help with value of HD

[ray bear]

absolutely NO guzzi content, but I know a lot of you guys own Harleys and I have been offered a concourse 1984 FLHX with 20k mile on the clock that has just arrived from the states in Australia. Asking $30k Australian . They are fairly scarce on the ground and were made to celebrate the end of the shovel with only around 1200 made, What would such a bike sell for in the states, Thanks for any input.   

[oldbike54]

 Dunno , but no where near that price even at the current exchange rate . Those old Shovelheads never have reached true classic status like older panheads or knuckles .

 Dusty

[Kent in Upstate NY]

That is 17k US asking price and the market for HD in the US is kinda slow. I don't think it would be worth anything near that. Rarity does not always equal good.

[rschrum]

Book is 5k trade in, 9500 from a dealer.

[oldbike54]

Book is 5k trade in, 9500 from a dealer.

 Even with HD's the book doesn't mean much anymore .

 Dusty

[bigbikerrick]

In Arizona, I would guess that bike, if in excellent condition would be worth somewhere between 7-8K. Maybe a bit more if 100% original, and un molested. The AMF era shovels have started going up in value, but not a huge amount yet. I personally like the looks of those old shovels, but dont know what its like to ride one. I bet they are a relaxing ride!
Rick.

[ray bear]

The bike is unmolested , probably  as good as you would get . with 20,000 mile its like the day it left the factory, not even stone chips thanks to concrete highways   I very much would like the bike but I think I would be paying top dollar here in Australia . Im aware the importer had to get it here and he has costs to cover. Hmm ill sleep on it.
 

[Dave Swanson]

Tough call being a different market.  A prime FLHX as you describe would fetch about $10k US, $15k if truly exceptional and on a good day.   I let a low mile mint FLHX at a bargain price slip through my fingers a few years ago that also had the matching sidecar.  To console myself I purchased a standard trim 1984 FLH and restored it to factory condition.  This definitely was the more expensive option, even doing all the work myself except paint, and plating.

I have found myself preferring the  less adorned standard FLH model over the FLHX, but both have their appeal.

Here is my 84 after a 6 year restoration.  Most of that time was spent hunting down NOS HD parts.  I decided it would not have any reproduction parts.

[RHAT]

I tried every way I could to get one financed in 1984. My good friend bought the White 1984 King of the Highway edition last year shovelhead that I desired and I was devastated.  He hadn't owned it 2 weeks when it blew the rear cylinder off while he was cranking it over.  I was happy and relieved it wasn't mine.
The latter shovelheads '83-'84, are supposedly the best ones.  Some early 80" engines, '79-'82 , could have issues. Although my friend's blew up like a hand grenade.

[larrys]

I tried every way I could to get one financed in 1984. My good friend bought the White 1984 King of the Highway edition last year shovelhead that I desired and I was devastated.  He hadn't owned it 2 weeks when it blew the rear cylinder off while he was cranking it over.  I was happy and relieved it wasn't mine.
The latter shovelheads '83-'84, are supposedly the best ones.  Some early 80" engines, '79-'82 , could have issues. Although my friend's blew up like a hand grenade.

Shovel bottoms were 1930's technology. Harley was late to the party when they designed the EVO motor. I remember (snaps suspenders) looking up Harley parts in their parts books. Many parts would be, 1936 to present...
Larry

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

That is way high. Right now the only shovels that are bringing big money are 66-69 in restored condition. About 9-12k would be proper price. But a quick caveat, that is prices here in the southeast United States. I have no idea what Australian market prices are. What the seller is asking would be a reach for that bike even at Vegas. Unless you got a bidding war!

[Dave Swanson]

$30k AUS is about 19k US.  A sporty price indeed.  Although I am sure there was quite a large expense involved in importation and transport that doesn't mean the price of bike should carry that.  What whoever spent to import is irrelevant to the value of the bike.   I would say $20000 AUS or 13k US would be top dollar. 

[cliffrod]

$30k AUS is about 19k US.  A sporty price indeed.  Although I am sure there was quite a large expense involved in importation and transport that doesn't mean the price of bike should carry that.  What whoever spent to import is irrelevant to the value of the bike.   I would say $20000 AUS or 13k US would be top dollar.

This sounds good.  with a few exceptions, $15k is beyond what most shovels will bring right now.  Prices are not great on any HDs right now. 

But, factor in what you want, how much life costs to spend ?? yrs and $$$ restoring what you want.  After that, spending what you can afford & deem is reasonable to you is your business.  Nothing is free.    Lots of people pay crazy (imho) prices for the guarantee of  thousands of $$$$ of instant & continued depreciation on new bikes every day. 

[Kitze]

Keep in mind that Aussies and Kiwis pay a mark up comparable to oxygen on the moon!
My rough sss guess is between 30-50% above us not even considering exchange rate.
Couple of years ago my mate in Sydney come here on short notice expressly to by new riding gear. Got a cheap flight. And the savings on two full riding outfits, boots, gloves and helmets it was still cheaper than OZ! Plus a great, if short, visit. And best of all...all his old ratty and embarrassing gear got replaced!

[knockerjoe]

The price of Shovels can vary greatly here in the States. It is pretty rare to find a Shovel
that has not been modded or chopped, painted etc. This is a good example of a run of the mill
1982 Shovel price here:
https://hickory.craigslist.org/mcy/d/hickory-1982-harley-davidson-shovel/7115513098.html
Of course yours is limited edition. Is it in original condition?older restoration? repaint? that effects price considerably.
Also the 80s AMFs were notorious for bad quality control.
As a side note, I personally exported dozens of Harley Davidsons to Australia up to about 6 years ago.
At the time Harleys were selling for up to 100 percent higher the the U.S.or more.
At the time the Australian dollar was strong against the U.S. Dollar.
Don’t forget that to get it there you have to add in shipping, VAT, taxes etc. Once you get it there
customs wanted new tires and brakes put on and the stock exhaust pipes.

[Dave Swanson]

That is way high. Right now the only shovels that are bringing big money are 66-69 in restored condition.

Got mine.  Go get yours!     Mine is a low mile original paint 69 FLH. 

[JJ]

Book is 5k trade in, 9500 from a dealer.

That sounds about right to me....

[Lannis]

Tough call being a different market.  A prime FLHX as you describe would fetch about $10k US, $15k if truly exceptional and on a good day.   I let a low mile mint FLHX at a bargain price slip through my fingers a few years ago that also had the matching sidecar.  To console myself I purchased a standard trim 1984 FLH and restored it to factory condition.  This definitely was the more expensive option, even doing all the work myself except paint, and plating.

I have found myself preferring the  less adorned standard FLH model over the FLHX, but both have their appeal.

Here is my 84 after a 6 year restoration.  Most of that time was spent hunting down NOS HD parts.  I decided it would not have any reproduction parts.

I bought the Electra-Glide Classic version of that (no top box, otherwise the same, also in black and chrome) bike in 1984, brand spanking new for $8900.   I wanted a shovelhead before they quit making them, realized that it had a belt final drive but got it anyway.

It was a great bike, I thought, but it was jinxed by the way I bought it (long story, young married man learned hard, painful lesson), and a supernatural premonition (unusual for me) made me get rid of it, nothing to do with function or reliability.

I rode it to work on the record coldest day ever in my part of Virginia (-10 degF); it started up even with the 50 or 60W (I forget what they came with back then) oil in it, ran great, I got frostbite.   Wish I'd kept it but it was not to be.

Lannis

[RHAT]

Got mine.  Go get yours!     Mine is a low mile original paint 69 FLH. 

That's pretty sweet

[ray bear]

I like the bike and have allways wanted a shovel , just a lotta money.Thanks for some great feedback.

[cliffrod]

I felt the same way when I bought mine for $10k in Jan/Feb 2001.  That was a strong price then and probably more than it would bring now.  I had been broke for years, lots of project bikes and finally had the bucks to simply buy a great unrestored original paint bike that was ready to go and 15 minutes away.  So I did.  We had a great time riding it for years and need to spend more time on it now. 





A vacation or great meal has zero percent profit.  The extra cost of buying the bike I want is what I do instead...

[ozarquebus]

How much do opal gemstones cost in Australia? I met a guy on an airplane who had hundreds of opals in the pockets of his suit jacket. He was giving one to everyone he met plus extras to the stewardesses. He had just come from his mine down under. Is there enough of a price difference to make that kind of a trip with enough profit to buy and ship a Harley back? Opals probably do not have enough place utility to produce much price difference, perhaps.

[oldbike54]

How much do opal gemstones cost in Australia? I met a guy on an airplane who had hundreds of opals in the pockets of his suit jacket. He was giving one to everyone he met plus extras to the stewardesses. He had just come from his mine down under. Is there enough of a price difference to make that kind of a trip with enough profit to buy and ship a Harley back? Opals probably do not have enough place utility to produce much price difference, perhaps.

 <scratches head> Huh ?

 Dusty