinking about my son, his wife, and daughter moving to Shelby, NC soon.  The 12S would probably be the best of my 3 bikes for riding from NE Ohio to there and back.

I was initially thinking about having a little bit of cash in the 'next bike' account.  But it's hardly worth doing.

Thanks, all, for your thoughts.

Bob

I concur, Bob.  You've made the right decision.  Hell, I've got three of them, and I'm not going to part with any for the same reason.

[Kev m]

I'm on my third price reduction with this trusty ride. I just don't get it....runs like new!

https://southjersey.craigslist.org/mcy/d/mays-landing-harley-davidson-road-glide/6910250879.html

That's easy. Why buy the 100k+ mile one when there are thousands or tens of thousands available with a fraction of that.

[Kev m]

Don't HD dashboards go blank when they aren't running ? Makes it hard to brag 

 Dusty

Jokes aside, you don't need the key to see the mileage. Just press the trip meter button on a Harley that's not running with no key in the ignition and the odo lights up for a few seconds and shows the miles.

[oldbike54]

 Am I the only one who really never forms an emotional attachment to mechanical devices ?

 Dusty

[Kiwi Dave]

Am I the only one who really never forms an emotional attachment to mechanical devices ?

 Dusty

Wouldn't you call your motorcycle a "mechanical device"?

You heathen!!!

[oldbike54]

Wouldn't you call your motorcycle a "mechanical device"?

You heathen!!!

 That's really all it is , a tool , like a saw or a wrench . Yes , I love the feeling it can give me , but it is still just a mechanical device .

 Dusty

[Kev m]

Give away? Meh, sure to the right person, or just to get rid of something I don't want/need any more. I mean, crap, I pay a lot for booze and meals sometimes, but I don't think about them for a second when I'm done. Is it just this illusion of a depreciating asset? Well, ok, but if it doesn't OWE you anything, then why worry?

As for emotional attachments to innatimate objects, sure, why not. We're not talking marriage here, just an attachment. Finding the right stuff that makes your life better can certainly justify some fondness.

[Tusayan]

It’s a mechanical device that reflects with uncanny accuracy the values and priorities of the people that created it.  I think more so than any other kind of mechanical device.  When and if corporate homogeneity or whatever else removes that trait, I’ll be done buying new motorcycles.

[oldbike54]

Give away? Meh, sure to the right person, or just to get rid of something I don't want/need any more. I mean, crap, I pay a lot for booze and meals sometimes, but I don't think about them for a second when I'm done. Is it just this illusion of a depreciating asset? Well, ok, but if it doesn't OWE you anything, then why worry?

As for emotional attachments to innatimate objects, sure, why not. We're not talking marriage here, just an attachment. Finding the right stuff that makes your life better can certainly justify some fondness.

 I tend to be dispassionate about most things . I love my friends and family , Mother Nature , and my dog . My friend Bill from Madison WI describes motorcycles as "wonderful devices" , and they are . However if they are just sitting there , all they are is a device .

 Go ahead , flame away .

 Dusty

[s1120]

no flame.. just a different mindset..  Ive always had a attachment for mechanical things. Strange maybe...  but you know... we are who we are.

[John Ulrich]

I'm on my third price reduction with this trusty ride. I just don't get it....runs like new!

https://southjersey.craigslist.org/mcy/d/mays-landing-harley-davidson-road-glide/6910250879.html

Beautiful bike.  I'll guess the mileage is scaring off those buyers looking for a bike to brag about how low the miles are on it.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Am I the only one who really never forms an emotional attachment to mechanical devices ?

 Dusty

When one totally rebuilds a motorcycle himself - hands on every single piece - one tends to form an emotional attachment.

[Shorty]

Neil Young: "Long May You Run."  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYna-UAt75c

[kirby1923]

That's really all it is , a tool , like a saw or a wrench . Yes , I love the feeling it can give me , but it is still just a mechanical device .

 Dusty

Yeah machines..

They are inanimate cold devices.... I've known people that could easily be described the same way.

But to a gearhead (guilty) some machines have a personality, for lack of a better word, and seem to be able to cop an attitude of sorts..

Imagination..a powerful force..no?

:-)