Is it worth it?
 

I just saw this and I was thinking a big purchase in my life was imminent. I was actually planning on getting a TV but meh? I called up the dude and he was selling it for $8300. I was about to scoff in his face then I realized I know very little about Harley Davidson's (motorcycles really) and I want this!! Simply because I saw it on sale though. I asked him if it needed any work done on it at all and he said that it only needs the head gasket put on it. He said it was recently replaced but wasn't done right.

I'm salivating at the thought. I have never even owned a bicycle. This might be an impulse buy but what the hell I really want this ....

http://s764.photobucket.com/albums/x...h_DSC00242.jpg http://s764.photobucket.com/albums/x...h_DSC00243.jpg http://s764.photobucket.com/albums/x...h_DSC00244.jpg

I would guess (guess) that if they head gasket wasn't done right, it was driven and some other catastrophe has occurred to let him know the gasket wasn't done right. Also could be something else wrong that prevented the gasket from being replaced properly, just for my own sake I would ask him what he means by 'not done right' and how he knows that.

What kind of Harley is that (I'm useless with bikes) because one of the models (the Sportster I think) doesn't cost much more than that brand new.

^^ True dat. I was going through the listings in my area and new sportsters cost just under $10K. I'm thinking this was a bad idea. The model has to be a sportster but I am immensely clever that I did not ask.

I would keep looking. You should be able to find a similar one with no issues for the same price or less.

I agree keep looking, you will find a better deal.

Or just get a used 2000+-era Honda Shadow. Same performance and half the price.

You don't get the Cool Guy Brandname, but you get a bike that's a lot cheaper and easier to work on.

Cycletrader.com'd!

/bias

Who cares? Honda's engines are legendary.

Maybe I'll get one of those when I turn 50.

or you could spend $8300 on a motorcycle brand that doesn't suck.

just sayin'

Not a good deal. Blown head gasket is a major repair.

And I agree that Harleys are terrible overpriced, ala Jeep and Range Rover.

For what it's worth, it appears to be a HD (Heritage?) Springer Softtail, but I can't tell what year (someone correct me if I'm wrong, it's hard to see...). Those big twin bikes do hold their value fairly well, but naturally it greatly depends how old it is whether or not it is a value. The head gasket thing would make me a bit nervous, although not as nervous as if it was a car.

Look around at some other bikes... you will love motorcycling but buying on an impulse is a bad idea. The fact that you will have to pay more money to fix that once you buy that is also bad... you have no idea of how much money you will end up having to spend... he's selling it for a reason.


find something cheaper and not overloaded with chrome this and chrome that. bikes get dirty and you will drop it sooner or later, it's not a matter of if but a matter of when.. it just happens. every time i see a Harley owner parked, he's wiping down his bike with a cloth trying to clean it... that isn't for me :-)

Thats from the oil spray - Harleys leak oil from the day they're built. I cannot figure out why for 30,000 a piece Harley Davidson cannot produce a bike that manages to keep all the oil in the motor, or for that matter why anyone would buy something that leaks oil right out of the box.

:shakehead:

$8300 and a head gasket repair? Not a good deal, especially if it's your first bike.
Get something cheaper since you WILL drop it or lay it down at least once.

Heh, what's a good "starter" bike?

I mean, has Xerxys even ridden a bicycle before?

a good starter bike would be one at a motorcycle safety foundation course. they usually provide bikes and the skills you will learn there will open you up to being able to ride a decent sized bike... that way you will be able to buy a bike without fear of destroying it.

I've taken the foundation rider's course, and can't say enough good about it. There were several experienced riders taking the course with me, and they had a lot of "I'll be damned, that makes sense" moments. They taught some things most people with experience just didn't think about when they were learning the wrong way to ride. I never did get my license, pretty much because I couldn't afford the bike anymore, but will take the class again if I decide to get a bike again.

Funny, I've been riding since 2007 and haven't done either.

Head gasket is not a huge deal, but he's asking too much. Like the springer front end, the pipes and the straight bar, though.

If you can get him down to 6000 you've got a sweet deal.

Wow!!

And yes B_G, I've ridden a motorcycle before but unfortunately it's not as often as our bike nerds here and not for very long distances. Never placed one down though.

That Sabre is a sweet deal with the fairing and the sissy bar. Need to get a new exhaust, though.

But, yeah, way cheaper than the Harley and with no miles on it.

I just bought a Honda Shadow a few weeks ago. I was going to go with a used one, but they were blowing out the 2008 models (0 km on them). So I ended up picking up a new one for just a few 1000 more than a used one. Not a bad deal I figure.

I freaking love it!! Everyone around here stares at it as they drive by, or when I get off it. It is such a sexy bike.