Topic: Hard Times for Harley

[KARamsay]

I've just never considered "financing" a bike.  I don't think I every will.  It is not a necessity therefore it needs to be pair for in cash and essentially expendible if it were to be wrecked or stolen. 

I'd love to have $25K to plunk down on the table... but would it be a harley?  Doubt it...



or

[Frankenkit]

+1.  but the next, newer bike I get is going to be something I can fix with my own two hands... not a harley that I need to feel like a criminal for looking up their error codes (which they a. don't publish in their $60 repair manuals, and b. will sue over if someone posts them on their website)  parts, etc.

[tsflstb]

I couldn't sleep at night knowing I just spent $20K on a motorcycle.  Or knowing I'd pay about $33K total after 5 years of interest.  A lot of people thought they were rich for the last 10 years and lived like it.  It's all crashing down now.

I have a hard time spending more than $1000 at one time on any motorcycle.  I think most folks here finance bikes the same way I do...find a $500-$600 beater and put $50 to $100 a month worth of parts into it for a few months.  Of course labor is free.  Get it running, see what breaks or wears out and repeat.  If you get in a financial bind, sell the bike and at least break even.

[eldar]

I would finance a new bike. Why not. I would just make sure I have at least half the cash up front, that way I get lower interest rate, lower payments, AND a shorter loan period. Of course it would have to be a bike I actually want to own and right now, there are not many of them. I personally would sell out for a v65 sabre! A magna would be fine too!

[tortelvis]

So it makes you wonder. If they are paying crap ass wages to mexican workers, then why are they so expensive. Oh wait, poor management and unreal union costs.

Maybe, but then why does gas at the pumps go up when the price of oil is falling? "Because they can!"

I own a Harley as well as two Hondas and all were bought used for CASH. Remember cash? That's what we used to use before we got the idea that it was easier to borrow money that to save up and buy stuff. I was tought that if I didn't have the cash I couldn't afford it. I work in a crap low paying job but everything that I own, well...I own it! I don't even have a credit card.

Hard times are here for us all and I don't want to see any company go bust and cost people jobs. Unfortunately we live in a consumer society so that when we stop buying stuff we all suffer.

[eldar]

Buying used is different than buying new unless it is from a dealer. As for cash, I used to use cash but thy this. Lose your cash and see if you find it. Lose your debit card(whick links to your checking account) and close it and get a new one. Hard to find lost cash sometimes and no matter what you try to do, it can happen. Besides, a debit card is the same if you treat it the same. It is not a credit card.

[HavocTurbo]

Buying used is different than buying new unless it is from a dealer. As for cash, I used to use cash but thy this. Lose your cash and see if you find it. Lose your debit card(whick links to your checking account) and close it and get a new one. Hard to find lost cash sometimes and no matter what you try to do, it can happen. Besides, a debit card is the same if you treat it the same. It is not a credit card.

While it is NOT a credit card... Most banks offer overdraft priveliges and some people treat them as a credit card. Down side is they charge an outrageous fee even if overdraft for an hour. And per transaction at that. Not to mention if you go over your daily spending limit.

Everything that isn't physical, someone will find a way to treat it as free money. Morons find a way.

I would finance a new bike, but only with the equity in my home. My parents did that for a new harley last year. With all the accessories (they are simplistic and don't shop around) they spent about $30k. Then they realized that vets and retired police officers get a discount. That droppred the price also. So all in all with multiple discounts they got $30k worth of stuff for around $21k.

Because they used their home equity, their bank (credit union actually) gave them a sickeningly low rate (their credit is astronomical) for 3 years paypack.

Get this....

They walked in with cash..... Harley said they don't accept cash for a new motorcycle!!! It HAS to be credit or money transfer.

My beef... Since when can you no longer make large purchases with cash?? Stupid.

"Here... here's tangible income for your business."
"No, thank you. Cash isn't accepted here."
"Would you like that on your (insert store here) charge card??"

Someone shoot me now!!

[Bob Wessner]

Not accepting cash sounds dumb on the surface, but quite legal. They may have good reasons, such as not wanting that much money on the premises. They may also prefer access to your credit card info to try and sell more merchandise to you.

[eldar]

The no cash thing is growing. A lot of hotels may take cash but they also want a credit card, unless they are a seedy dive!

[tramp]

i like that 1200xr and when i have the cash i'll get it
don't like to finance toy's