Hate to ask about HD here but need some good sage advice

warpedscout · Jun 28, 2011

Hello again,

Have a question about a potential trade that has come up lately. I have a 87 Ford Mustang Convertible GT in good running shape that I have decided to sell / trade since I have been working on and riding my 74 Norton. The Mustang just sits there anymore and does not give me the pleasure I have on the Norton. My decision to sell it is that I do not want the Mustang to just sit there and go down hill from neglect and would rather see it go somewhere it could give someone else a good time. I have been contacted by a gentleman who has a 2000 HD Springer with 29000 miles. The pictures he sent show a really clean bike with new cams (apparently the original cams were an issue) and two into one exhaust. He states it has been serviced by a HD dealership and is in good running condition. I know I really wont know until I see and touch the bike if that is true but my main concern is if I wanted to sell this bike. By Kelly Blue Book the bike is worth more than my Mustang so I cannot see going wrong there but just wanted to get some advice before I pursue this any further.

The Norton is running good (speaking from someone who has only ridden this bike and got it running after 15 years) but I need to clean the carbs out again (ethanol and old debris being dislodged from years of non use) and have a grease star pattern on the rear wheel that I need to replace the felt washer (hopefully that is all). I know many have other bikes they ride most of the time and save the old British iron for special times but I enjoy riding mine all I can!!

Any advice would be appreciated!

grandpaul · Jun 28, 2011

Check out what Mustangs like yours have actually sold for recently, then go from there.

The cams were indeed an issue, and should have been handled by the dealer under warranty. It seems to be not as big a deal as the soft Norton cams have been over time.

swooshdave · Jun 28, 2011

My advice would be to sell the Mustang and take the money and pour it into the Norton. You'll be selling the HD in a matter of weeks anyways.

DonOR · Jun 29, 2011

swooshdave said:
My advice would be to sell the Mustang and take the money and pour it into the Norton. You'll be selling the HD in a matter of weeks anyways.

My thoughts exactly, and I am in a remotely similar situation:

I have a 99 vw cabrio that I used to really like to drive, especially on clear, starry nights... I know, "girly man" car... but hell, I felt like I was in my '67 mgb, way back in 1975 (anything helps!) well the cabrio needs motor mounts and a timing belt, and no f**king way am I going to pay $800 bucks to have it done, so it sits,waiting for me to find the time, costing me $70 bucks a month in insurance, just to sit in my warehouse. I will get it done and sold in july, bluebook is 3500, with repairs I'll take 3000.

Meanwhile, my old friend and former bidness partner has a '74 sportster that is just fading away, as he slowly succumbs to lung cancer (if you do tobacco, quit NOW). He wants me to just haul it away, and give him $500, The sled was running just a couple of years ago, I'm sure if I made the time I could pressure wash, tune, and polish it and sell it for 2K. I just dont have the time, and I have NO interest in any motorcycle over 500lb.... make that 450.

Whaddaya do? 4 or 5000 sitting in front of me just waiting for some elbow grease, and la casa needs a new roof, and hurricane season will be here in 90 days!

and scout, my commando is my only bike, and at this point, I'm not interested in anything else....

warpedscout · Jun 29, 2011

grandpaul said:
Check out what Mustangs like yours have actually sold for recently, then go from there.

I have been watching that for the last two years. Late models don't have the following yet that demands very high prices and there are plenty of late model ponies out there.

swooshdave said:
My advice would be to sell the Mustang and take the money and pour it into the Norton. You'll be selling the HD in a matter of weeks anyways.

That was the original intent was to have a stash for all the uber cool stuff for the Norton. I guess I should have formed my question around getting the HD and selling it. The bike looks nice and all but I do not see it settling into my garage.

From what I can find online from Flea Bay and a few other sites, HDs are selling better than my Mustang. With that in mind if this guy wants to trade vehicles and I can post the HD for sale with the possibility of a better sale I am all for it.

Thanks for the replies!

openroad · Jun 29, 2011

Both of you should get the Harleys. Trade a car for a scoot? Cool! '74 Sporty....it's electric start, right? Then Hell Yes.

swooshdave · Jun 29, 2011

So you believe the HD is worth more than the Mustang. Now you have to ask yourself why this person would want to trade a more valuable object for a lesser one. Two reasons, it's less hassle to trade and take a modest loss or there is something wrong with it that lessens the value.

For you, who doesn't want the HD the risk is greater, as you know you can sell the Mustang as is. But you may end up with an HD with problems.

Olephart · Jun 29, 2011

swooshdave said:
So you believe the HD is worth more than the Mustang. Now you have to ask yourself why this person would want to trade a more valuable object for a lesser one. Two reasons, it's less hassle to trade and take a modest loss or there is something wrong with it that lessens the value.

For you, who doesn't want the HD the risk is greater, as you know you can sell the Mustang as is. But you may end up with an HD with problems.

+1, or put another way, there's something wrong with that picture. At this time of the year the bike should be an easy sell. You've got to find out the "real" reason he wants to trade. Maybe he just wants "that" car. Who knows. But I would figure that out.

warpedscout · Jun 29, 2011

Olephart said:
+1, or put another way, there's something wrong with that picture. At this time of the year the bike should be an easy sell. You've got to find out the "real" reason he wants to trade. Maybe he just wants "that" car. Who knows. But I would figure that out.

Oh, believe me I have thought this through. I have not spoke with this guy on the phone but from the emails I am getting I feel he is pretty young. He just paid this bike off and may be jumping the gun to get a new toy since the old one is not as shiny in his eyes anymore!?

If I do not sell the car in the next week or so we are going to meet and see where we each stand on the deal. I will be fine toothing the bike to make sure everything is in order. Will probably contact the HD service dept with the VIN to see if they can give me info on the service record. I am not saying my pony is the best around, it is clean and running and if this guy wants it for a newer bike I can potientially sell for more so be it! I still hae some time to see what comes and also do some studying. I have searched and cannot find this bike on any classifieds in the area he lives, I get the feeling he saw my car and just wants a new toy.

We will see where this goes and what turns out!

swooshdave · Jun 29, 2011

warpedscout said:
Olephart said:

+1, or put another way, there's something wrong with that picture. At this time of the year the bike should be an easy sell. You've got to find out the "real" reason he wants to trade. Maybe he just wants "that" car. Who knows. But I would figure that out.

Click to expand...

Oh, believe me I have thought this through. I have not spoke with this guy on the phone but from the emails I am getting I feel he is pretty young. He just paid this bike off and may be jumping the gun to get a new toy since the old one is not as shiny in his eyes anymore!?

If I do not sell the car in the next week or so we are going to meet and see where we each stand on the deal. I will be fine toothing the bike to make sure everything is in order. Will probably contact the HD service dept with the VIN to see if they can give me info on the service record. I am not saying my pony is the best around, it is clean and running and if this guy wants it for a newer bike I can potientially sell for more so be it! I still hae some time to see what comes and also do some studying. I have searched and cannot find this bike on any classifieds in the area he lives, I get the feeling he saw my car and just wants a new toy.

We will see where this goes and what turns out!

Maybe he wanted the "wind in the hair", bought a HD and rode it a couple timed and it scared him. So he wants to get rid of it and get a vert.

I don't think it's worth the effort for you to trade the bike for the car, just to turn around and sell the bike. No amount of profit can be worth the hassle dealing with of HD buyers. :mrgreen:

warpedscout · Jun 29, 2011

Well, we can end this thread. Guy just emailed me that he traded the motorcycle today so that is the end of that.

Thanks everyone, looks like I averted that disaster, LOL!