Best bike for depreciation

[Tank]

Was talking about this with a mate the other night in regard to total cost of ownership - of a new bike.

Like cars some bikes drop 25% when you take them off the forecourt - others hold value well.

So - How have peoples bikes held up when buying from new?

My first new bike was a GN250 had for 2.5 months and traded for a loss of $200 on a new Boulevard M50.

The M50 I traded after 8000km for a loss of $500 onto a second handbike.

Traded that bike to a new Triumph - not selling at the moment - but they do look like they hold values well.


edit: And for the record Dean - I fucken loved my GN250 !!!!

[PirateJafa]

I'll tell ya when I buy one new.

But there's too many classic second-hand bikes to own before I down-grade to any of the new bikes made today.

Mmmmmm RC30.

[gunrunner]

Who cares .

Old Skool Biker rule #1 Just ride that god damn thing .

[Tank]

Who cares .

Plenty do. Esp younger bikers who are buying a new 250 that they may only have for a year.

[gunrunner]

Plenty do. Esp younger bikers who are buying a new 250 that they may only have for a year.

But what price can you put on getting out and doing it .

[Tank]

But what price can you put on getting out and doing it .

You seem to miss the point. You can still get out there doing it whilst still having bikes that dont fall in value so fast that you cannot afford to buy another when you decide for a change.

[Reido]

yeah i was fooled (by myself) into buying a new ninja 250.. god i loved that bike but..
i lost.. 2k on it over a year >_<

[Molly]

For years the safest bet was actually a Harley. They kept production low so you'd wait up to three years for some models. That made them worth more second-hand than new. It also meant dealers could sell well above MRP and bolt on goodies to help inflate the price too. Regardless, they were a good buy from a depreciation point of view.

With some models it's still, almost, the case. I sold my Dyna Fat Bob for just under a grand less than I'd paid for it. However, the orignial owner of my present '07 Harley told me he had $37,000 in it. I got it for $22,000. Not good for him I suppose.

At the end of the day, I'd just buy the bike that floats your boat. Some are a bastard to shift when you're done (can't sell my Guzzi V11 for love nor money - second-hand, recent Guzzis offer LOTS for the money by the way).

Anyway, find something you're passionate about and keep it. That's the best rule. The more you swap and change, the more you lose. Just buy something cool and keep it.

[vifferman]

I baint never had me a noo bike.

But I'm pretty dang good at depreciating not-new bikes.

[Headbanger]

I've lost a shitload on my HD, And it was well priced when I bought it.

Still, there is a couple of factors working against me.

I've been looking at Speed Triples, I didn't think they held their price well at all, But perhaps they do in comparison to Jap bikes? There is certainly many thousands to be saved by buying a lightly used 2nd hand Speed Triple.

[awayatc]

I seem to do pretty good with cages.....actualy make money on them mostly.....

But Bikes......
If I count all the money i spend on them to keep them in good nick and the " bling".....

[ukusa]

demand & rarity obviously keep prices up. 250's are the limit for learner bikes, so there is a bigger demand there. Limited editions I suspect would also hold their value better, as would low volume sellers.
My Triumph America was 2 years old when I sold it. With extras it owed me about 19K, got just under 13K for it (private), a trade would probably have been 1 - 2K less. So a 6K loss in 2 years.

[Katman]

Chinese pit bikes.

Worthless within a week.

[RantyDave]

I've been looking at Speed Triples

There are some very tidy Speed Triples for not very many dollars at all. I think the Street did some f'off huge damage to the Speed's market....

Dave

EDIT: Ohhh shit, this must've hurt - 5000km, probably $10k below list that's $200/hr.

[Headbanger]

You would not believe the deal on a stunning Speed Triple I was offered a few days back.


And I managed to fuck it up, But thats a whole nother story.