Resale Value

[ftlee20723]

Does a SE version of a motorcycle hold it's resale value any better than the non-SE version? My dealer indicates that it does. KBB indicates that it doesn't.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Frank

[Thealien]

I own a 2000 FLTRSEI one of the first SE bikes. My insurance company still insures it for its full purchased value (would they pay that?).

I know of another bike like mine but a different color for under $16,000 that is about $6,500 less than the purchase price and has not sold?

IMHO over time the SE bikes "may" hold value better than their non SE versions but?

When I bought mine they only made 1550 that year, now they are making 4000+ of each SE model.

[claydbal]

tyhe answer is no. try to get 16000 from a 06 SE bike.

[FXR2]

Originally Posted by ftlee20723

Does a SE version of a motorcycle hold it's resale value any better than the non-SE version?

I would say yes and no. For the newer CVO bikes, mostly no.

On the one hand, except for the first few models to be created by the CVO, SE bikes aren't particularly rare, so scarcity won't drive up the value. All of the chrome accessories and engine parts are available right out of the P&A catalog to anyone. The paint jobs are unique to CVO bikes, and some include painted frames so if you like that paint job, well that's not available out of the catalog, but on the other hand HD's own limited edition paint sets are rarer, so the scarcity thing loses the argument again. The CVO makes thousands of these things nowadays. Used to be hundreds.

HD made 3500 35th anniversary Superglides, for example. Each one had a consecutively numbered commemerative ID plate (number xxx of 3500). The CVO doesn't even do that and they make more than 3500 of each model. Which one is more rare and "special"?

On the plus side, the cost of adding all the accessories and a custom paint job to a production bike will far exceed the price of a CVO model so if you want all of that stuff, they represent a good way to get it. Don't know if that figures into resale, though. And there is a small group of HD folks that are really into the whole CVO thing and really prefer those models over any production bike, regardless of any logical argument, so if you could sell your CVO bike to one of them, they might pay a premium price.

Bottom line, IMO, is that the sales price of any used bike depends on what it's worth to the potential buyer. CVO or production. Might be a lot, might not be.

[bobbyvino@msn.c]

I'm sellin my 03 FLHRSE and at 21K no serious inquiries. The issue is the dealerships have Ultras from rental with 11K miles selling for 17-18K so unless someone absolutely want a SE it's a buyers market-my 2003 SE Road King is looked at as any 2003 Road King-and there you have it

[SEDELUXE]

it is a buyers market and no matter what brand or se,cvo or custom your trying to sell now a days is going to be difficult imo. even if its priced correctly according to kbb there are still bikes out there that are priced real cheap and they are not selling. were coming up on the busy season for bikes and it does not look too good. It seems supply has finally met demand and the economy is not that great in all areas. so if your trying to sell a used bike and its a cvo if you get what your asking for it great if you dont well im sure its over priced. im sure there are some people out there who will pay a premium for the cvo bikes but right now its a toss up. in my area there are 07 going for below book on the dealer floors and pages of hd in the want ads with all diffren pricing on them.

[nidan]

Didn't help when I sold my FXDWG3 , although re-sale prices on the Ultra CVO's seem to hold better

[SuperBogs]

I think, for what it's worth that the CVO bikes would hold their value possibly a little better then the normal H-D. The difference is in options. If you take a Dyna and add 10K in chrome and mods,etc this extra money spent does not hold hardly any value. This is what the dealer claims also. So take a 08 SE Dyna at $27,000 and it will depreciate some, take a 08 Dyna add 10K in goodies and it will lose a bunch. If you don't mind stock or reasonably close I don't think there's much difference between the too as far as depreciation. It all comes down to "It's only worth what the public is willing to pay for it"
JMO

SuperBogs

[scackley]

I think a lot of depends on the area as well; I know here in south east VA, you will rarely ever see a SE on a dealer floor. Once they arrive; if they haven't been sold before shipping are gone with in a week. Trade in SE's last only a couple days;. I again think it depends on the SE, the 08 ann ed is limited to 1800 bikes in their respective color schemes so they may hold their value. I bought mine for MSRP last October and added several things to it, extended warranty, alarm, lifetime maintenance (my dealer offers it) and some stuff from the shop. I walked out paying around 42K, I have been offered around 45 for it already, but I enjoy it too much to give it up......maybe in the future I may change my mind........doubt it though

#56 of 1800

[hdconvertible]

It seems that an SE model will hold a little higher value to those who are specifically looking for one. The general concensus in my area though is that just like the value of HDs in general they are down. The reason I feel is that when HDs were made in smaller numbers and there weren't dealerships on every corner the supply and demand held the prices up. Nowadays, even the SEs are made in too large of a supply to generate a high price. Cars do the same thing. I remember that there was a big deal about the 1978 Anniversary Corvette. People were bidding for them and going crazy. Locally they went for as high as $70K when they should have been selling for $20k. Now a clean one around here has a hard time bringing $10-15K if it has extremely low miles. The same appears to be true with the SE motorcycles. The 2003s were really a hot item here when they came out and now they are just another HD for sale. I kind of liked the old days when a HD was a real gold mine, but they are still worth the money you pay for them and that is all that counts. Look at a 10 year old HD and then compare that to a 10 year old *** bike and you will see that an HD does hold value. The older bikes are still bringing more than what they were new. I don't think that will happen with our newer bikes, but I do believe that they will only go down so far and then level off. Just my two cents worth.

[Custardglide]

The answer is an enphatic NO, percentage wise I lost more money on my CVO than I would if I bought a sportster (pro rata) Although like most others its still insured fully up

[highrider]

I don't think so, they have been over produced and you have to want that particular bike. They are trick, but especially in this economy, there are lots of choices, so considering the 110 issues and how practical the model is will have a direct bearing on the value.
I see lots of SE advertised for what they paid for them 1-3 years ago. These guys are dreaming imho.

I would like a 07 FXDSE, BUT NOT FOR OVER 17-18K max with low miles >5k
Also teh best time to buy a SE is from Aug on, the winter is coming and the new models are out.

[SELongHorn]

Based on my experience in owning three and selling two the answer is a big YES the CVO in my opinion tend to hold their value better than a normal bike. You have to be willing to be patient and willing to find the right buyer. Also, you need to make sure your bike is in good shape. The dealers and general public will not give you what the bikes are worth (re KBB) but there are quite a number of people out there that know what the bikes are and want to own them and are willing to pay a premium for them. When I sold my '04 SE Electra Glide after 3 years and 26K miles I got very close to the list price when the bike was new!

[jammerx]

I went to trade mine in and was offered 14400, (01FLTRSEI2) I tried to sell it locally and on ebay for 17500 and got not hits. Lowered my price to 16500 and still no interest. Books for about the same as an ultra. I paid over list for mine, so it has been a losing game since go. I decide to keep it, change it some and ride. Its just a bike. But if I had to do it all over again I wouldnt, and I would advise against it. JMHO